The Hundred Years' War: A Military History

by Alfred H. Burne

Genres: History, Military History, France, Nonfiction, British Literature, Medieval

736 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Alfred Burne was educated at Winchester School and RMA Woolwich, before being commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1906. He was awarded the DSO during the First World War and, during World War II, was Commandant of the 121st Officer Cadet Training Unit. He retired as a Lieutenant-Colonel.

He was Military Editor of Chambers Encyclopedia from 1938 to 1957 and became an authority on the history of land warfare. He was a contributor to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Burne lived in Kensington and his funeral was held at St Mary Abbots there.

Reviews

[Gobasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strictly a military history. You won't find politics or economics here. You won't better understand the life of the common serf. You will be left wondering why it took so long for France to find a counter move to England's tactics. But the military history is brilliantly told and the detective work invested to make it accurate is admirable.

[Ton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very thorough review of the Hundred Years War (this book is an omnibus of both The Crecy War and The Agincourt War), by a professional soldier. The book is a bit old though, and though Burne himself employed a novel methodology (IMP, Inherent Military Probability), it still feels rather dated. Burne did make an exhaustive study of the locations, and comes to a strong narrative, but his frame of reference isn’t entirely reliable. He has a somewhat chauvinistic view (as an Englishman) which is sometimes a bit grating. Comparing medieval soldiers to the English heroes of the trenches isn’t entirely appropriate either, if you ask me. Still, his book is a very good introduction to the military aspect of the Hundred Years War (politics are largely ignored), and if you don’t mind the bias, a pleasurable read in the bargain.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hundred Years War between England and France began in 1337 with Edward III's claim to the throne of France. The tumultuous years that followed witnessed some of the greatest battles in history: Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt. Although the English leaders - Edward III, the Black Prince and Henry V - fought valiantly, often achieving amazing victories against the odds, it was the French who won the war. Here, together for the first time, are A.H. Burne's books on this colourful period, "The Crecy War" and "The Agincourt War". Acclaimed as "one of the best military historians", Burne draws on original sources plus what he calls "I.M.P", the "inherent military probability" of an action, in his analysis of strategy. Alongside the vivid description of individual campaigns, he introduces some of England's most celebrated historical figures, including Harry the King, Warwick, Salisbury, Chandos and the peerless Talbot, as well as famous French warriors, such as Bertrand de Guesclin, La Hire and Joan of Arc.

[Tom Baikin-O'hayon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece of Military history

[Chris Harper · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is intricate and has a lot of facts and details. The narrative is very English nationalist and biased. The author keeps throwing barbs at the French; and is pompous at saying that the French Historian are wrong through out the book.

[John Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not surprisingly very dated, though entertaining, I think Juliet Barker's accounts are more objective

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good account of this significant chunk of Medieval History which served as a useful aide-memoir. In essence, professional English armies, with longbows, continually outperform much larger French armies, with mercenary crossbowmen, under a series of surprisingly cowardly leaders. Eventually, Joan of Arc give the French armies the morale they should really have had earlier and they begin winning. Add to this the gradual loss of England's most able military leaders, France finding theirs and the French making more and better use of cannons and a French victory becomes inevitable.

This is very readable but somewhat old fashioned, it was written in the 50s by someone who actually served in WWI and a bit narrowly focused. Though the latter the author repeatedly admits to, so that is fair enough. I do, however, feel I should read something more recent now.