Since the book dates back to the 1800's when first published, its historical value is prominent. It bridges the English sheriffs' roles and early American sheriffs' duties.

It is a little tough reading, since it seems to be written in some version of "old-english"; it is not like reading a foreign language by any means, but those who have a law-enforcement or legal background will have an easier time deciphering some terms (for example, "gaol" is used in the book, and corresponds to how we would currently spell the term: "jail").

A good resource for lawyers researching employment law issues relating to "at-will" employment of deputies--still alive and well in many parts of the country (especially the west)--civil service laws notwithstanding.

The book loses the 5th star-rating because of its readability difficulty; on the other hand, that is what makes it a great historical research document.

This book contains general, basic information on laborador retrievers. It leans more toward show labs than the working/field dog and lacks specific details. There are other books published that cover the same information, and so much more. For those interested in field trials and working dogs as opposed to show-labs, I recommend "The Working Retrievers" by Tom Quinn.

If your getting start in showing labradors, then you must read this book. The author gives you his experience on what a lab should look like in the show ring. Take heed - he definitely goes back to basics.

Characteristics and Temperament The main characteristics of Labradors are their coat, tail, head and temperament. They have a double coat: a soft, downy undercoat that keeps them dry and warm in cold water and a hard outer coat that helps them repel water. Their tail, described best as an otter tail, is thick at the base and tapers to a narrower point. It should not be carried over the back nor should it have a curl to it. It should, however, be at exactly coffee table height and always be ready to swipe one clean. Their head is clean cut and somewhat broad, with hanging ears. Their expression is alert and intelligent and conveys a kind, friendly temperament.

Their best feature is their temperament. Labs are loving, people oriented dogs. They are happiest when they are with you. Labs are retrievers and will bring you things they find laying about your house or yard. They tend to be quite patient with children and wonderful family dogs. They are not guard dogs. They may bark protectively, but will generally not act more aggressively. Labs are wonderful people dogs, more likely to lick someone to death than hurt them. They tend to be stable, not easily upset by strange things or occurrences. They will take many things in stride.

In the U.S., there are two distinct "lines" of Labradors: field lines and show lines. Field line Labradors have been bred with an emphasis on field or hunting ability, and show line Labradors have been bred with an emphasis on conformation and temperament. There is some dissension between the two groups, with field people claiming that show lines have lost much of their hunting and retrieving abilities, and show people claiming that field lines do not much look like Labradors any more and lack correct temperament. The truth is likely somewhere in between. Dogs from field lines will generally have a lot of drive, and will often exhibit more energy. Dogs from show lines might not be as fast, but most are capable hunters, though not necessarily field trial material. Either type can make a pleasant companion for a day out of doors.

Labrador Retrievers are people- and action- oriented dogs, and can become bored if left to their own devices. Untrained, they can be unmanageable due to their size and enthusiasm. Unexercised, they will often turn to destruction or escape to alleviate boredom and excess energy. They require attention and love as much as food and water. Labradors are easy to train which makes obedience work a fun way to interact with your dog. Labradors also require plenty of exercise -- this is especially true since most Labs love to eat! Ensuring they get proper exercise, training, and attention will give you a happy, healthy Labrador.

I enjoyed this book overall, but I must say that there were quite a few times when I found things hard to keep track of. The writing style leaves something to be desired. It almost rambles and leaves you guessing who's who and what's going on. But if you like Templar history I think you'll be glad you read it. He gives some good insights into the psychology of the time.

The Last of the Templars tells the story of Beltran, a knight of the Order of the Temple, following the fall of the Holy Land, where he was born, to the suppression and plundering of his Order by the king of France, Philip the Fair. The narrative is somewhat rambling with the main action concerning Beltran transporting the treasure of the Templars to Western Europe, a foreign land from Beltran's point of view; tying the story together is Beltran's mission to bury the heart of an old knight in Scotland. The opening is slow, even dull, but there are some fine action scenes later on, such as the abduction of the Pope at Anagni, and the voyage of Beltran's galley up the Rhone to its destruction. Overall there is a good balance of pace and mood and the flow of scenes is almost cinematic. Watson's self-consciously idiosyncratic prose is sometimes a distraction, and the internal musings of the characters can get a little tedious. Beltran himself is remarkably reflective when he's not lopping off heads and limbs. In fact, one of the weaknesses of the book is that the protagonist isn't as interesting or vivid as some of the other characters. For instance, King Philip and his Machiavellian minister Nogaret are delightfully fiendish; they provide some rare moments of humour. There are various other minor criticisms that can be made: some events portrayed are probably superfluous to the narrative, or that characters reappear out of nowhere at convenient moments, but despite these reservations I enjoyed The Last of the Templars. The author seems at home with the subject and I found this book a credible portrayal of that world, though I can't claim to be an expert. The only thing I really didn't like was the ending, though others might feel differently about it.

Where do I begin?

William Watson's prose simply *shimmers*... he has a way of capturing the setting and mood of a scene, not simply with metaphor and simile, but in his very writing itself. It's hard to explain, and really has to be read to be appreciated, but somehow, he uses syntax and words with incredible skill and power to directly reflect landscapes and emotions.

Nor does he pull his punches with characterization or history, completely ignoring modern myths about the Templars and any romantacization or anachronism: the people in this book in act and think like men of 1300, and moreover, all of them are individuals rather than cyphers, from the contemplative yet straightforward hero to the King of France's amoral and ruthless ministers.

In many ways, "The Last of the Templars" is an unashamedly literary novel: some might find it 'difficult', and Beltran, the subtly-drawn central character, is certainly not a stereotypical action hero in armour, but I found it it an immensely rewarding read; and while this is to a degree a philosophical novel, the plot is driven by character and political intrigue, and Watson writes bloody, zesty and utterly convincing battle-scenes.