Crusade in Jeans
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| Crusade in Jeans | |
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| Author | Thea Beckman |
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| Original title | Kruistocht in spijkerbroek |
| Country | The Netherlands |
| Language | Dutch |
| Genre(s) | Historical, Fantasy, Childrens, Novel |
| Publisher | Scribner (USA) |
| Publication date | 1973 (orig.) (Eng trans. February 1976) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 275 p. (hardback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-684-14399-2 (hardback edition) |
Crusade in Jeans (1973) is a children's novel written by Thea Beckman. It contains a fictional account of the children's crusade of 1212, as witnessed by Rudolph Wega, a boy from the 20th century. The original Dutch title is Kruistocht in spijkerbroek.
[edit] Plot summary
Rudolph Wega is a sixteen year-old who volunteers for an experiment with a time machine. The experiment goes well, but through an accident Rudolph is stranded in the 13th century. He saves the life of Leonardo Fibonacci, without realizing who he is, and teaches him Arabic numerals. Together they join the German Children's Crusade, and through his modern-day knowledge, Rudolph manages to save a lot of children from horrible fates. However, his knowledge also leads to accusations of witchcraft.
In the book, two slavers delude a group of children into coming with them with stories of how the innocent shall liberate Jerusalem. Their actual intent is to sell them for profit. With the aid of his twentieth-century knowledge and skepticism, and the aid of a "magical" device or two (such as a box of matches), the boy manages to keep most of the children alive and eventually gets them to safety.
[edit] Awards and nominations
The book won a Gouden Griffel and the European prize for best historical youth book in 1974, and the Prix de la Divulgation historique in 1976.
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
A movie version directed by Ben Sombogaart went into production in 2005. The film was released in Belgium and the Netherlands on November 15th, 2006. Other regions will follow later in 2006.
