What do you think?
Rate this book
Sir John Hawkwood #3
The White Company
Poitiers was in the past but it changed the life of Sir John Hawkwood for he gained his spurs and that was another step on his journey. Once he realised that he had more ambition than just to serve the King of England he joined forces with Albert Sterz and formed a company of mercenaries who hired out their swords. Fighting for the King of England against Burgundy they gained a reputation which made others both fear and hate them in equal measure. When Sir John is robbed of his fortune by the murder of his banker then he had an enemy to pursue. He learns to become a political animal who chooses friends wisely. His enemies just proliferate with each victory. The defeats merely make him and the White Company, even stronger!
- GenresHistorical Fiction
278 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2021
134 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Griff Hosker
309 books431 followersI was born in 1950 in Lancashire and attended a boy’s grammar school. After qualifying as an English and Drama teacher in 1972, I worked in the North East of England for the next 35 years. During that time I did write, mainly plays, pantos and musicals for the students at the three schools in which I worked.
When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.
My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.
griff-signature-360x57
When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.
My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.
griff-signature-360x57
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 3, 2024
3rd volume in this immersive historical series and, so far, the best.
December 30, 2021
The tales continue.
Hawkwood is flexing his muscles as Hosker moves the White Company into Italy to carry on with his mercenary work. Personal issues and odd relationships arise and force Hawkwood to seek work abroad instead of serving Prince Edward. The usual mayhem is forced upon Hawkwoods enemies.
Hawkwood is flexing his muscles as Hosker moves the White Company into Italy to carry on with his mercenary work. Personal issues and odd relationships arise and force Hawkwood to seek work abroad instead of serving Prince Edward. The usual mayhem is forced upon Hawkwoods enemies.
February 7, 2022
Brilliant, exciting
After starting read book one I bought all three in the series, it was so good and this book is no exception. I just can't put it down. I just see the life , the battles, the places, every time they eat, cook, I have to eat something the story is that descriptive. I am part of the company. Wow incredible writing, I can't wait for the next one.
After starting read book one I bought all three in the series, it was so good and this book is no exception. I just can't put it down. I just see the life , the battles, the places, every time they eat, cook, I have to eat something the story is that descriptive. I am part of the company. Wow incredible writing, I can't wait for the next one.
August 8, 2021
A solid story
A good read, a solid plot line and a new theatre of war. The remainder of the series should be worth reading.
A good read, a solid plot line and a new theatre of war. The remainder of the series should be worth reading.
September 28, 2021
This is number three in Hosker's series on Sir John Hawkwood.
Hawkwood is building his own company of mercenaries and the book takes him from being just a small operator to leading his own company to being part of a much larger company to eventually being the Captain of that big company. This happens via many skirmishes and battles with running protection rackets in France thrown in.
What I like about Hosker's books is that he thinks tactics and strategies through, and, as the years have gone by, the author's ability to get inside his various heroes' heads has become more and more apparent. A big difference here is that Sir John Hawkwood is truly a man of his period. He is not a particularly nice man and, I think, that this is because he is an historical figure. In other series of Griff Hosker's books his heroes, such as Aefraed, the Earl of Cleveland, Gerald Warbow, etc are fictional, and, for their period, tend to be quite humane and considerate. To rise from a London apprentice to Italian noble, Sir John Hawkwood had to be ruthless, devious, calculating and ambitious. At the end of the book, in his notes, Hosker says that some of his readers will not like Hawkwood and his activities: well tough, Hawkwood was not the nicest of men and very much a man of his very bloody times.
I think this book is Griff Hosker's best yet and, as The White Company is about to start its expansion in Italy, there are more books to come: bring it on! I can't wait.
Hawkwood is building his own company of mercenaries and the book takes him from being just a small operator to leading his own company to being part of a much larger company to eventually being the Captain of that big company. This happens via many skirmishes and battles with running protection rackets in France thrown in.
What I like about Hosker's books is that he thinks tactics and strategies through, and, as the years have gone by, the author's ability to get inside his various heroes' heads has become more and more apparent. A big difference here is that Sir John Hawkwood is truly a man of his period. He is not a particularly nice man and, I think, that this is because he is an historical figure. In other series of Griff Hosker's books his heroes, such as Aefraed, the Earl of Cleveland, Gerald Warbow, etc are fictional, and, for their period, tend to be quite humane and considerate. To rise from a London apprentice to Italian noble, Sir John Hawkwood had to be ruthless, devious, calculating and ambitious. At the end of the book, in his notes, Hosker says that some of his readers will not like Hawkwood and his activities: well tough, Hawkwood was not the nicest of men and very much a man of his very bloody times.
