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Agincourt: My Family, the Battle and the Fight for France
25 October 2015 is the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt - a hugely resonant event in English (and French) history. Sir Ranulph Fiennes casts new light on this epic event, revealing that three of his own ancestors fought in the battle for Henry V, and at least one for the French. This is a unique perspective on Agincourt from a trained and decorated soldier. Ran reveals the truth behind the myths and legends of the battle. He tells how after the battle Henry V entertained his senior commanders to dinner, where they were waited on by captured French knights. There is the story of Sir Piers Legge of Lyme Hall, who lay wounded in the mud while his mastiff dog fought off the French men-at-arms. Then there is the legend that the French intended to cut off the first and second right hand fingers of every captured archer, to prevent him from using his bow. The archers raised those two fingers to the advancing French as a gesture of defiance. In this gripping new study Sir Ranulph Fiennes brings back to life these stories and more, including those of his own ancestors, in a celebration of a historical event integral to English identity.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
18 people are currently reading
800 people want to read
About the author
Ranulph Fiennes
98 books288 followersSir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE, better known as Ranulph (Ran) Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records.
Fiennes has written books about his army service and his expeditions as well as a book defending Robert Falcon Scott from modern revisionists. In May 2009, aged 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest. According to the Guinness Book of World Records he is the world's greatest living adventurer.
Fiennes has written books about his army service and his expeditions as well as a book defending Robert Falcon Scott from modern revisionists. In May 2009, aged 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest. According to the Guinness Book of World Records he is the world's greatest living adventurer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 4, 2016
This guy really doesn't want you to forget that he's talking about his ancestors. We get it.
April 4, 2016
This book, while interesting in a general sense, quickly becomes apparent that it is a monument to the authors ego. The history itself is rather generalized in the interest of time, but for a casual reader is plenty to understand what is happening.
My problem with this book is that I just don't care about the author. I'm sure he is an interesting and fine person; but his insistence on telling barely relevant personal anecdotes comes off as bragging. Really. In a book posing as a historical analysis of a major European geopolitical event, the author feels the need to tell us how he went on an Arctic expedition, using the qualifier that he understands how hard it is to raise money now (relating to King Henry's challenges). It is in incredibly poor taste and is quite sophomoric. It seems the author is trying to impress me with his barstool stories.
Just tell me about the damn battle. I can accept talking about the authors relatives, but increasingly it became an excuse to talk about the author himself. He seems to think that a general audience cares a fair amount about his family history. Related to the battle? It is interesting. Related to him? Yawn, and double yawn. The author is a merely competent historical writer: sadly, he suffers from "the world revolves around me" syndrome.
My problem with this book is that I just don't care about the author. I'm sure he is an interesting and fine person; but his insistence on telling barely relevant personal anecdotes comes off as bragging. Really. In a book posing as a historical analysis of a major European geopolitical event, the author feels the need to tell us how he went on an Arctic expedition, using the qualifier that he understands how hard it is to raise money now (relating to King Henry's challenges). It is in incredibly poor taste and is quite sophomoric. It seems the author is trying to impress me with his barstool stories.
Just tell me about the damn battle. I can accept talking about the authors relatives, but increasingly it became an excuse to talk about the author himself. He seems to think that a general audience cares a fair amount about his family history. Related to the battle? It is interesting. Related to him? Yawn, and double yawn. The author is a merely competent historical writer: sadly, he suffers from "the world revolves around me" syndrome.
September 29, 2021
As a toxopholist (longbow) and history buff I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written altbough it does on occasion jump back and forth in time so you have to pay attention. The detail is considerable and presented in a way that brings the characters to life so you get a very good understanding of life (and death) in the middle ages. It improved my knowledge and understanding of this era considerably. I cannot comment on the historical accuracy but it did not contradict anything I knew about the battle (and I have read several books on it). Highly recommended.
September 7, 2016
This was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting a more in depth analysis of the battle itself, and perhaps some detailed history leading up to the battle. Instead, we had a very light touch on about four hundred years of history, with details being saved for focusing on the author's ancestor's involvement. I am not sure why I care about the author's family - I realize some of them were key players, but not more than any others. To highlight them, with italics always, seemed to be a very odd choice.
