Henry V: Playboy Prince to Warrior King

by Anne Curry

Henry V's invasion of France, in August 1415, represented a huge gamble. As heir to the throne, he had been a failure, cast into the political wilderness amid rumors that he planned to depose his father. Despite a complete change of character as king - founding monasteries, persecuting heretics, and enforcing the law to its extremes - little had gone right since. He was insecure in his kingdom, his reputation low. On the eve of his departure for France, he uncovered a plot by some of his closest associates to remove him from power. Agincourt was a battle that Henry should not have won, but he did, and the rest is history. Within five years, he was heir to the throne of France.

Anne Curry explores how Henry's hyperactive efforts to expunge his past failures, and his experience of crisis, which threatened to ruin everything he had struggled to achieve, defined his kingship, and how his astonishing success at Agincourt transformed his standing in the eyes of his contemporaries, and of all generations to come.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Medieval History, Medieval, Royalty, European History

143 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 2015

About the author

Anne Curry is Professor of Medieval History and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Southampton, after teaching for many years at the University of Reading. She has published many books and articles on the Hundred Years War, as well as definitive works on Agincourt itself and an on-line database of all known soldiers between 1369 and 1453 (www.medievalsoldier.org ). An historical advisor to the battlefield centres at Azincourt, Shrewsbury, and Bosworth, she is co-chair of the "Agincourt 600" committee, tasked with organizing the commemorations of the sixth hundredth anniversary of the battle. President of the Historical Association between 2008 and 2011, she is also a former Vice-President of the Royal Historical Society.

Reviews

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

An comprehensive short biography of King Henry V. Anne Curry has written extensively about the Battle of Agincourt and that research informs the book but she also includes lesser known information about Henry V including his book collection (Henry enjoyed Chaucer and other English language authors) and patronage of the Bridgettine monastic order. Curry concludes that Henry was "one of England's busiest kings," an accurate assessment considering his achievements in war, diplomacy and politics before his early death at the age of thirty-five. A fascinating read.

[M. Chéwl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Curry provides a pleasingly concise yet comprehensive biography of Henry V in this edition from the Penguin Monarchs series. Beginning with his early days as the debauched ‘playboy prince’, Henry indulges his carnal pleasures and befriends Lollard John Oldcastle - who would later be repackaged by Shakespeare as ‘Falstaff’. Henry grows increasingly impetuous and disapproving of his moribund father’s rule; but he waits in the wings and achieves reconciliation with him before he dies.

Upon his ascension, Henry is a changed man; he pursues his regal duties in earnest and is soon revered for his piety and his indomitable military prowess. Indeed, Henry becomes the consummate warrior king. He is not only adroit in martial affairs, but he is shrewd and diplomatic in negotiation as well. He seals an emphatic victory for England against the French in the battle of Agincourt; defying all the odds, his determined style of command, guile and tactical astuteness prove superior.

He is magnanimous to those who accede to his will, and ruthless to those who show recalcitrance. He is then betrothed to the young maiden Catherine, daughter of the French king Charles VI: whose tenuous grasp on sanity left France vulnerable throughout this period. Catherine provides Henry with a male heir, and then, without warning and with the same incisive brutality he had delivered to others, Henry is struck dead at the age of 35.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up
This was short, concise and well paced.

[Raymond Nassif · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brilliantly composite narrative of Henry V's short life and reign. King for just under 10 years, Henry's life was eventful and significant. It was he, with his victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, his retaking of Normandy in 1417 and the signing of the Treaty of Troyes in 1420 that left him as the heir and regent of the French throne. The realisation of Edward III's ambition more than 50 years earlier. He was an able and charismatic leader, intelligent, capable of multi tasking with a fervent attention to detail. Perhaps what is most remarkable about Henry was not just that he won the crown of France, but that he endeared himself to the French by his firm but fair rule. This was a style of Kingship that Henry strongly believed in, often pardoning those who opposed his rule, and placing even those who were not necessarily sympathetic to his rule in positions of power. Had his life not been cut short at just 35 perhaps the double monarchy of England and France would have succeeded and the History of Western Europe would have been very different. We will never know. However the many successes of his short reign have left him as one of the most beloved and admired of Medieval England's Kings.

[Christopher Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to other books in this series, a conventional slimline biography. Covers the basics of everything, ideal for an introductory biography.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and to the point, this is a really good starting point if you're interested in the reign of Henry V.

[Paul Bullock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the beautifully designed Penguin Monarchs series, this monograph of Henry V is fascinating and accessible. You don't need to have read Henry I-IV to get what's going on or anything.

