The master of historical fiction has done it yet again. With "Agincourt", Bernard Cornwell takes the reader on an epic journey, following Nicholas Hook, a lowly English archer on a journey that starts in an otherwise quiet farming village in 15th century England and culminates in one of the most famous battles in history.
But before he can become one of Shakespeare's "Happy Few", Nick must overcome the schemes of duplicitous traitors, self serving priests and conniving neighbors on his way to a date with destiny.
As his readers have come to expect, Cornwell doesn't skimp on detail or historical accuracy, painting a rich picture of medieval life as a common soldier - the harsh training, foul living conditions, scant food and constant risk of death or disease in an age with only the most rudimentary grasp of medicine.
In the books' climactic final chapter, Cornwell describes the battle of Agincourt with the accuracy of a historian and the verve of a skilled writer. Medieval combat is described in all its' blood soaked detail, stripping away any romantic misconceptions the reader might have about the age of armor, battle axes and broadswords.
Bernard Cornwell was born in England in 1944, and adopted by a couple belonging to a religious sect known as the Peculiar People. After a brief spell as a teacher, he joined the British Broadcasting Corporation as a researcher for the popular news program "Nationwide". Denied a green card on entering the Unites States with his American wife, he took up writing, which required no permit, and began his career with the Sharpe series.
"The tale England's slog through France that resulted in Henry V's ascendancy. Actually a very good read with an eye for period detail by the author. The violence and courage inherent in the times comes through loud and clear -- quite a few soldiers get their eyes poked out with either an arrow, sword, or knife! Although it's historical fiction, it is rich with facts that make it a book I was eager to get through."
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Rich (4 out of 5 stars)