"The greatest writer of historical adventures today" (Washington Post) tackles his richest, most thrilling subject yethe heroic tale of Agincourt.
Young Nicholas Hook is dogged by a cursed pastaunted by what he has failed to do and banished for what he has done. He is driven to fight as a mercenary archer in France, where he discovers two things he can love: his instincts as a fighting man, and a girl in trouble. Together they survive the notorius massacre at Soissons, and, with no options left, head home to England. Discovered by the young King of Englandenry V himselfook takes up the longbow again, returning to France as part of the superb army Henry leads in his quest to claim the French crown. But after the English campaign suffers devastating early losses, it becomes clear that Hook and his fellow archers are their king's last resort in a desparate fight against an enemy more daunting than they could ever imagined.
One of the most dramatic victories in British history, the battle of Agincourt pitted undermanned and overwhelmed English forces against a French army determined to keep their crown out of Henry's hands. This exhilarating story of survival and slaughter is at once a brillant work of history and a triumph of imaginationernard Cornwell at his best.
Young Nicholas Hook is dogged by a cursed pastaunted by what he has failed to do and banished for what he has done. He is driven to fight as a mercenary archer in France, where he discovers two things he can love: his instincts as a fighting man, and a girl in trouble. Together they survive the notorius massacre at Soissons, and, with no options left, head home to England. Discovered by the young King of Englandenry V himselfook takes up the longbow again, returning to France as part of the superb army Henry leads in his quest to claim the French crown. But after the English campaign suffers devastating early losses, it becomes clear that Hook and his fellow archers are their king's last resort in a desparate fight against an enemy more daunting than they could ever imagined.
One of the most dramatic victories in British history, the battle of Agincourt pitted undermanned and overwhelmed English forces against a French army determined to keep their crown out of Henry's hands. This exhilarating story of survival and slaughter is at once a brillant work of history and a triumph of imaginationernard Cornwell at his best.