Agincourt

Book Description

Critics

• Bookreporter.com - AGINCOURT by Bernard Cornwell

  Here’s the situation. You’re a peasant, and as we used to say back home, you’re so broke you can’t pay attention. You’re in the middle of a medieval battlefield, filled with rough characters and sharp weapons, with nothing to cover your own precious ... (read full critics)

  bookreporter published on Thu, 2 Sep 2010

• Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell

  Bernard Cornwell’s novel Agincourt is a hybrid in which romance has been cross-pollinated with naturalism. The main fictional narrative begins in 1414, a year before the climactic battle at Agincourt between English and French troops. The tale recoun ... (read full critics)

  popmatters published on Wed, 1 Sep 2010

4 Reviews

• 1 person find this helpful

  *** This comment contains spoilers! ***

  

  This is the first time that I read (okay, listen to) a book simply because I like the reader. Agincourt is read by Charles Keating, who read The Lighthouse and The Murder Room and Death in Holy Orders by P.D. James. His voice is affectionate without being to sentimental, ... (continue)

  This is the first time that I read (okay, listen to) a book simply because I like the reader. Agincourt is read by Charles Keating, who read The Lighthouse and The Murder Room and Death in Holy Orders by P.D. James. His voice is affectionate without being to sentimental, authoritative yet kind and his reading is always engaging.

  Agincourt is about the battle took place in 1415 that shocked Christendom. The Battle of Agincourt, or Azincourt in French, was of little real significance in the hundred year war. For Henry V, it had not been a successful campaign since he marched his army onto Upper Normandy. However, the fact that the sickness stricken and exhausted English army was able to defeat the healthy, well-equipped French who outnumbered the English probably 4 to 1 (even 6 to 1) makes the battle fascinating. Shakespeare's play Henry V which centers the battle doesn't hurt, either.

  In Agincourt, Cornwell tells the story not from the King, not from the gallant Sir John Cornewaille, who was a real Agincourt hero, but from an archer's point of view. Because of that, we are able to experience the battle in closeup. Not on a horseback in shiny armor, but really see the nastiness and fear of the battlefield. While telling the riveting story, Cornwell manages to delivering a great deal knowledge on battlefield maneuver and medieval war technology, which doesn't interrupt the story but make it even more engaging.

  I thoroughly love it.

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  Ashley H. said on Feb 21, 2010 | Add your feedback

• 

  It's hard to describe whether this is a book more suitable for men or women. It does spend extensive time describing battle scenes, but not in the way of Virgil or Homer where his every sword thrust (and those of his father and grandfather) are described in intense gory detail. This novel is histo ... (continue)

  It's hard to describe whether this is a book more suitable for men or women. It does spend extensive time describing battle scenes, but not in the way of Virgil or Homer where his every sword thrust (and those of his father and grandfather) are described in intense gory detail. This novel is historically based, which I found relatively interesting, but the subplot described through the life of the protagonist was infinitely more engaging. There is a love story, but a mild one- not enough to turn off the more fighting-oriented reader

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  Sarabear135 said on Feb 27, 2010 | Add your feedback

• 

  wonderful

  I wonder why they don't make movies out of books like this.
  Sure there's the "Sharpe" series for those who live in Great Britain, but I'm sure that it would be great to translate epic history novels (like these that Cornwell writes so well) into epic movies.
  A must-have for all those who love battle ... (continue)

  I wonder why they don't make movies out of books like this.
  Sure there's the "Sharpe" series for those who live in Great Britain, but I'm sure that it would be great to translate epic history novels (like these that Cornwell writes so well) into epic movies.
  A must-have for all those who love battle tales

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  Truthkeeper said on Dec 17, 2009 | Add your feedback

• 

  A Master

  I would read anything that Cromwell writes. He weaves a magnificent story into historical events as per usual.

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  Commie120 said on Jan 28, 2009 | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
  (23)
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• English Books
• Others 512 Pages
• ISBN-10: 0061578908
• ISBN-13: 9780061578908
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Pub date: Dec 22, 2009
• Also available as: Hardcover and eBook
• In other languages: other languages Livres Français, Libros en Español, Livros em Português

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