Book Description
From a master historian comes an astonishing chronicle of life in medieval Europe and the battle that altered the course of an empire.
Although almost six centuries old, the Battle of Agincourt still captivates the imaginations of men and women on both sides of the Atlantic. It has been immortalized in high culture (Shakespeare's Henry V) and low (the New York Post prints Henry's battle cry on its editorial page each Memorial Day). It is the classic underdog story in the history of warfare, and generations have wondered how the English--outnumbered by the French six to one--could have succeeded so bravely and brilliantly. Drawing upon a wide range of sources, eminent scholar Juliet Barker casts aside the legend and shows us that the truth behind Agincourt is just as exciting, just as fascinating, and far more significant. She paints a gripping narrative of the October 1415 clash between outnumbered English archers and heavily armored French knights. But she also takes us beyond the battlefield into palaces and common cottages to bring into vivid focus an entire medieval world in flux. Populated with chivalrous heroes, dastardly spies, and a ferocious and bold king, AGINCOURT is as earthshaking as its subject--and will confirm Juliet Barker's status as both a historian and a storyteller of the first rank.
Customer Reviews:
Approachable History.......2007-09-15
Juliet Barkers' Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle that Made England is a one of those rare history books where the characters and context all come to life. Immensely readable and highly informative I recommend this book to anyone wishing to know more about the history of England and the English speaking peoples. The only negative comment would be that, on occasion, there is too much detail about minutia, usually minor characters. However, that is just a quibble. Overall I highly recommend this book.
Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle that Made England.......2007-06-07
This is a fabulous read. Showing a high degree of respect to her sources, Barker treats the subject with integrity - provides the historical facts while educating the reader on conflicting conclusions of other historians. She also shows how contemporary reactions differ from a more modern reading of history.
This book also provides good insights into dynastic change in England primarily, but also in France.
I couldn't believe how hard it was to put the book down.
History the way it should be written.......2007-06-04
This is an outstanding book that manages to do the seemingly impossible: It's a scholarly, heavily annotated study that is also fast-paced and exciting. It's literally a stay-up-late page-turner.
The book does require some "unlearning." That is, what most people know about the Battle of Agincourt is based on vague memories of Shakespeare's play or film versions. The real story is actually better and more exciting than those. The battle was not fought in isolation; Barker's book allows us to see and feel the complexities of the social, political, and military situation in Europe at the time of the battle, and these complexities require some unlearning of what most of us think we know about that time.
The political situation at the time was hellishly complex, and at the time of the battle, Henry V knew for a fact that he was not only King of England, but King of France, too. Of course, since his father had deposed Rickard II to become King, his claim rested on shaky ground. In addition, the King of France knew for a fact that he was King, though France was plunging into civil war at the time over that claim. In addition, everyone involved was convinced that God was on his side. In short, the pot was boiling when Henry V decided to invade France to assert his claim. The Battle of Agincourt was the culmination of the struggle.
The book is divided into thirds. The first third details-- and I mean DETAILS-- the background, describing the lines of succession, the political and economic institutions of the day, and the basis of chivalry. The second third details the battle, both in military terms and in human ones. This is one of the most vivid accounts of what it must have been like to be in combat then that I have ever read. The final third details the aftermath and the long-term effects of the battle.
Barker is an academic historian, and she is very careful to offer sources for her conclusions, particularly when they differ from popular thinking. But she doesn't let this get in the way of keeping her story moving. It's actually easy to forget that this is serious history, but the annotations are always there for the checking.
The one thing that would have improved the book for me would be more and better maps. The two that are included just don't have sufficient detail. The genealogy charts for the British and French royal families could have been more detailed, too. It can be a challenge to keep track of the various dukes, barons, etc.
This is an outstanding book. It will reward someone engaged in serious historical studies and someone who just wants to read more about the battle after seeing Kevin Branagh's Henry V. I recommend it very highly.
Excellent read.......2007-02-21
I cannot begin to imagine the difficulty in writing history that can be read easily. Authors who are able to do this have a special gift. I have bought many books over the years that are dry as dust and hard to chew. The author of this book does an excellent job in making the nitty gritty details stay alive and the pages easy to turn.
