Since its welcome first appearance in 1978 (rev. ante xxx. 489–90), this detailed narrative of the last days of the Order of the Temple has deservedly established itself as the standard account in a major European language. Carefully analysing the various charges largely trumped up by Philip iv of France and his leading councillors, attempts to defend the order, the course of various inquiries by officials of Church and State, and the inexorably spiralling events that led to the burning of its leading members as well the deaths of many obscure unnamed brothers between their arrest in 1307 and the dissolution in 1314, Barber provided an authoritative survey which has stood up well to a further thirty years of research. In this enlarged second edition, he has updated his work by citing new editions of chronicles or record sources where relevant as well as incorporating detail from the wealth of new secondary literature in text and footnotes but without major alterations to form or judgements. Dispensing with two documentary appendices (the articles of accusation and an orthodox reception), he has perceptively expanded a note on recent historiography (pp. 294–311) which began as a short addition to the Canto paperback edition of 1993. This includes a fuller discussion of recent work on Philip iv's character and motives, while in the main text, that king's wider crusading plans get more recognition than they did in 1978. There is also instructive analysis of continuing differences in modern perspectives on the veracity of the charges against the Templars which all readers will welcome, ensuring continuing success for this excellent account of a horrifying episode from which few involved emerged with any credit.