The historical past guide named certainly one of 2024 ‘greatest’ that’ll get you out of ‘a studying rut’ | Books | Entertainment | EUROtoday

Henry V is greatest identified at this time for defeating a numerically superior French military at Agincourt, a feat immortalised by William Shakespeare. But based on historian Dan Jones, it is a miracle England’s biggest medieval monarch lived to struggle his most well-known battle, not to mention win it. Twelve years prior the struggle, in July 1403, whereas partaking a insurgent military at Shrewsbury, aged simply 16, an iron arrowhead from a fortunate longbow shot tore into his face to the facet of his nostril, embedding itself deep into the again of his cranium.

The wood shaft got here off, leaving a one-ounce lump of steel lodged in Henry’s pudding bowl hair-cutted head. Only the ability of England’s best surgeon, John Bradmore, working over 30 days, saved the younger Prince of Wales from a horrible loss of life. Jones defined: “He was millimetres from dying on the spot and the operation to save him was just as dicey. Really, he should never have lived. If you believe in miracles, and in the Middle Ages people did, this is as close to one as you’re going to get. “It’s one of many many superb and shocking issues about Henry’s life. He solely ever fought two actual battles: Agincourt, which most individuals have heard of due to Shakespeare, and Shrewsbury, which almost ended his story early.”

Indeed, without Bradshaw’s skillful intervention, the tale of Henry – and England – would be strikingly different, historically and culturally.

Jones, 43, was apprehensive about writing ‘another’ book on Henry V — a monarch who is well covered in literary circles. But after 14 big books, including best-selling accounts of the Plantagenets and the Wars of the Roses that straddle Henry V’s reign, plus two thrilling novels set during the Hundred Years’ War, this feels like the story Jones, an unabashed fan, was destined to write.

And the tattooed writer described by Guns N’ Roses bassist and history fanatic Duff McKagan as a “dangerous*** historical past author” has hit the mark, according to fans. The father of three who lives in Surrey received an accolade for his book when it was listed in the Goodreads Best History Books of 2024 list.

Part of the appeal for bibliophiles seems to be the realisation that Jones’ book allows you to read medieval history you don’t need a degree to follow. Enlightening and entertaining, Henry comes across as a surprisingly relatable figure, despite the six centuries that separate him from modern readers.

As Jones recounts, Henry was a man of deep contrasts — a successful warrior king who was also creative, artistic and bookish — and a monarch who often made mistakes and poor decisions regarding friends, yet unerringly emerged triumphant.

Jones said: “He was very clever, and he has an incredible enthusiasm for conflict and far as we would like to not characterise the Middle Ages as a very barbaric time, being a profitable warrior was very excessive on the listing of issues a king wanted to be.

“But Henry also understood you could only afford to go to war if you were seen to provide justice at home. The great seal had the king as a warrior on one side, and the scales of justice on the other. That’s what the job was about — justice and defence of the realm, interpreted in quite an aggressive way, unusually meaning to smash the French.

“It’s not very difficult however Henry had an extended apprenticeship in each, first despatched to Wales as a younger teenager to study the ropes of warfare within the wrestle towards [Welsh rebel] Owain Glyndwr. Then he rolls up his sleeves and will get caught into the fiscal actuality of presidency when his father’s sick. It’s nice coaching for his personal kingship.”

Some book lovers have praised the story for getting them out of a ‘reading rut’.

One said: “Ever get in a studying rut? You know, that feeling the place you learn just a bit slower or your consideration begins to fray only a bit? I felt myself slipping into one after which got here throughout the jolt that’s Henry V by Dan Jones. I’ll make no secret that Jones is certainly one of my favorite writers. That mentioned, even I used to be a bit greatly surprised at how seamlessly Jones tells the story of certainly one of England’s biggest kings.”

Another wrote: “One of the guide’s strengths is Jones’s skill to carry medieval historical past to life by way of vivid storytelling. He balances army historical past with insights into court docket politics, diplomacy, and the private struggles that formed Henry’s reign. While the guide doesn’t essentially break new scholarly floor, it serves as a wonderful introduction to Henry V and his period, making it a beneficial learn for these excited about medieval historical past. One manner that is approached by Jones is thru his storytelling type, instructed within the current to carry Henry to life extra.

“This is an excellent biography.  Jones manages to get past both the stereotype of Henry V as an austere conqueror and Shakespeare’s fictional party-goer turned responsible monarch to portray a complex multifaceted individual. This achievement coupled with the author’s crisp writing and brisk pace makes Henry V a truly enjoyable read.”

Jones, who has had a powerful, loyal following as an writer for some years, actually appears to be hitting his stride extra together with his historic storytelling area of interest, which is constructing him an excellent stronger fan following as time goes on.

“It’s not totally radical,” Jones added, “I wrote the book that I wanted to write about Henry and the older I get, the more experienced I get, the more I trust my gut instinct.”