I think this book is Griff Hosker's best yet and, as The White Company is about to start its expansion in Italy, there are more books to come: bring it on! I can't wait.
March 27, 2025
Listened to this book, narrated by Marston York, with my teen sons. Found out it was the third in the series well into it! We all enjoyed the book though it took us a bit to get into it, maybe due to not having read the first two.
It is quite gory in its descriptions of battles but a fascinating story and great for learning about this period of time.
We are going to listen to the next one now: a leader of men.
It is quite gory in its descriptions of battles but a fascinating story and great for learning about this period of time.
We are going to listen to the next one now: a leader of men.
May 3, 2024
Hero not heroic
I ended not liking Sir John in this book. He seemed to be nothing but someone interested in money, raiding villages, and taking the belongings of the common people much to often. He was constantly saying how great he was and how much better his men and he was. He ended being uncaring and ruthless person to me. Not the noble warrior in earlier books.
I ended not liking Sir John in this book. He seemed to be nothing but someone interested in money, raiding villages, and taking the belongings of the common people much to often. He was constantly saying how great he was and how much better his men and he was. He ended being uncaring and ruthless person to me. Not the noble warrior in earlier books.
August 7, 2024
I love this series. It is written in the first person and the reader knows exactly what the protagonist is thinking. It makes it seem as if the reader is making the decisions. When you (the reader) question a decision, you will find that Sir John will also question the decision and learn from it. If you are a fan of historical fiction. You will love this series.
February 20, 2025
Tiresome prose, with the stories getting less interesting the more I read as they are getting so very predictable. Almost invincible warrior slowly becoming more famous and powerful on the battlefield, with their harsh growing up and experiences setting them apart from everyone else and making them better than them. But main character is kind and what everyone wants to be. That's the story.
October 19, 2024
Riveting from first to last page
The master storyteller does it yet again with another tale woven with actual historical facts and Griff Hoskers personal touch in developing character to fit the story
The master storyteller does it yet again with another tale woven with actual historical facts and Griff Hoskers personal touch in developing character to fit the story
June 22, 2025
Building a reputation.
Becoming an independent company for hire meant more risk for a higher reward. Hawkwood faces different enemies and needs to refine tactics and organise accordingly. Another action packed episode in his rise to become a feared and respected mercenary.
Becoming an independent company for hire meant more risk for a higher reward. Hawkwood faces different enemies and needs to refine tactics and organise accordingly. Another action packed episode in his rise to become a feared and respected mercenary.
July 7, 2025
What a wimp
Robber and murderer.
But pushed out of his house by his wife’s lover, who was a trusted subordinate, and all the others take her side and keep the betrayal secret.
Cocu et content !
Robber and murderer.
But pushed out of his house by his wife’s lover, who was a trusted subordinate, and all the others take her side and keep the betrayal secret.
Cocu et content !
Read
July 20, 2021 just a real good tale
July 22, 2021
Good and well written
As usual a great read Griff Hosker writes entertainingly well I recommend it as a one off book as much as it is part of a series
As usual a great read Griff Hosker writes entertainingly well I recommend it as a one off book as much as it is part of a series
August 28, 2021
Another brilliant read. Keep them coming
Yet another great read. The way the story line connect from book to book allows you to really get to know the main character.
Yet another great read. The way the story line connect from book to book allows you to really get to know the main character.
March 27, 2022
Good series
Good book, well written, lots of combat action, good storyline. I have enjoyed this series of books. I will read on.
Good book, well written, lots of combat action, good storyline. I have enjoyed this series of books. I will read on.
April 10, 2022
one of his best
Battle after battle. So detailed in how important archers were to the English campaigns. I can’t wait for the next one.
Battle after battle. So detailed in how important archers were to the English campaigns. I can’t wait for the next one.
June 13, 2024
the adventure continues
Continued excellent depictions of battles and life of warriors in the 100 years war with all its intrigue and brutality
Continued excellent depictions of battles and life of warriors in the 100 years war with all its intrigue and brutality
March 16, 2025
Another good book, a part of history I didn't know about.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews