Very accurate (or at least realistic) portrayal of warfare, politics, and religion. The lead character is a common English archer; however, some nobles have good dialog/speeches/parts that give their viewpoints. Before the battle of Agincourt, or Azincourt, the English lay siege to Hafleur. Hafleur is the "once more into the breech" battle of William Shakespeare's Henry V. ( )

Blood and guts and war and fighting galore! I wasn't sure I'd like this, but the close attention to historical detail made it all interesting. The plot-line was a bit pedestrian...poor, but strong and brave Nick Hook works his way up from outlaw to archer. He saves the fair Melisande at the battle of Soissons were she is about to be raped by an Englishman. They escape and fall in love, only to travel back to France the following year to lay siege to Harfleur and then eventually fight the big battle of Agincourt. The fate of Melisande's father is left unresolved, which annoyed me. Melisande is also annoyingly perfect. Read this one for the history! ( )

I love this author. This is the third book on the English long bow archers and I thirst for more. Nick Hook is a great character. the twists and turns in the story of his feud with the Perrills is well crafted. I have not read a bad book by Cornwell. I like his characters, I like his research and detail in the story. I have been to Northern France but wish I had read these stories first so I could visit these sites and imagine the battle scenes again. This book is a fast read, basically because I could not put it down. ( )

Agincourt begins with a decision to commit murder. Nicholas Hook, an archer for the local lord, attempts to kill one of his family's sworn enemies, a member of the Perrill brood. He is convinced that if he were to kill a Perrill, the curse that plagues his family would be lifted. He would be welcomed home and all members of the Hook pride would flourish. Instead, he merely grazes Perrill, which he is convinced is the curse at work, and finds himself explaining the incident to his lord with as few words as he can summon, the norm for Hook. Thanks to the lord's soft spot for Hook he is shipped off to London without the punishment some believe he fully deserved.

In London, after assisting in the execution of men and women deemed heretics, he hears a voice telling him to stop Sir Martin, a priest of his lord and a man not fond of Hook, from raping a young woman who was sentenced to die. He is uncertain of not only the voice, he believes it might be god speaking to him, but of what it is telling him to do.

Hook leaves for France and make his way as a renegade archer. He finds himself in Soissons, France and in the middle of a massacre. Hiding in a church, he once again hears the mysterious voice and this time acts as it demands. He saves a woman, Melisande, from being raped.

Hook and Melisande escape and find they like each other's company. While trying to make their way back to England, he finds himself in the service of King Henry V and part of the plan to conquer France so Henry can rightfully take his place as King of England and France.

Cornwell brilliantly describes the workings of a bow and clearly demonstrates the strength needed to harness the full force by the archer. His descriptions, which border on lessons, are worked flawlessly into the story. He is also quite graphic in describing the damage a bow, in the right hands, can do. One note for squeamish readers, you may find yourself passing over a few battle scenes quickly as Cornwell does not leave much to the imagination. This is not a deterrent as these same scenes add an intensity and brutal reality to the work that brings 15th century warfare to life.

The story is fast paced with a lot tension thanks to Hook's penchant for attracting trouble and desire to right what he perceives as wrong. All of the drama is neatly resolved in the end but that doesn't hurt the story. Cornwell is a real storyteller. He put the reader in the middle of the action so they can feel a bowstring being pulled and bones crunching beneath a sword. It's a great read. ( )

WOW!

Another book I would normally not look twice at ... I deliberated over buying it but I am delighted I did. This is not for the squeamish - the detail of the warfare and the killings are graphic. Yet they are in context and proportion to the story.

It isn't just the blood letting that is brought to life as you read - the disease that afflicts the invading army is described in detail too ...

Unlike Restoration this offers the full package - historical detail; likeable / believable / interesting characters; and a story.

Thoroughly recommended. ( )