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"- 'Mr Seward shows us all the famous sights of those roaring times... and illuminates them with an easy scholarship, a nice sense of detail... and a most agreeable clarity of style.' New Yorker - 'Sharp with political and military sense.' C.P. Snow, Financial Times - 'A well-written narrative, beautifully illustrated, and which takes into account most recent scholarship. It is also a good read.' Richard Cobb, New Statesman
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For over a hundred years England repeatedly invaded France on the pretext that her kings had a right to the French throne. France was a large, unwieldy kingdom, England was small and poor, but for the most part she dominated the war, sacking towns and castles and winning battles - including such glorious victories as Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt, but then the English run of success began to fail, and in four short years she lost Normandy and finally her last stronghold in Guyenne. The protagonists of the Hundred Year War are among the most colourful in European history: for the English, Edward III, the Black Prince and Henry V, later immortalized by Shakespeare; for the French, the splendid but inept John II, who died a prisoner in London, Charles V, who very nearly overcame England and the enigmatic Charles VII, who did at last drive the English out. Desmond Seward's account traces the changes that led to France's final victory and brings to life all the intrigue and colour of the last chivalric combats as they gave way to a more brutal modern warfare.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The book does exactly what it says on the cover... it's a brief (but suprisingly detailed) look at a very long, very bloody conflict between two great nations in a period of many changes. He handles the political events of the period with care, never overpowering the reader with to much data.
The battle descriptions are fantastic, some of the best I've read outside of historical fiction. The Hundred Years War is in my opinion one of the most interesting periods of history and Seward does it justice, describing in detail the colourful characters of the period including Edward the Black Prince, Henry V and the mad Charles VI of France (he thought he was made of glass... not to good a conviction when in battle)...
This book will leaving you desperate for more information on the period, I would recommend any of the Osprey books to do with the period (in particular that on Crecy), The Bowmen of England by Featherstone is also a good light read... and of course the Jonathon Sumption epic histories...
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As the typical student of history at school, I found the subject tedious and irrelevant. Not so with this book. The years flew past as the author gave us enough information to identify with the main characters, enough details of the main events without becoming overwhelming and enough of the gory details to keep us interested! Holidays to South western France will never be the same again. This is history without the corderouy jackets, without the essays, warts and all. Fascinating.
PS It is no wonder the French still do not trust us as a nation.
PS It is no wonder the French still do not trust us as a nation.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Desmond Sewards ' A Brief History Of The Hundred Years War ' is a great introduction to the subject, the 100 years war is a little complicated for the novice enthusiast to absorb. It was a complex affair, political , ambitious, and greedy by our Barons, and the French. This book deals with all three issues and more,it is replete with names of protagonists,politicians and priests who took part in some way. The major battles of the conflict are covered quite well,there are also some comparitively minor affairs of arms also given representation in a well researched and measured way. In my opinion this book could be useful to a teenager for preperation purposes, indeed in this form of text they may even find it interesting. ( do teenagers still read books ? ) Anyway it is a good effort, but the specialist would certainly need more in depth text. At this price it is good value entertainment. A Brief History of the Hundred Years War: The English in France, 1337-1453
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very compelling
Like many (maybe most?) of us I had only vague notions about the Hundred Years' War. Perhaps it's different if you're born in England or France, I can well imagine that both for... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Didier
great read
a great book. very readable and full interesting and informative facts. if you are doing a200 with the ou, as i am, you will find this clarifies many points.
Published 6 months ago by mgw
A good introduction
I'm not a history specialist but learnt just enough about the subject to allow me to understand a bit about the events of the 100 Years War and its consequences on the landscapes... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Stirling English
Readable
One of the few really readable books I have bought on the subject. Its fast paced and gives a good narrative overview of the war. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Stephenwunder
Very informative
Pacey to the point and very, very informative. I like the authors style and never got bored. Would recommend to anyone wanting an introduction to the subject or just an over view... Read more
Published 12 months ago by I. J. Sutton
The Master of History
I have read and re-read this account of the Hundred Years War and I love it. Next to his account of Elanor of Aquitaine and Henry VI, I find this book to be fantastic. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Histo Ry buff
Very accessible
I came to this thinking that it would be a bit of a dry slog to read, was I wrong! It was very accessible, clear and the descriptions of the battles quite exciting.
Published 20 months ago by AdNoctum
good, but..
i really enjoyed this book, however i felt it just skimmed over alot. i know it is 'a brief history of' but it just needed a little more depth for me. Read more
Published 20 months ago by A. Farrow
A begginers guide to "A Brief History of the Hundred Years War"
A good book if, like me your new to the hundred years war and wanted something to give you an oversight into the subject without getting to detailed/technical. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Steve in Sharm
The Hundred Years War
Desmond Seward's book on the Hundred Years Wars was a great read for me. It gave hinsight into a war that defined the policy of France and England for the next few centuries. Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2009 by Edward Rex
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