CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Nov. 2, 2009 – Dr. Thomas Madden, a history professor and director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Saint Louis University, will present a lecture, “The Crusades on Trial:  Medieval History vs. Modern Myths,” at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 in the University Center Ballroom.

The lecture is sponsored by Stan and Debbie Crader of Jackson, Mo., the Department of History, College of Liberal Arts and the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. The lecture is free and open to the public and will cover topics discussed in Madden’s books about the medieval time period.  

Madden is an award-winning author and media expert, and he has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, National Review and "The History Channel."  He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois with research specialties in Medieval Europe, Ancient Rome and Islamic History.