I hadn't read the details on the march leading into the battle of Agincourt before, so that was an interesting back drop to the battle itself. The battle should've been won by the French for so many reasons (namely sheer numbers), but the battle went to the English due to:
(1) Poor battle formation on the part of the French (their side was hemmed in by woods on both sides, making more for a funneling effect of the soldiers); efficient battle formation for the English - long, thin line with longbow archers placed effectively to aim right where the French funneled
(2) Lack of French leadership - too many generals, so to speak - and none of them with enough status over the others to take clear charge. It reminds me a little bit of the Confederacy at Gettysburg. Additionally, the French leaders that were there were recently in the midst of civil war (and soon to continue it). You can't fight well alongside those you don't trust.
Also, all of the leaders wanted to be in the vanguard, leaving the rearguard essentially leaderless. The crossbowmen and archers were also poorly placed.
(3) Surprise charge/attack by the longbowman (mainly Welsh, for the English side) to put finality on the battle, when the French attempted a last charge. With arrows low and the range not quite right, the Welsh used hand-to-hand combat to turn the tide on a mostly disorganized French. I hadn't heard of that part before.
I hadn't read the details on the march leading into the battle of Agincourt before, so that was an interesting back drop to the battle itself. The battle should've been won by the French for so many reasons (namely sheer numbers), but the battle went to the English due to:
(1) Poor battle formation on the part of the French (their side was hemmed in by woods on both sides, making more for a funneling effect of the soldiers); efficient battle formation for the English - long, thin line with longbow archers placed effectively to aim right where the French funneled
(2) Lack of French leadership - too many generals, so to speak - and none of them with enough status over the others to take clear charge. It reminds me a little bit of the Confederacy at Gettysburg. Additionally, the French leaders that were there were recently in the midst of civil war (and soon to continue it). You can't fight well alongside those you don't trust.
Also, all of the leaders wanted to be in the vanguard, leaving the rearguard essentially leaderless. The crossbowmen and archers were also poorly placed.
(3) Surprise charge/attack by the longbowman (mainly Welsh, for the English side) to put finality on the battle, when the French attempted a last charge. With arrows low and the range not quite right, the Welsh used hand-to-hand combat to turn the tide on a mostly disorganized French. I hadn't heard of that part before.
May 12, 2021
I saw this book some time ago as a newly published hardcover at Barnes & Noble when it was published in 2015. Did not buy it until long after, when I came across it in paperback. It then sat in my “too be read” stack for at least a year. In all that time I did not read any reviews of the book until this past Monday (May 10, 2021) AFTER finishing it.
In some ways I wish I’d read the reviews BEFORE buying the book!
The actual battle of Agincourt is only a very short section of the book. Most of the rest is an account of the authors ancestors and how they tied into the royal families of England and France going back to the time of the Norman Invasion. That account delivers a rough outline on English history from just before the conquest to the reign of Henry VI (son of the victor of Agincourt).
Many times I found the ancestor name dropping a bit confusing. In more than a few reviews I read after the fact people mentioned not finishing the book for that very reason. Those reviews (on Amazon) gave the book 1 star. Maybe because I’ve developed an ability to skim past BS, I was able to finish.
Guess I would have joined the crowd giving this book a 1 star rating. Except that it revealed to me something that is not a secret of any kind, yet I do not recall seeing mentioned at all in the many histories and historical novels I’ve read of the Plantagenets. For those of you in the same boat I could call this a spoiler. But how can history have spoilers?
The one thing I learned from this book was that Prince Hal, the future King Henry V, took an arrow to his face at the battle of Shrewsbury. And far better accounts and descriptions can be found on line than in this book. I highly recommend using your favorite search engine and reading through the results. There’s even an excellent video on how the four inch long bodkin arrow head, which had completely penetrated Prince Hal’s sinuses, was removed.
In some ways I wish I’d read the reviews BEFORE buying the book!
The actual battle of Agincourt is only a very short section of the book. Most of the rest is an account of the authors ancestors and how they tied into the royal families of England and France going back to the time of the Norman Invasion. That account delivers a rough outline on English history from just before the conquest to the reign of Henry VI (son of the victor of Agincourt).
Many times I found the ancestor name dropping a bit confusing. In more than a few reviews I read after the fact people mentioned not finishing the book for that very reason. Those reviews (on Amazon) gave the book 1 star. Maybe because I’ve developed an ability to skim past BS, I was able to finish.
