Agincourt: A Novel by Bernard Cornwell
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Book Reviews of Agincourt: A Novel
Book Review: A Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never read a book by Cornewll and picked up the book at Costco because it was next to James Patterson and looked interesting.
Let me start out with the the writing style. I felt it was graphic and as I turned the pages, I really started to see the scenes and could picture the battlefield. I usually read 75 pages a day but Agincourt was so good and easy to read that I was doing about 200 pages a day and staying up much longer than I wanted.
I recently read Robin Cookes series about the templar knights and my chief complaint was that the book seemed to have a female perpective and the characters and battles were soft. Not so in Arigcourt this was the opposite. I am sure that Cornwell is a gruff beer drinking woman chasing kind of guy. When he writes about battle he talks about tearing guts out and leaving them on hangind on the poleax. He is brutal and descriptive which was appreciated.
The plot was also complelling with several sub plots that were tangled into the main plot. Once again well done and enough detail to the sub plots to make those stories interesting.
I really liked the book and I am going to invest in other books written by Agincourt. I would recommend this book to everyone as there is some history, romance, personal triump, blood and guts that no matter what you are into you will enjoy.
Book Review: Terrific Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I will not summarize the story since so many have already but just tell you that I have never, and probably never will, fought in a battle. The writing in this novel makes me feel like I have. I feel like I am in the middle of it all and can actually see Nick Hook raise his mighty bow and shoot it. It is so realistic that he even talks about men losing their bowels which I believe really does happen. I can see the French falling and hear the screams. Just magnificant writing.
I see some reviewers have quibbled on the exact accuracy of some of his descriptions. This is a historical fiction book. As such, if one or two items are not exactly perfect then get over it. One said there was too much information on the suits of armor. I found it helpful as it explained why the French had such a hard time getting up when they fell off their horses. Some of us are not historians and really want to learn about this time period.
I love his Saxon series and I like this one. My hat is off to you, Bernard Cornwell.
Book Review: An excellent historical novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Never having read a book by Bernard Cornell, I had few expectations but hoped to learn something about the Battle of Agincourt and life during the early 15th century. I could not lay the volume down and found myself reading passages aloud to my 12 year old son during a flight home. The historical images are vivid. The protagonist, Hook, a strong and masterful archer, brings to life an age of violence, privilege and injustice. The significance of the longbow to the art of war is beautifully described; and King Henry V's God-given inspiration for confronting the French in Picardy made a believer of this reader. The dialogue is lively, colorful and filled with convincing phrases of battlefield profanities. "Agincourt" is an excellent introduction to a fascinating age and characters.Book Review: the master of historical fiction at the top of his game
Summary: 5 Stars
Filling the large shoes of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell carries on the mantle of historical fiction par excellence. Historically accurate, vividly descriptive with strong characterizations, this book was a joy to read. This book is not for those who faint at the sight of blood; it is gory, the literary equivalent of "The 300" or the video game "Grand Theft Auto." Cornwell nevertheless tempers the gore of the battle with a wonderful mix of the love story of Hook, the archer, and his French girl friend, Melisande, the beauty of the French countryside, details on assaulting the ramparts of a medieval city, Harfleur - tres important these days - and the specifics of the English archers victory at Agincourt.Book Review: Blood & Guts
Summary: 5 Stars
Once again, Bernard Cornwall brings history to life--with a little artistic licence. Setting his story against real events he captures the horrors and depredations of battle in the Middle Ages. One can almost smell the stench as men fall victim to Dysentery, feel the pain as arms are lopped off. Such battles were brutal, men died from their wounds after suffering sometimes for hours. It's all there. A great read. And the English win--for which the French have never forgiven us.