[Carolina Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry V: A King for his times

Short but straight to the point. This is the best 101 summary and breakdown of Henry V reign. Highly objective, precise and factual, Anne Curry leaves nothing left unchecked. If you're already familiar with the story, there's jogging nothing new for you to learn here. However, it's an essential book for you to read because it is an instant memory refresher that will reinvigorate your interest in this time period and bring out the historian in you.
Much like the battle scar on his cheek, the legacy of Henry V has been scarred by fiction and selective reporting. The real Henry V continues to elude us. Anne Curry shines a light on him, showing us a more complicated and troubled man than any of his namesakes, including his father.
If there is any moral to be found in his tale, it's that we're not meant to understand him nor hail him as a hero (though his determination and military prowess does merit admiration) or swing the pendulum the other way and condemn him for being yet another medieval warlord seeking glory for himself and his kingdom. We can condemn his actions and criticize his taciturn nature without painting him with broad villainous strokes in the name of 'fairness'. Rather, this is an appeal to reason and for objectivity when it comes to Henry V and all the other players involved in this violent and backstabbing battlefield which Henry willingly thrust himself in.

[me · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fine, it's just that he's what we might call a "battles king" ie he's famous for winning some and for being at war with France (like most medieval English kings) and with a short reign that means the book spends a lot of time on military things which just aren't my cup of historical tea generally, and I don't feel inspired to go on and read a longer about him any time soon. So I appreciated this being a short read, and I have liked most of these wee Penguin Monarch books that I've read so far.

I did get the impression from this book that it'd be easy for a historian to fall into hagiography with this guy (because Winning Battles and dying before he could lose the territory, plus... well, his son's reign wasn't what you'd call "a success" so the contrast there is obvious) and this book seemed to be trying to avoid that and apparently managing it.

[Stuart Ian Burns]

The author of numerous much thicker books about Agincourt offers a quick but dense survey of Henry V's life, referring only briefly to Shakespeare when necessary to debunk some of the outrageous myths. The general sense is that as with most of his "history" plays, Shakespeare concertinaed events for dramatic purposes, with the wedding to Catherine happening some time after the key battle rather than as though she was simply a prize for his victory. But overall in following the distillations of the same chronicles which are still the bedrock of historical research into Henry V, Shakespeare's play is more accurate than some of his other works.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief biography of the warrior King of England, his startling triumph at Agincourt and the military and political prowess that extended his rule across the Channel and made him regent and heir apparent of the Kingdom of France. After Agincourt and his subsequent string of victories in France, Henry died of typhus in his newly conquered kingdom at the age of 35, at the very height of his power. Another of history's tragic examples of man's unrelenting capacity for self-delusion.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual type of book, being non- fiction and historical but once I got into it, it was surprisingly enjoyable. A very succinct book outlining the entirity of Henry V's life. A good start to looking into Henry V (I'm studying him for college). There's a lot of information anbout all aspects of Henry, from his military skills to his attitude which is good- it doesn't just focus on Agincourt. Highly recommend if in need of an informative and engaging book.

[Anthony Akoto · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This bite-sized account manages to chronicle (in good detail) the key events and some lesser known facts regarding the short life of Henry V.

One can only speculate the ramifications for European History had the ambitious English monarch consolidated his influence as heir to the Kingdom of France.

[Sally O'wheel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot more manageable for me than the Henry IV Penguin Monarch. Henry V had a much shorter life, so that helped. It was well written and easy for me to follow, not having any previous knowledge, outside Shakespeare. Although it is rather sad that he died so young and you can't help wondering if the War of the Roses would have happened had he not died so young, leaving Henry VI a baby.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this - some might consider it a little dry but it's solidly grounded in fact which I like. I would say this is especially good if you are relatively new to this period of history as it gives a good coverage and background to Henry's reign.

[Ilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captures the hyperactivity that drove Henry V’s success. Admirable in noting where sources are silent. Although there is an indication that as a prince he behaved badly, it seems it was mostly a product of frustration at not being king.

[Daniel Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent account of Henry's life but I'm not a huge fan of it reading like a series of annals. The parts about France are the best bits for sure!

[Thomas Wan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Exceedingly short;
2. Emphasizes Henry's change after inheriting the throne. His self-presentation as a king just and correct;
3. Lacking in covering the king's personality

[Hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ 3.5 stars rounded up ]
maybe i’ll actually read the play at some point 😳

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the very best from this series - especially for the period when he was effectively regent of France.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Curry’s Henry V: From Playboy Prince to Warrior King is a slim biography of one of the most celebrated English kings that forms part of the Penguin Monarch series. There is a lot to recommend it. The biography itself is only 116 pages long (not including notes, further reading or index), so it is succinct and able to be read in one day. Despite this, Curry’s approach is thorough and provides insights into Henry V’s character, actions and reign.

I am not a qualified historian or anywhere close to thinking myself as an expert, but there were a couple of things Curry spoke of that seemed to contradict other things I had read about Henry V’s life and reign. For instance, I thought it was generally accepted that during his father’s exile, the twelve-year-old Henry was part of Richard II’s household, but Curry says he wasn’t.

It may be that Curry’s research is more recent and ground-breaking than the other biographies I have read, or simply a matter of historians having a difference of opinions over evidence. But it’s important to note, however.

[Miki Persson Caracciolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am firmly convinced -after reading this- henry v was the most competent man to ever rule england (and sort of france)