The Longbow

Osprey Weapons #30

by Mike Loades

An iconic medieval missile weapon, the deadly longbow made possible the English victories at Crecy and Poitiers at the height of the Hundred Years’ War. The longbow was the weapon at the heart of the English military ascendancy in the century after 1340. Capable of subjecting the enemy to a hail of deadly projectiles, the longbow in the hands of massed archers made possible the extraordinary victories enjoyed by English forces over superior numbers at Crécy and Poitiers, and remained a key battlefield weapon throughout the Wars of the Roses and beyond. It also played a leading role in raiding, siege and naval warfare. Its influence and use spread to the armies of Burgundy, Scotland and other powers, and its reputation as a cost-effective and easily produced weapon led to calls for its widespread adoption among the nascent armies of the American Republic as late as the 1770s.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, War

80 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[John Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Loades is an expert on medieval fighting. He brings energy and, not just bookish learning, but insights from hands-on use. I loved the five-part Weapons That Made Britain television series for which he was the host and chief consultant. And so I looked to see if there was anything else he’d done. I found he’d written two books, which I am so happy to have read.

The Longbow is not just a book about the longbow. It’s about its construction and how it impacted the development of armor, and types of armor, and the wood used for the bow, and how to make arrows, and what the various points were for, and how people trained, and then cared for the bows, and how it was used in war. And, again, the insights are not just bookish ones. He’s walked the battlefields. He’s used bows for years. He’s performed tests with them. It is a 80-page book that carries a monstrous bang for the buck and one of the best purchases I’ve made for my library. I loved it.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to archery, the weapons themselves, the different types of arrows, how they were defended against on a medieval battlefield as well as a great deal of practical information and a great social and political history of the longbow. For such a short book it packs in a lot of detail and information.

[H. Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid book if you want to know more about the Longbow in British history. It covers the socio-economic background as well as the technical questions and strategic considerations in medieval warfare. However, would have wished for more information on the evolution of the Longbow. The author draws on a wealth of resources and especially experimental archaeology conducted by himself. As always with Osprey Books the illustrations are well done.

[Robert Tostevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative with lots of great illustrations and contemporay pictures of the Warbow in action.

A good overview and introduction to this amazing weapon.

[Alejandro González · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantástico libro para conocer la historia, técnica, construcción y uso del arco largo inglés. Plagado de fotografías, esquemas y bellísimas ilustraciones, 100% recomendable

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great and very quick read. If you are interested in the historical practice of archery, this is a must have. Mike Loades, always entertaining, really knows his stuff.

[Public_enemy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the longbow, with also some insight in social conditions of England (and France)... on why they fielded such armies.

[Hope Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informational and an interesting read.

[Daryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but informative and interesting...