344 Pages
Yale University Press
November 17, 2015
Hardcover
Blurb
Published in partnership with the Royal Armouries, this comprehensive, sumptuously illustrated volume provides a defining reassessment of England’s legendary victory on the fields of Agincourt on October 25, 1415. Dramatized by William Shakespeare in Henry V, the Battle of Agincourt changed the course of the Hundred Years War and Britain’s relationship with her longtime enemy, France. In a remarkable work commemorating the 600th anniversary of arguably the most iconic military engagement of the medieval era, a wide range of experts examine the battle in its political, cultural, and geographical contexts, detailing strategies, tactics, armor, weapons, and fighting techniques while exploring the battlefield experiences of commanders and ordinary soldiers alike. In addition, this all-encompassing study offers deep analyses of many artifacts and aspects of the battle and its aftermath that have rarely been covered in other histories, including medicine and hygiene, the roles of faith and chivalry, the music of the times, and the experiences of women.
My Review
I was absolutely amazed when I received "The Battle of
Agincourt." It is an absolutely beautiful, hardcover book that is filled with
full color, crystal clear images related to Agincourt. The pictures are of
different artifacts from the time period, paintings of those involved, photos
of armor and weapons, and more. And, it's not 10 pages of color pictures stuck
in the middle of the book, like many nonfiction novels. No, this book has these
amazing pictures throughout! On basically every page there is a picture, as
well as a description along with it. I spent quite a bit of time flipping
through it in order to see the beautiful pictures before I even began reading
it!
However, when I started to read it, I was just as impressed
and as engrossed with what I was reading as I had been with the pictures. It is
a nonfiction book, but information is not presented in a boring or text book
like fashion. The facts are presented in a linear fashion, and you do not need
to be a historian in order to easily follow along, and learn more about this
battle and time period than you would have ever thought possible. I cannot even
fathom the amount of research that had to have gone into this amazing book. It
is the type of book that I will keep on a table in my living room, as a 'coffee
table book', so that I can share the amazing photos with friends and family.
Even those who are not huge 
It is impossible to give this book less than five out of
five stars. It has everything that a nonfiction book should have. If more
nonfiction books were like this one, than I would spent less time lost in my
historical fiction books, and more time learning about fascinating times and
places in history. Reading "The Battle of Agincourt" has stirred my interest in
this period in history, and I will most definitely be on the lookout for more books
from this time!
Reviews
“An exceptional study to mark the 600th anniversary of the
victory of an invading English army over its French foes in the Battle of
Agincourt . . . [A] comprehensive, one-volume survey of the battle and its
significance.”—Choice
'A thought-provoking collection of studies by outstanding
specialists of one of the most remarkable military campaigns of England's
medieval history.'—Jonathan Sumption, author of The Hundred Years War
'A completely absorbing account of the how and why of
Agincourt – strongest, and indeed unrivalled, in all aspects of the battle's
historical context – and the political and social conditions surrounding
it.'—Robert Hardy, author of Longbow: A Social and Military History
"Agincourt is a battle of totemic importance. This book
is not only a worthy contribution to a significant anniversary in its own
right, but also an essential addition to scholarship on medieval military
history."—Jeremy Black
About the Authors
Anne Curry is Professor of History and Dean of the Faculty
of Humanities at the University of Southampton. Malcolm Mercer is Curator of
Tower History at the Royal Armouries Museum.
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