Sophia Jesson’s Reviews > Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England's Greatest Warrior King > Status Update
Sophia Jesson
is on page 280 of 432
I think the latest proof of how cool Henry V was is that Parliment gave him permission to tax wine, wool, and more for the rest of his life instead of needing to go to Parliment every time. And it was of their own volition!
Also someone gave him the pickled heart of St. George ... I didn't know they'd pickled saints.
— Sep 09, 2026 10:23AM
Also someone gave him the pickled heart of St. George ... I didn't know they'd pickled saints.
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Sophia’s Previous Updates
Sophia Jesson
is on page 224 of 432
I am surprised by how interesting the practical politics in the biography are! Also, Henry is about to invade France.
— Sep 02, 2026 10:54AM
Sophia Jesson
is on page 156 of 432
Two thoughts. One, if you are going to engage in cronyism, make sure your friends are competent. It helps a lot in the long run and Henry V knew that.
Two, apparently Henry V was a massive bookworm? So between fighting in wars and leading government in absence of his ailing father, he was also reading a bunch. All in his twenties!
— Aug 26, 2026 10:34AM
Two, apparently Henry V was a massive bookworm? So between fighting in wars and leading government in absence of his ailing father, he was also reading a bunch. All in his twenties!
Sophia Jesson
is on page 113 of 432
I am finding the discussion of the rights of a King to rule really interesting. Richard II was King by right but massively incompetent. Henry IV was King by conquest (and royal blood) but competent. The parliament, even back then, was asserting the right to judge the fitness of a king.
I think I assumed everyone just accepted the king by divine right or something. Unsurprisingly, history is more complicated.
— Aug 24, 2026 10:30AM
I think I assumed everyone just accepted the king by divine right or something. Unsurprisingly, history is more complicated.