Guess I would have joined the crowd giving this book a 1 star rating. Except that it revealed to me something that is not a secret of any kind, yet I do not recall seeing mentioned at all in the many histories and historical novels I’ve read of the Plantagenets. For those of you in the same boat I could call this a spoiler. But how can history have spoilers?
The one thing I learned from this book was that Prince Hal, the future King Henry V, took an arrow to his face at the battle of Shrewsbury. And far better accounts and descriptions can be found on line than in this book. I highly recommend using your favorite search engine and reading through the results. There’s even an excellent video on how the four inch long bodkin arrow head, which had completely penetrated Prince Hal’s sinuses, was removed.
April 5, 2016
What are the words people usually use to point out that the English can be quirky, eccentric etc.? Either the author or the publisher who put him up to this fits the bill. Fiennes may be the best explorer who ever lived--Arctic and Antarctic not to mention Everest, 7 marathons on 7 continents, OBE (of course) and huge amount of money raised for the Heart Foundation. So this non-historian is treating us to speeding through English history from 1066 (actually he is related to Charlemagne but doesn't go back that far) to Agincourt in 1415. And? you ask. Because this bit of English history is littered with his direct ancestors--all of whom were in direct contact with the King. Therein lies the difficulty. As he makes his way though events (including the 100 Years War), Fiennes lets us know who his relatives are via italics. I believe the publisher wanted him to do this as a way of giving the book a unique slant. Needless to say, this is fine if you're an English history fan. Throwing in a bunch of names when you're already having trouble keeping the important ones straight doesn't work well for us Yanks. In addition to that, he sometimes drops in a paragraph about his own adventures. This is a book for those who know him and love him. I'm sure there are many--but maybe not on this side of the pond.
May 21, 2016
An excellent look , not just at the battle of Agincourt, but at the entire history of the Hundred Years War. Fiennes, who is descended from many of the major players on both the English and French sides, relates the convoluted history of the Anglo-Norman monarchy in an interesting way, bringing out the personalities of those who shaped history. Perhaps the best history book I've read this year.
June 24, 2016
The long long history of separation between France and Britain. Agincourt was one battle over the decades, I'm still not sure why it is singled out.
The read however is fascinating, if for no other reason than the author Fiennes describes his ancestors on both sides of the channel - fighting each other, for one royal member or another.
It puts into perspective just what OLD Money really is.
The read however is fascinating, if for no other reason than the author Fiennes describes his ancestors on both sides of the channel - fighting each other, for one royal member or another.
It puts into perspective just what OLD Money really is.
August 4, 2016
Detailed, interesting, but man, is this guy full of himself, or what?
May 6, 2024
[24 Oct 2021] Randolph Fiennes has written this book, essentially about the Battle of Agincourt, the hundred years war and the history of conflict between England and France as a personal challenge. He is the first to admit he is not a professional historian. His angle centres on the fact that his family - the Fiennes - were involved in the times, places and people and had central roles in the run up to the conflict. He states that when he mentions his ancestors - rather than receptively use the term - ancestor - he will use italics for their names. However he immediately abandons his rule and 'my cousin,' 'my ancestor,' 'my kinsman' and on occasion 'my great grandfather to the power of twenty' are used over and over again.
He gives extensive background - starting from the Battle of Hastings and continues the meandering narrative to a point whereby it becomes a blur. The names merge and the stories collide and confuse. His style is, at times, clunky, convoluted and I'm sorry to say uninspiring. One wonders whether he had access to professional editing or assistance, because almost two-thirds of the book is a morass of facts almost randomly collected and to be frank not well put together or told. The language is in need of some good syntax and a much better structure. His own experiences in the army, his polar-exploring, his middle-class schooling and country-house living convey a picture of a man with limited self-doubt. When he actually gets to a description of the Battle of Agincourt it improves and becomes more readable. It does give you an idea of the motivations of those involved, but although it contains lots of well researched facts - it is not, frankly that told well. Unfortunately I'm one of those people who once started - must finish a book, but if I'd have known I would not have started, despite the front cover being dramatic and bold. I really appreciate the amount of research put in, the effort of writing and the benefit of editing, but on this occasion there simply was something about the content and style of writing that was not for me.
