Azincourt is the French spelling of Agincourt, known widely as a shocking loss for the French against the English in the Hundred Years’ War. Bernard Cornwell imagines the lead-up to the battle here focusing again on an archer, Nicholas Hook, who serves as our lens looking in on the wider struggle, ending with the monumental battle itself. We all know the ending, but Cornwell still manages to make it suspenseful as we never know who will live and who will die.
As usual, the battles are the best thing about Cornwell’s writing. He makes us feel like we’re there, or at least that we could have been there in a past life. He underscores the extraordinary importance of archers with their longbows, the single greatest advantage that the English had against the French here and during many other battles in this lengthy on-and-off war. I should also mention that the priests are corrupt and the good one is not as religious as you’d expect a priest to be, so another warning for those of us who are devout Christians and prefer not to have their reading slander their religion unfairly.
Cornwell’s third person narration is a bit different from his first person fare, most of what I’ve been reading lately. It feels colder and it’s much harder to get into the characters’ heads. As such, Hook and Melisande remain very distant from the reader throughout the novel. Hook is a bit humbler than Cornwell’s normal male heroes, but of course he is still the best. In all, this feels very much like the Grail Quest trilogy, and as I believe Hook is related to Thomas of Hookton, that’s not entirely a surprise. Still, I think I prefer his first person narrators, arrogant and similar as they all are. The books feel more human with a fully fleshed out narrator.
I enjoyed it, but I’d definitely recommend his Arthurian trilogy or Saxon Chronicles first. I feel this one may only be for fans of Cornwell or those of us who like to read about the more violent side of the Middle Ages. Pre-order this book on Amazon.
Hi Meghan,
I just wanted to say that I enjoy your blog and haven’t been a lurker for too
too long. Your pictures of the York library are beautiful, York is one of
my fave cities in the world.
I hope you get a chance to put your feet up soon with a good book.
He has so many that look good. Thanks for the review and the recommendations!
Lezlie
Meghan, I’ve never read Cornwell, but his books sound interesting. I’ll keep your advice in mind.
I’m not Catholic, but I think it’s a beautiful religion and have often wondered about the fairly consistent portrayal of corrupt priests in fiction from this time period. I always think, could they really *all* have been bad, evil and corrupt?
I have been looking forward to this book for so long and it’s nice to see a review up!
Haven’t read your review yet. Scrolled straight to the comment section. If I do read it, is it going to spoil anything for me?
I’m dying to read the novel and know how it is, but I’m wanting to go in fresh.
I would have to say that Azincourt is one of my all time favorites when it comes to historical fiction. The story grips you from start to finish. If you are a fan of graphic war violence the battle scenes will in no way let you down. Cornwell paints you a picture that makes you cringe and white knuckle the book as you read. If you read before bed, be prepared to be tired at work the next day, because you will not be able to put this book down!