'The Talisman' is the second of Walter Scott's two classic 'Tales of the Crusaders' novels, the first one being 'The Betrothed' (these two books can be read in any order, however.) 'The Talisman' is set in Palestine at the end of the Third Crusade, and counts larger-than-life historical figures such as Saladin and Richard the Lionheart among its colourful cast of characters.