He gives extensive background - starting from the Battle of Hastings and continues the meandering narrative to a point whereby it becomes a blur. The names merge and the stories collide and confuse. His style is, at times, clunky, convoluted and I'm sorry to say uninspiring. One wonders whether he had access to professional editing or assistance, because almost two-thirds of the book is a morass of facts almost randomly collected and to be frank not well put together or told. The language is in need of some good syntax and a much better structure. His own experiences in the army, his polar-exploring, his middle-class schooling and country-house living convey a picture of a man with limited self-doubt. When he actually gets to a description of the Battle of Agincourt it improves and becomes more readable. It does give you an idea of the motivations of those involved, but although it contains lots of well researched facts - it is not, frankly that told well. Unfortunately I'm one of those people who once started - must finish a book, but if I'd have known I would not have started, despite the front cover being dramatic and bold. I really appreciate the amount of research put in, the effort of writing and the benefit of editing, but on this occasion there simply was something about the content and style of writing that was not for me.
November 24, 2017
Fiennes' English-epic, 'Agincourt: The Fight for France' is a worthwhile read for anyone seeking an overview of English royal affairs circa 1066-1450 AD. From William the Conqueror to Edward III and Henry V, Fiennes' presents an easy-to-read overview of England from the Battle of Hastings to the end of the Hundred Years' War.
That said, the text was really anything but Agincourt, which was hardly a chapter of the entire book, and doesn't go into any greater detail than most works which include the battle. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I felt slightly cheated, as if I had been drawn into it by means of a buzzword.
A more accurate way to refer to the book would be 'The Fiennes' Family History.' Fiennes goes into plenty of detail recounting the history of his ancestors and their doings within the courts of England and France, which provided the book with an intriguing personal spin that you certainly would not get from any other author. While at times this droned on, I appreciated the flavor it added to what I was reading.
Ultimately, I would consider this book a success and worth the read, however misleading the title may be. I think the experienced historians of the time period could give Fiennes' 'Agincourt' a pass, but for the newcomer, I think this book is a perfect point of entry to England's exciting medieval history and a fun read.
That said, the text was really anything but Agincourt, which was hardly a chapter of the entire book, and doesn't go into any greater detail than most works which include the battle. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I felt slightly cheated, as if I had been drawn into it by means of a buzzword.
A more accurate way to refer to the book would be 'The Fiennes' Family History.' Fiennes goes into plenty of detail recounting the history of his ancestors and their doings within the courts of England and France, which provided the book with an intriguing personal spin that you certainly would not get from any other author. While at times this droned on, I appreciated the flavor it added to what I was reading.
Ultimately, I would consider this book a success and worth the read, however misleading the title may be. I think the experienced historians of the time period could give Fiennes' 'Agincourt' a pass, but for the newcomer, I think this book is a perfect point of entry to England's exciting medieval history and a fun read.
April 12, 2019
Place this book somewhere between history and ancestry since the author, Ranulph Fiennes, traces the The 100 Years War through the participation of his ancestors, both English and French. Agincourt, widely seen as a climactic battle in history (thank you, William Shakespeare), is almost a footnote in this book. The Fiennes family (damn large and damned involved in everything) appears on nearly every page as warriors, leaders, advisors, friends, bureaucrats, battle casualties, execution victims, etc., to every important person, including the kings of Britain and France. With the exception of the inclusion of Fiennes family, this book, while enjoyable, did not add a lot to my prior knowledge of Agincourt or The 100 Years War. On the flip side, Sir Ranulph Fiennes is a fascinating person and personality with a history worthy of a book. NOTE: If you have problems with names in Russian novels, avoid this book. Russian novels actually are easier. The names, families, titles of the Fiennes and the connections to each other are incredibly complex. The book must be read with a finger stuck towards the front of it so you can easily flip to the color-coded Fiennes family tree. SECOND NOTE: After reading the book and writing a brief review, I read some other readers' reviews. I had no idea so many of us would hold similar opinions.
August 20, 2018
I think those complaining about the main feature of the book are being a bit too harsh. Yes, he mentions his ancestors a fair bit, they do seem to be very prominent in the course of history. But that's pretty much a given, its in the title of the book.
Personally, I thought it was a unique slant on telling the story of the battle, the hundreds year war and previous events. It was pretty easy to understand, and I didn't get confused with name dropping here there and everywhere as is possible in other books. It gave a good overview of events, was easy to read, and was quite interesting too.
