Condottiere

by Edward John Crockett

"Of all able captains of whom it might have stood in fear, Florence was most at the discretion of this one man."-Niccolo Machiavelli Europe writhes in the grasp of the Black Death as an enigmatic English knight ventures into war-torn medieval Italy. Based on exhaustive research, this is splendidly realized historical fiction and a truly compelling adventure.

Edward John Crockett is a translator and editor of numerous books, including sports biographies, art history, and film biographies. He is the author of the novel Bering: A Novel of the Russian Imperial Northern Expedition. He lives in southern Brittany.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Bobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched telling of the life and times of Sir John Hawkwood and his journey from being dismissed from England to leading a mercenary army that ruled medieval Italy for many years. Through the Black death, Papal Wars, political deceptions and personal conflict Sir John maintains a vigilance of morality with doses of cunning. The battle scenes are squeamish and real and the behind the scene conniving of the leaders of the various early Italian States is perfectly portrayed. A winner!!

[Will Witkop · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Condottiere is a medieval knight for hire. This story follows mixes fact and fiction while following the life of John Hawkwood who epitomizes what it means to be a condottiere. Hawkwood is a capable, English knight that is de-knighted early in the story for politized and unjustified reasons. Hawkwood finds himself in financial need and begins to sell his services as a hired defender or attacker for cities. He quickly raises a formidable army known as the white coats and successfully defends Pisa from Florence. The reputation of Hawkwood and his army quickly spread throughout Europe and Hawkwood is soon selling his services to whomever pays the highest purse. Through his adventures, Hawkwood meets and falls in love with Donnina Viscoti who he eventually marries. After many years of this life, Hawkwood finds his demise in old age when an old enemy disguised as a beggar plunges a dagger deep into Hawkwood's abdomen.

[Dan Vine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a ripping yarn which imaginatively reconstructs the career of the condottiere John Hawkwood. Its recreation of his military career and the political context is convincing and even quite exciting. Unfortunately I am not entirely convinced by the inner life the author attributes to his character. I struggle to believe that Hawkwood spoke or read Greek at a time when a knowledge of Greek was not yet common among scholars and I am not quite convinced by his familiarity with Livy, Tacitas et al. At one point, Hawkwood waxes eloquent about Turkish mercenaries working for the T'ang and Rajput mercenaries in Northern India. I find it implausible that a soldier in 1361 had this level of knowledge of Asian history. And there are a couple of culinary anachronisms/clangers: a Florentine breakfasting every day on tomatoes and a banquet featuring a maize based dish, 158 years before the Conquest of Mexico.

[Michael]

This was an interesting book. About an English knight who ended up in Italy as the leader of a mercenary army that hired out to whichever city-state was willing to pay. I hd no idea how close to true this one is. John Hawkwood was a real person, and there is a statue of him, in Florence I think. The narrative seemed closer to history than fiction to me. And that was confirmed at the end. It is mostly a true story.

[Dearna (Words of the Roses) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overshadowed by The Hundred Years War English Knight - Sir John Hawkwook - makes his fame in Italy as a sword-for-hire. The novel is set in the late 1300s and tension has bubbled over between the city states of Florence and Pisa. To defend their city, The Pisians hire Hawkwood and his white company. This story has a way to sucking you in with its host of double dealing and backstabbing characters along with its shifting political climate. Much like Game Of Throne minus the dragons!

[W. Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A splendid read. The Machiavellian twists by which Sir John Hawkwood assumed control over Florence are explained as the logical outcome of how the man dealt with the cards fate dealt him. Edward Crockett's prose brings the period to life.