Agincourt: A great medieval battle in France leads Henry V of England to greatness.......2006-10-20
Agincourt is the lastest book by noted Bronte biographer Juliet Barker. Barker received her Ph.D. from Oxford in Medieval History; needless to say she is an expert on Agincourt!
Henry V (reigned 1413-1422) was the greatest warrior king in British history. His victory over his French enemies at Agincourt on Oct. 25, 1415
led to an overwhelming victory. High ransom paid for French hostages added to Henry's coffers; the fame of England's victory was celebrated
in minstrely, poems, songs and most famously in Shakespeare's history play Henry V. (Later made into a famous film by Laurence Olivier in 1944 as the British along with their allies were planning for the D-Day landings in France.
Barker is excellent in limning the characters of such renowned figures as Rauol de Gaucourt the gallant French soldier who defended the town of Harfleur until it was forced to surrender. He was later imprisoned in England. Henry V comes across as a pious, good king who could exert cruelty and diplomacy in equal measures in the governing of his kingdom (he considered himself to be king of both England and France),
The book details how a medieval army was paid, fed, quartered; taught the arts of war and chilvary and what weapons were utilized (the English archers won the battle as they slaughtered the French attacking them in a rainy, misty dawn across muddy fields). The English had about 6,000 troops but triumphed over the vast French forces facing them.
The French were divided by hatreds and factions being poorly led. The English troops were led by Henry a military genius and charismatic leader.
Juliet Barker has done a fine job making this 600 year battle come alive for the reader.
Book Description
Agincourt is one of the most evocative names in English military history. Henry V's forces were tired, hungry, and faced a French army three to six times more numerous. However, they possessed several advantages, and English success resulted from the combination of heavily armoured men-at-arms with troops armed with the infamous longbow - the havoc this weapon wreaked was crucial. Using original fifteenth century evidence, including the surviving French battle plan and the accounts of men present in both armies, this title discusses the lead-up to the battle, the tactical dispositions of the two forces and the reasons for the ultimate English success.
Customer Reviews:
Short and concise and informative.......2007-08-21
If you want a quick overview of the battle of Agincourt, this is the book for you. Mr. Bennett does a good job of: providing an overview of the opposing commanders, discussing the troops (strengths and weaknesses), giving the political background, describing the battle field and (finally) describing the battle. He also explains the differing interpretations of the battle field and the position of the troops. He also talks about a recently discovered document of the French battle plans (and provides the text) that was recently found in the British Library. I would be remiss to not mention that the book actually starts with the battle of Harfluer and describes Henry's retreat through the French countryside before the final battle at Agincourt. As with all the books in this series, the illustration are terrific and the maps and battle plans are worth the price of admission. As with most books in this series, it is quickly read and is a great reference tool for the curious minded.
Good Overview.......2003-01-05
Agincourt 1415 (Campaign ; No. 9)by M. Bennett is a quality overview of an improbable military victory. In 1415, during the Hundred Years War, the English Army commanded by Henry V defeated a French Army many times its size. Bennett goes to great lengths to explain how this happened and concluded that it resulted more from the failures of the French to take advantage of their numerical advantage, then the brilliance of Henry V.
The book follows the typical Ospery format. The most significant difference is that Bennett goes to great lengths to discuss the controversies regarding the battle as well as the inadequacies of the commanding officers. Bennett does not go overboard with his praise for Henry V and discusses his success and failures.
All in all, this is a good read for one that wants an overview of the most famous battle of the Hundred Years War.
Book Description
Agincourt is a concise history of one of the most extraordinary battles in history.
Customer Reviews:
Too much French for me.......2006-01-05
The chief problem with this book is that the writer incorporates the French perspective by using citations in French with no translations. I took 2 years of high school French but I'm not that good! This could be overlooked except that, for obvious reasons, I was very interested to hear the perspective of French writing on this lopsided defeat. The experience was like someone telling a long joke and them mumbling the awaited punchline, or someone tearing out the last page of a riveting mystery novel. I simply can't believe key citations weren't translated.
Otherwise the study of Henry V was great, and I would like to hear more about him (except since he died young I probably heard it all already.) The treatment of the battle was superficial, but perhaps given the lack of material this could be understood, but more could be done.
excellent book, but to much credit to english longbow.......2005-05-08
The book was great. In responce to another person, you should read the book, not listen to it on tape, especially when it deal with a time period that has many ancient or lost languages. Yes this book uses old french, along with latin and middle english, but it is the time period so it should be used. I am a medieval history student, and at first i always thought that the longbow was the main reason for the english defeat of the french. However, various proffesors, have explained that the rain was more of the reason. The bolts from the bow probably would not have pierced the armor at the range suggested, and many proffessors are stating that the mud bogged terrain made it difficult for the french to move. The french had to funnel down the hill, and it was difficult to walk. A few knights fell, causing many others to fall, in which they could not get up. I have looked at both arguments, and i think a little of both were contributing factors. However, the author really only suggest the longbow for the reason. It is very interesting, i would most deffinately suggest this book.
An Introduction To A Battle.......2004-09-11
In "Agincourt" Christopher Hibbert gives the reader a view of the battle of Agincourt, along with the preparations and the other portions of the campaign to reclaim King Henry's French inheritance. Although mostly focusing on the English, it does give some introduction to the French forces. When I read that many of the French troops were from Normandy I wondered how many of my ancestors were fighting on that field.
I found this book to give an informative insight into the dynastic quarrels of the 15th century, the challenges of military recruitment, the methods and weapons of combat and the characters involved in this battle. The comparison and contrast between history and Shakespeare's Henry V is interesting. Hibbert's assessment of Henry's character adds depth to the book.
This book is not a comprehensive history of the era by any means, but id does provide a map shot into one moment of it. All in all this merits a high recommendation as an introduction to this historic battle and a mild introduction for the reader with broader interests in the Middle Ages.
This story shall the good man teach his son.......2003-04-20
The title of this review is from King Henry V by William Shakespeare, and aptly sums up this book.
At Agincourt on 25 October 1415, the English were vastly outnumbered, cold, wet, hungry, on foreign soil and with vastly less equipment; the result was one of the most dominating victories against international terrorism.
France was the dominant military power in Europe, with at least 60,000 troops in the field in 1415. King Henry V brought about 5,500 Englishmen to France in the summer of 1415, in response to the French who had raided the English coast with impunity for years. Think of the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001; likewise, in the early 1400s, Plymouth was burned by French marauders, the Isle of Wight had been raided the following year and later, French forces landed at Milford Haven to support Welsh rebels.
Sound familiar? Well, despite these raids, the French were "negotiating" with the English to settle differences. Negotiating, negotiating and negotiating -- like some nations ignore UN resolution after resolution after resolution. Sound more familiar? Finally, the French got serious: They sent the English envoys back with a gift of tennis balls for the King and told him to play with his balls rather than meddle in matters beyond his capacity. Well, that's the story, anyway. Sorta like Weapons of Mass Destruction. Nations don't go to war, even against blatant evil, without good emotional reasons.
King Henry V had had enough. In November 1414, Bishop Beaufort ofr Windsor told Parliament "the more their King's dominions were extended, the less would their burthens become; and these things performed, great honour and glory would necessarily ensue." Besides, for the English in 1414, fighting and killing Frenchmen was fun.
This isn't the type of book most Americans would read. But, it nicely reflects current American habits of great forbearance, patience and decisive action when the time is ripe. Like Americans now in Iraq, with access to the world's second largest oil reserves, victory meant war could be very profitable. In the time of Henry V, profits came from prisoners of war who were later ransomed back to their homelands.
Like the war on Iraq, King Henry V relied on mobility, speed and hard-hitting weapons. As in 1940 with their Maginot Line, the French relied on armour; the English had the five-foot long yew bows, firing a three-foot arrow with a steel tip that could penetrate a solid oak door that was four inches thick.
But there was another more significant difference. Then, as now, France was elitist; some French knights refused to have anything to do with common soldiers. The strength of the English army was its common soldiers who voluntarily and constantly trained to maintain their proficiency with the longbow. They were the finest infantry in Europe.
In brief, such explanations are the beauty of this book. Obviously, since it was published in 2000, it doesn't cover the attack on the World Trade Center or the War on Iraq. But, many of the themes are recognizable. Hibbert doesn't merely tell us who won at Agincourt -- the French lost about 10,000 dead, the English about 100, and the English wound up with about 1,500 high-ranking noble prisoners -- he offers reasons why.
Victory led to the recovery of all English possessions in France and made King Henry V the leader of all Christendom against the Infidels, at a time when the Crusades against Islam were the epitome of military valour. Instead of leading a Crusade, King Henry V fell ill in the summer of 1422, and died in Vincennes at the age of 34. His heir was a baby-king, with actual rule conducted by a regent; they didn't have his powers of leadership or parliamentary support. In France, faced with English indecision and confusion, Joan of Arc rallied the French and within years everything King Henry V had won was lost.
Good History of a Remarkable Battle.......2003-03-03
Agincourt by Christopher Hibbert is a worthwhile overview of the campaign than led to and included the battle of Agincourt. Hibbert does a fine job recreating the events that led to the battle as well as the battle itself. However, the authors penchant for utilizing quotes solely in french is to say the least annoying. That aside, the strength of the book is the events that lead to the battle.
If one did not know the outcome of the battle before reading the book, Henry's victory at Agincourt would have come as a complete surprise. The English Army was much smaller when it arrived in France, and as each day progressed it was further depleted by battle, illness and the need to garrison towns. The French Army, which was several times the size of the English Army, had strung out the English Army. The English Army was short on food, deep in enemy country and was experiencing low morale.
What turned the tide, was the superior generalship of Henry V, the impatience of the French heavy cavalry, and the superior quality of English weaponry, particularly the long bow. The latter, gave the English the ability to make the French pay heavily for their impatience. Hibbert's writes in a very readable manner, and the book is recommended for one who wants a basic understanding of this portion of the Hundred Years War.
Customer Reviews:
Could not have reviewed it better - a great story.......2004-09-10
I cannot add anything to the wonderful review that the young person did earlier. That "Kid" hit the whole essence of the book on the head. The beginning of the book showed the really sad end to the Plantagenet era and the rocky beginning to the Lancaster saga. The story is wonderfully written by Jean Pladiy. I advise reading her books in order to get the whole essence of the history of the British crown.
The star of Lancaster rose and fell.......2001-06-29
This starts with Henry of Lancaster's (who became Henry IV) marriage to Mary de Bohun. She bears him six children, the eldest being Harry of Monmouth. Henry deposes Richard and becomes king, but the Shakespeare line "uneasy lies the head upon which sits a crown" is only too apt. His terror of becoming a leper is very poignant. Then he dies, and Harry takes the throne. His confession to the priest is tense, but fortunately the book lightens up. He believes in his claim to the crown of France, conquers the country, and marries Katherine of Valois, whom he has fallen in love with. The book ends with the coronation of his baby son, Henry VI. They curl his fingers round the sceptre, but they cannot place the crown on his head. Is this an omen of the disastrous times to come?
Customer Reviews:
A scholarly study - not for the casual reader.......2006-09-04
Although the book could be praised for its excrutiatingly thorough detail, I was personally disappointed. The book is more suited to a "credit class" scholarly group than the casual reader, such as I, searching simply for an entertaining understanding of the event. Despite the fact that the author includes minute detail such as pay records, important illustrations such as maps relating to the campaign and battles are not included in the text at point of discussion and lack clarity when found in the Appendix. Adding to my personal confusion was the omission of a glossary defining a multitude of terms which would be familiar only to those with a background in medieval warfare.
Splendid effort from Anne Curry, Agincourt explained .......2005-12-17
This book is evidently the product of extensive and painstaking research over what must have been a very long time. I, like many others, know about Agincourt mainly from Henry V as portrayed by Shakespeare. Anne Curry has been to extraordinary lengths to get right into the detail of events and extrapolate from the available information quite a different story. Fascinating insight into the period. Sometimes a little heavy eyelidded to keep going through some of the details but on the whole an intriguing read and well worth the effort. If accurate history is what you are looking for, told with authority, then this is a 'must have' book. Anne Curry I salute you, the hours that went into this and the efforts you have gone to are obvious, well done. Loved it, thankyou.
Book Description
Set against the sweeping backdrop of medieval England, Good King Harry brilliantly brings to life one of the most fascinating, conflicted monarchs in history: Henry V. Evoking the sights and sounds of fifteenth-century London, acclaimed author Denise Giardina artfully illuminates the double-edged sword of power--and the momentous events that unfold in the making of a king. . . .
A contemplative soul imbued with a compassion and mental agility beyond his years, young Harry, Prince of Wales--the future King Henry V--is marked early as the object of his father's scorn. For in the eyes of Lord Bolingbroke, his son is but a weak link in the House of Lancaster with a dangerous loyalty to the rebellious Welsh that must be broken.
As Harry reaches maturity, the battle within his heart grows fierce. Torn between the sensitivities of his soul and the uncompromising king he must become, Harry embarks on an odyssey rife with political agendas, sexual intrigue, and military combat--ultimately transforming into the accomplished monarch a volatile England so urgently demands.
Customer Reviews:
Riveting Account of the Crushing Weight of Royalty.......2005-04-20
Denise Giardina's "Good King Harry" is an in-depth exploration of one of England's most beloved characters and kings, Henry V. A comet who briefly streaked across the sky of northwest Europe, "Good King Harry" was a man who knew little of defeat yet experienced much loss, a man who bent his knee to no man but gave his soul to his beloved Welsh lass, Merryn, and a man who sought to bring peace with the sword.
Told in the first person (the language is more archaic, and slightly less accessible, than that used by other authors of medieval historical fiction such as Sharon Kay Penman or Bernard Cornwell) by Harry himself, "Good King Harry" spends as much time on Harry as a youth as it does as king. The eldest son of a warrior king, Harry is a bitter disappointment as he prefers wrestling and racing to the noble joust . . . and he also has the temerity to enjoy a little book-learnin'. The father-son disputes between king and prince are packed with as much baggage as any parent-sibling rivalry, only also with the added threat that father and son are capable of bringing swords to bear. Harry spends much of his youth balanced on the razor's edge between wilful disobedience and treason, and this battle weighs the otherwise radiant spirit down.
True, Harry does find his Falstaff in Sir John Oldcastle, who may not be as wondrous a character as Shakespeare's creation but is still a worthy comrade in cups as Harry raids the brothels and taverns of England. This relationship sours in the end, but not as expected . . . and it is a bitter schism indeed. Still, we get a lot of wenching from our beloved Prince Hal, and Giardina does not shy away from Harry diving into various beds and bottles.
Most of us know our Henry V from Shakespeare, and Giardina's Henry is true to Shakespeare's creation, even if not nearly as poetic. Her novel takes a broader scope of Henry's life, and through this wider expanse we meet Henry's true love. The Prince of Wales reluctantly goes to war in Wales to bring the rebels to heel, and in the course of doing so develops a love for his fellow Welshmen, and in particular for a Welsh maid, Merryn. A hotly contested love, Merryn is as fiery a spirit as Henry and not burdened by the weight of nobility. Giardina creates a romance for the ages with these two, and their bitter early parting is the most moving passage in the book.
Harry, as we all know, eventually becomes king and raids France. The Shakespearean Henry V is not nearly as conflicted about this raid as Giardina's, and these heavy doubts make Henry a wonderfully conflicted character. Giardina can write a battle scene very well, although she does not spend as much time with the battles as, say, Bernard Cornwell, she still throws a bunch of action at the reader.
But the high points of the book are easily Henry's emotional peaks and valleys as he contemplates his loves and his losses and the heavy price a king must pay to lead his nation. All in all, "Good King Harry" depicts a wonderful man who achieves great things -- some of them terrible, some of them astounding, but all of them great. While not the best historical fiction you can pick up, this is still an excellent book that will please fans of the Shakespearean Prince Hal/Henry V as well as those who have never experienced the Bard's take. A worthy choice.