Maybe it's just because I haven't read about the hundreds year war before. But for me, it was an easy to read book which gave enough detail about the war and battle to be enjoyable. It wasn't some 500 page marathon with paragraphs of quotes which are barely understandable using 14th century grammar and spelling.
It's not perfect, he can go on occasional tangents about who's related to who in his family tree, which is in all honesty a bit confusing. And explaining some of his own exploits, isn't bad per say, but dropping in a paragraph and carrying on as before, it doesn't really add anything.
Personally, I thought it was a unique slant on telling the story of the battle, the hundreds year war and previous events. It was pretty easy to understand, and I didn't get confused with name dropping here there and everywhere as is possible in other books. It gave a good overview of events, was easy to read, and was quite interesting too.
Maybe it's just because I haven't read about the hundreds year war before. But for me, it was an easy to read book which gave enough detail about the war and battle to be enjoyable. It wasn't some 500 page marathon with paragraphs of quotes which are barely understandable using 14th century grammar and spelling.
It's not perfect, he can go on occasional tangents about who's related to who in his family tree, which is in all honesty a bit confusing. And explaining some of his own exploits, isn't bad per say, but dropping in a paragraph and carrying on as before, it doesn't really add anything.
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October 30, 2023I enjoyed this, being a longbowman myself and a member of the International Longbow Association, which is steeped in the history of this formidable weapon and its role in Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt and other seminal battles.
As much about the Fiennes dynasty - an astonishing one! - as the "Fight for France", it can be heavy weather because of the constant and complex ancestry references.
My copy has a different cover and amended sub-title, emphasising the family connections.
He is a remarkable man with a remarkable ancestry of heroes, villains and slippery characters.
Overall, though, for someone with a special interest in this kind of history, it's a winner, taken in short doses.
As much about the Fiennes dynasty - an astonishing one! - as the "Fight for France", it can be heavy weather because of the constant and complex ancestry references.
My copy has a different cover and amended sub-title, emphasising the family connections.
He is a remarkable man with a remarkable ancestry of heroes, villains and slippery characters.
Overall, though, for someone with a special interest in this kind of history, it's a winner, taken in short doses.
April 5, 2020
A cliff notes version of the Plantagenet dynasty, written through the lens of the Fiennes family. A bit self serving and aggrandizing. You don't actually get to Agincourt untill about 3/4 the way through the book. Not a particularly serious peice of historical non fiction although in the authors favor he notes that several times. Wasn't what I had set out to read, but was still worth the time spent.
July 8, 2022
The title of the book is slightly misleading, there is only one chapter on the battle. What Fiennes has produced is an idiosyncratic but readable history of England and its relationship with France from the conquest by William of Normandy through to the end of the Hundred Years War by reference to his many English and French forbears who took an active part in the seminal events of that 400 year period.
December 15, 2024
Really enjoyed this the history, insights, the perspective being his ancestors fought on both sides. Also the links to modern conflicts. He's certainly done his share. An interesting family history - interesting times.
I have read around this subject (Henry v1 and v) before but not specifically Agincourt; such that aim to visit some of the castles/sites mentioned in the UK sometime.
I have read around this subject (Henry v1 and v) before but not specifically Agincourt; such that aim to visit some of the castles/sites mentioned in the UK sometime.
January 22, 2026
A great historical account of Agincourt and more interestingly the writer’s personal ancestry to the people who fought in the battle. It gave the book a very different viewpoint and a very personal touch.
January 30, 2019
An excellent version of a rather personal part of the Fiennes family history!
July 8, 2019
Quiet, slow and dull. A love letter to his own family more than anything else. Do yourself a favor and pass.
April 18, 2020
Enjoyed the book for what it is.
April 1, 2021
I was really looking forward to reading this book, but must confess that I was disappointed in the end.
The book is no doubt an accurate historical reflection of events, but the constant reference to the Fiennes family grew heavy and I am sure that others must have been involved.
To give the account a story, then perhaps a single character should have been followed but in the end, there were so many references to so many different people, that I was frequently confused and had to go back to reread a section.
Perhaps it was just me, but as a purely historical account it no doubt has its place.
The book is no doubt an accurate historical reflection of events, but the constant reference to the Fiennes family grew heavy and I am sure that others must have been involved.
