The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat

This book later was made into a movie. It has a lot of interesting details though I would have liked more discussion about the overall trial by combat concept. A chapter on trial by combat, talking about past cases, would help put this one in context. The book is around two hundred pages with many pictures. It could have been a bit longer without too much problem.

I liked the book overall. We get more of a sense of the accuser (perhaps this foreshadows the ending) than the accused whose actions appear a bit curious. Early on, the accused seems a sensible, practical person, but comes off as particularly reckless later on.  The rape, however, very well can fit into the womanizing nature of the character.

The rape scene is portrayed as alleged and one reason to assume it happened is accessory is cited and the rapist's name according to the account.  The mistaken identity stuff doesn't really work though it became a popular alternative story. We cannot know exactly what happened, some of the details beyond our knowledge, but the information provided suggests to me that the accusation was accurate. 

The accused could had avoided the trial (spoiler: he died) by combat by taking advantage of his privilege as minor clergy. If he did survive, the alleged rape victim would have been executed as a perjurer. You really want this guy to die, even if the other guy comes off as a blowhard. One last note: there were later duels; this is the last one in France proper. 

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Good article about a white Mississippi woman, who voted for Trump and had hopes of a position in Republican politics, finding value in a critical race theory course.  Coverage of CRT should use people like this, of all races, to give us a true life look at what this is all about. Too much talking head, sometimes.