Wow!.......2003-06-13
This was so good I bought an extra copy and gave it to a homeless man. Really, really great!
Great King Harry!.......2001-02-03
Although historical fiction has always been very popular, I don't
believe that this kind of fiction--recreating a real human being's
life--has ever come into vogue as much as it has in the last
twenty-five years or so. Just in the last year I have read several of
them, including Margaret George and Nigel Tranter, and I'm sure
there are dozens more that I don't even know about. Even Ronald
Reagan's life has been fictionalized, and he hasn't even had the
good grace to pass on yet!
Normally, a writer of historical
fiction will research a particular period of time, create their own
characters, put them in place, and let them go. This personalized
kind of thing--putting a voice to a known historical figure--seems to
me to be a much more difficult task. First of all, you have to stick
to the known facts. As much as you think you know, there is always
going to be somebody out there who knows more than you, and who will
gleefully hammer you if you get something wrong. Secondly, you have
to be bold enough to use your imagination when there are gaps, and at
the same time to do so in such a way that these suppositions fit in
with things which are known. For example, Henry was known to frequent
what were considered to be lower-type establishments in his youth. It
is unlikely that he smoked opium, or engaged in homosexual conduct, to
give just a couple of bizarre examples of the way history is often
distorted. Lastly, while conforming to these strictures, you have to
do the normal things that fiction writers do; you know, like creating
character, and sustaining a compelling narrative.
Ms. Giardina has
chosen to complicate matters for herself further by fictionalizing the
life of no less a personage than Henry V, who must rank very high on
the list of well-known English monarchs. A lot of people know about
him. Oh, and one other thing: Henry V has already been done. What
was the name of that guy? The playwright?
Indeed, this is what
this book appeared to be after the first 100 pages or so: a
novelization of the great Shakespeare plays: Richard II, Henry IV part
I and II, and HenryV. But no. It is so much more than this.
Clearly, Ms. Giardina did her own research, probably utilizing many of
the sources used by the great one. It is her own project completely,
from her recreation of historical events, to her imagination of
fictional situations, and to the motivations of her characters. And
she makes them all come delightfully alive.
The plot itself is
more than you could want for intrigue and adventure. It starts with
Henry, (his nickname is Harry) as a boy. He is held hostage by
Richard, and expects to die when his father, Henry Bolingbroke, usurps
the crown. As prince he serves under his father, who despises him,
and spends years in an effort to subdue a rebellion in Wales. He
finds a girl there, starving and alone in an empty hut with her dead
mother. She will become his only true love. As a young man, and
under the care of his father's lieutenant, he discovers a plot
against his father, and escapes in the middle of the night on
horseback. He earns glory by being made a captain in his father's
army and defeating these enemies at Shrewsberry, only to learn later
that his promotion was made by those who expected and hoped he would
be killed. Eventually, his own father plots against him, the
archbishop plots against him, and other supposed allies plot against
him. And then there are those who favor the legitimate heir! Even
after he becomes king, the intrigue doesn't end. Uneasy lies the
head which wears the crown!
But that's the historical stuff. As
to the made-up stuff, most of which occurs during Henry's early
life, Giardina succeeds as well. She wisely avoids the temptation to
recreate Shakespeare's bumpkins and clowns. No Falstaff will you
find here, and smart for her not to try. But her own creations are no
less compelling, and equally believable. Henry falls in love here,
meets true friends here, and learns duplicity here. He forms a bond
with the commoners which serves him later on, making him the kind of
king he becomes.
Shakespeare's Henry is a great nationalist,
appealing to the glory of England. Other versions paint him as a
megalomaniac, arrogant, and angry that the French don't give him
his due. Giardina's Henry is motivated by wanting to do good. He
recognizes the suffering of the peasants, and feels it is his duty to
make life more bearable for them. This is his motivation for the
French invasion. France, torn by civil war, was being ripped to
pieces by raping and pillaging bands of soldiers. Henry, having
brought peace to Wales through benevolent leadership, feels it is his
duty to bring his vision across the sea. He tries, and despite great
hardship and primarily through the force of his own will, he achieves
his greatest success at Agincourt.