To give the account a story, then perhaps a single character should have been followed but in the end, there were so many references to so many different people, that I was frequently confused and had to go back to reread a section.
Perhaps it was just me, but as a purely historical account it no doubt has its place.
January 22, 2016
Randolph Fienes has reached both poles and the summit of Mt. Everest. He has seen action as a soldier. His life (See: "Mad, Bad, and Dangerous") is on a par with people like Wilfred Thesiger. Though he isn't a particularly able historian, his book about Agincourt (2/3 family history intertwined with a general history of Saxon-Norman-French conflict) has a couple of strengths. One is the family connection. His family was involved in English history in a way that few are; e.g., one of the Fiennes was Eustace of Boulogne, who was William the Conqueror's second-in-command at Hastings and who fought for and against William afterwards, and was married to the sister of Matilda, whose rivalry with Stephen of Blois, led to a decade-long period of civil war and anarchy. Godfrey de Boulogne was a prominent leader of the First Crusade. Geoffrey de Mandeville was the worst of the English barons who took advantage of the anarchy that marked Stephen and Matilda's time to change sides repeatedly and amass personal holdings. There were Fiennes on both sides at Agincourt.
Sometimes the emphasis on family gets old (e.g., "Fiennes to the fore" as a chapter title), but mostly it gives a very personal touch to the historical events under discussion. A lot of other families could do the same, I'd guess, but they haven't, so Fiennes's personal connections are interesting.
Another strength of the book lies in how Fiennes sometimes uses his own personal history (such as his time with the Omani Scouts, or undergoing demanding physical exertions en route to the South Pole that help him relate to the exertions of Henry V's small army as it slogged across France) to relate to bigger events.
Having said all that, I'd like to know more about the actual battle (or about Crecy, for that matter). Why were the French unable to change their tactics meaningfully? They fought the English for more than sixty years without showing that they could cope. And why did the English heroics not matter much in the long run? The personal context for the book could have set up a deeper analysis of the actual military events. Though a charming book, it could be retitled.
Sometimes the emphasis on family gets old (e.g., "Fiennes to the fore" as a chapter title), but mostly it gives a very personal touch to the historical events under discussion. A lot of other families could do the same, I'd guess, but they haven't, so Fiennes's personal connections are interesting.
Another strength of the book lies in how Fiennes sometimes uses his own personal history (such as his time with the Omani Scouts, or undergoing demanding physical exertions en route to the South Pole that help him relate to the exertions of Henry V's small army as it slogged across France) to relate to bigger events.
Having said all that, I'd like to know more about the actual battle (or about Crecy, for that matter). Why were the French unable to change their tactics meaningfully? They fought the English for more than sixty years without showing that they could cope. And why did the English heroics not matter much in the long run? The personal context for the book could have set up a deeper analysis of the actual military events. Though a charming book, it could be retitled.
February 12, 2017
I knew of Ranulph Fiennes as an eccentric but renowned explorer and SAS veteran and expected his take on Agincourt to reflect this background. I was instead deeply disappointed. the battle itself only occupies about fifty pages of about three hundred, and much more space is given to the conduct of his ancestors and relatives, sometimes including tangential information that makes it sound like his own family is the only reason anything ever gets done in western Europe. If it had been written as a straightforward history of the Fiennes family's involvement with English history it would have been interesting enough, but rendering every single relation in italics and spending only a sixth of your book on your supposed topic is less a history and more an exercise in genealogical masturbation. It gets two stars rather than one because it makes no glaring errors in its history (minor details like claiming the famously chaste Godfroi de Bouillon as an ancestor aside). However, this should not be mistaken as anything like an endorsement. It's not offensively bad but it is lazy and self-absorbed.
August 22, 2015
Though the book is primarily titled "Agincourt", it is mostly about Fiennes' ancestors and their relationship to royalty, from Charles Martell in the 8th century through Charlemagne and, to the point where the family divided at the time of Duke William of Normandy and his bid for the throne of England, with William's descendants. From which you will gather that the Fiennes are a "French" family, from the town of that name, in Northern France (Pas de Calais).
However at that time, France, as such, did not actually exist. It was primarily a number of Dukedoms, with the leading figure of each feeling that they had the right to unify and rule over all of the area we know today as France. They were a warring lot and the Fiennes family mirrored them, especially after the half that went to England in 1066 decided to stay there and become "English".
The bulk of the book covers the times we know from British history as The Hundred Years War. This era was dominated by the repercussions of the Great Plague, which had devastated the population of the British Isles and resulted in a period of lawlessness unknown before or since.
The Fiennes were ever close to the throne in both countries and much involved in all of the disputes between the French and the English royalty over the legitimacy of claims to lands in France such as Normandy, Aquitaine, Gascony and, ultimately to the throne of a unified France.
Fiennes proves himself to be a master storyteller of the calibre of Simon Schama. The book is a real page-turner, which is something you don't often find in a history book, only in historical novels of the likes of those of Bernard Cornwell. You can't say much better than that.
However at that time, France, as such, did not actually exist. It was primarily a number of Dukedoms, with the leading figure of each feeling that they had the right to unify and rule over all of the area we know today as France. They were a warring lot and the Fiennes family mirrored them, especially after the half that went to England in 1066 decided to stay there and become "English".
The bulk of the book covers the times we know from British history as The Hundred Years War. This era was dominated by the repercussions of the Great Plague, which had devastated the population of the British Isles and resulted in a period of lawlessness unknown before or since.
The Fiennes were ever close to the throne in both countries and much involved in all of the disputes between the French and the English royalty over the legitimacy of claims to lands in France such as Normandy, Aquitaine, Gascony and, ultimately to the throne of a unified France.
Fiennes proves himself to be a master storyteller of the calibre of Simon Schama. The book is a real page-turner, which is something you don't often find in a history book, only in historical novels of the likes of those of Bernard Cornwell. You can't say much better than that.
October 25, 2015
I think the best phrase to describe this book is 'learned but batty'. Much of the book is a straightforward and quite enlightening chronicle of events leading up to Agincourt, starting in 1066 with the Norman conquest. Every now and then, it is punctuated with a few paragraphs of 'he was the grandson of Maud Fiennes and the third cousin of five or six other people called Fiennes of whom you were supposed to be keeping track' or 'Henry's situation reminds me of when my wife and I had to equip a polar expedition with two helicopters, three icebreakers and 500 bottles of liniment'. Still, it's a good read and I have put it down this evening (24th October) at the point when the two armies are about to fight. I will read the remaining pages tomorrow, the 25th October, St Crispin's Day, 600 years after the battle of Agincourt.
June 18, 2015
Indeed before the description of the actual battle of Agincourt starts you have to work your way through a lengthy description of the history up to that point starting around 1066. In general informative, I had to take other history books next to this text to find the logic of some developments and to keep track of the main lines. It is true that this part of history gets pretty complicated because of the many opposing clans and interests, but it is not getting any clearer by introducing many characters in the book with the justification that these were kinsmen of the author. Overall a useful view of the Hundred Years War that may trigger an interest to read more about it, as many questions remain after having finished this book.
August 30, 2016
An easy and reader friendly study of the events that led up to the battle of Agincourt. We start prior to 1066 when most of the leading families rose to power in France and England. And we follow the various leaders and power brokers through the steps that led to England and France being again at war. But this is also a rah-rah book about the Fiennes family and how it fought on both sides, ruled Jerusalem for a time and almost single handedly created the English and French countries. ( That is a bit of sarcasm on my part as the author spent way too much time on his family efforts at time. ) This is a nice detailed look at a specific event with a lot of "ego" thrown in.
December 2, 2015
As 2015 marks the 600th anniversary of the legendary battle, a slew of books have been released to coincide with this. Fiennes is more known as an explorer but he now turns his hand to writing military history. Fiennes is descended from Norman invaders and his family therefore fought on both sides of the Hundred Years War. Reading about his ancestors, I was amazed at how many were connected to royalty and were present during key moments in medieval history. Enjoyed this for the different angle on a particular period in history.
August 24, 2015
Enjoyable and interesting account of the hundred years war leading up to and after the battle of Agincourt. As it focuses on the journey of the Norman Fiennes family on both sides of the war, the writing could be heavy with family detail but as sir Ranulfs family were so entwined, at the highest levels and played important parts throughout the key stages of the war it is quite an engaging read. The most fascinating aspect of the book is how family dynasties can stay so influential over such long periods of time.
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