But victory is often elusive, and
Giardini gives us no easy answers. Henry is a conflicted, sensitive
man, and constantly doubts himself. He recognizes that both his
actions and inactions result in the death of innocents. He despairs
when he sees that the small good he accomplishes is so easily
undone.
This is a terrific book. If you are looking for adventure,
it is here. If you are looking for a solidly researched history, it
is here. If you are looking for fine literature, it is here.
Ms. Giardina should be commended. This is historical fiction at its
best.
Wonderful capture of Henry V.......2000-09-07
I have just completed this book. If not for a rigorous work schedule I would have completed this book in only a few sittings. Giardina does a phenomenal job of capturing the feeling of the language Henry would have spoken without making it unreadable to modern readers. I studied the history of English monarchs and Shakespeare in college and found Henry V to be my favorite. Giardina actually creates a persona for Harry which is unlike most other authors, biographers and historians. Truly a great read and highly recommendable. I would have my English classes read this.
A book that makes human this unique British Kingý.......2000-06-07
To those of us not as well versed in the British history of this time, the King Henrys either seem to blend together or get lost in the pending battle between Lancaster and York, but this novel makes Britain's King Henry V seem much more human than history traditionally depicts him. The author doesn't delve deeply enough into the Welsh history of the time, especially Owain Glyndwr, but finally makes readers understand what could have been Harry's motivations. This is a good book for history buffs as well as simply an entertaining novel for the rest of the readers. It left me with more questions than it answered, but in this instance that seemed a strength rather than a weakness.
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Agincourt 1415
Michael Jones
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
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ASIN: 1844152510 |
Book Description
On St Crispin's Day, 25 October 1415, Henry V's English army crushed the French in the most famous battle of the Hundred Years' War. His outnumbered force of men-at-arms and archers repelled the repeated charges of the French mounted men and killed or captured the leading members of the French nobility. The encounter changed the course of the war and made a mark on English and French history that endures to this day. In this compelling new study, medieval historian Michael K. Jones looks critically at the historical evidence and retells in graphic detail the story of this extraordinary campaign. He also provides a fascinating tour of the sites associated with it - Harfleur, Henry V's route across northern France and the Agincourt battlefield itself.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting, but also quirky and out of date........2006-02-12
Burne's writing is clear, but his 1940s English attitude makes for some odd turns of phrase. More troublesome, his penchant for creative interpretation of primary sources leads to some unfounded conclusions. For example, his assertion that English archers were deployed in "wedges" within the overall battle line has been repudiated by historians including David Nicolle and Matthew Bennett. Regardless, Burne ofters an entertaining if not fully accurate read.
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Agincourt 1415
Manufacturer: NPI Media Group
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ASIN: 0752445669 |
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- Solid Overview of Henry V's Greatest Triumph
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Agincourt 1415 (Trade Editions)
Matthew Bennett
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
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ASIN: 1855329506
Release Date: 1999-07-01 |
Book Description
Agincourt is one of the most evocative names in English military history. Henry V's forces were tired, hungry, and faced a French army three to six times more numerous. However, they possessed several advantages, and English success resulted from the combination of heavily armoured men-at-arms with troops armed with the infamous longbow - the havoc this weapon wreaked was crucial. Using original fifteenth century evidence, including the surviving French battle plan and the accounts of men present in both armies, Matthew Bennett discusses the lead-up to the battle, the tactical dispositions of the two forces and the reasons for the ultimate English success.
Customer Reviews:
Solid Overview of Henry V's Greatest Triumph.......2003-09-09
If you want a solid, account of the Hundred Years' War most celebrated battle, well, you can't do any better than this. Mr. Bennet gives the reader solid information on the English and French leadership and Armies. The accompanying illustrations are helpful. This is typical of the Osprey series, a slim volume, packed with information.
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