Books Monthly Historical Book Reviews

An extraordinary and dramatic depiction of the legendary battle of Agincourt from the number one historical novelist Agincourt, fought on October 25th 1415, on St Crispin's Day, is one of the best known battles, in part through the brilliant depiction of it in Shakespeare's Henry V, in part because it was a brilliant and unexpected English victory and in part because it was the first battle won by the use of the longbow - a weapon developed by the English which enabled them to dominate the European battlefields for the rest of the century. Bernard Cornwell's Azincourt is a vivid, breathtaking and meticulously well researched account of this momentous battle and its aftermath. From the varying viewpoints of nobles, peasants, archers, and horsemen, Azincourt skilfully brings to life the hours of relentless fighting, the desperation of an army crippled by disease and the exceptional bravery of the English soldiers. I always used to claim that I learnt more about history from the novels I read than from the history textbooks my teachers used to put in front of me. I maintain that still to be the case - and nowadays, of course, we have three or four world-class, brilliant historical novelists, on whom you can absolutely rely. AZINCOURT is deservedly top of the best-seller lists. It is a story, first and foremost, but it presents an account of that period of history in such a way that it stays with you, and starts you off on the process of getting to realise just what it must have been like to be alive in those turbulent times. All the savagery, the beauty, the courage, the bravery, the romance are in one magnificent package - this is a beautiful book in every sense of the word, and Bernard Cornwell was right to take a break from his Dark Ages series to bring us this fantastic yarn.

Set in southern Spain in the First Century BC, Libertas introduces the people who live in the idyllic mountain community of Munda and the ancient Kemeletoi people who thrive in the surrounding countryside. But the world is ruled by Rome, whose generals have a score to settle - Julius Caesar has force-marched eight crack legions from Italy to subdue the sons of Pompey, and two huge armies will clash in the wide upland valley that stretches before Munda. The final, savage battle of a remorseless struggle for world dominance. A battle that will leave 30,000 dead and a community devastated. But there is an unlikely hero who refuses to give in to the despair and horror of war, who believes his family can be rescued from slavery, who refuses to accept that Roman cruelty and greed have changed his beloved Munda forever. This is a story of bravery, love, invention and hope.

Kidnapped from her Christian home in the Hebrides, Emer sees the handsome, pagan Viking who purchases her as an enemy to be defeated. When he takes her back to Scotland, escape is never far from her mind. Her only problem is here to run to, and how to stop herself falling in love with him. This accomplished and historically well-detailed romance from the author of Banners of Alba and Dark Pool is set in the West Highlands in the Tenth Century.

Set in 7th-century Anglo-Saxon England, The Whispering Bell is the story of a woman's love and of her fight for justice in a male-dominated, heroic age. Wynflaed, orphaned by famine, is rescued and raised in a hall of plenty. She becomes a gifted needlewoman whose artistry is much prized, but the calm and security of her life is soon shattered...

1295 AD. The Christian empire in the Holy Land lies in ruins. Returning to Paris, Templar Knight Will Campbell is at a crossroads. He has sworn to uphold the principles of the Anima Templi, a secret brotherhood within the Order whose aim is peace - but peace seems ever more impossible. The Temple has forged an alliance with Will's enemy, King Edward of England, vowing to help him wage war on Scotland. This pact against his homeland strikes at the core of Will's faith and allegiances, while his growing estrangement from his daughter, Rose, leads her into a dangerous affair. Will now faces a bitter choice: to stay with the Temple and fight another war he doesn't believe in, or to break his vows and forge his own path to peace - even if that too means fighting - for the Scots. Soon caught up in bloody conflict, Will is unaware that an even more ominous threat is rising, for there is a warrior king on the throne of France whose desire for supremacy knows no bounds and who will stop at nothing to fulfil his twisted ambitions. The fight for the Holy Land has ended. The Temple's last battle has just begun. Absolutely, far and away the best account of the crusades I have ever read. Robyn Young is a fantastic storyteller. Again, had it not been for Bernard Cornwell, this and the David Starkey below would have been strong contenders for history book of the month.

The first instalment of the highly anticipated biography of Henry VIII, written by one of the UK's most popular, established and exciting historians. Published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Henry's accession to the throne, 'Henry: Virtuous Prince' is a radical re-evaluation of the monarchy's most enduring icon. Henry VIII was Britain's most powerful monarch, yet he was not born to rule. Thrust into the limelight after the sudden death of his elder brother, Prince Arthur, Henry ascended the throne in 1509, marking the beginning of a reign that altered the course of English history. In his youth Henry was highly intelligent, athletic and musically talented. He excelled in Latin and Mathematics and was an accomplished musician. On his accession to the throne, aged just seventeen, after the tumultuous rule of his father, he provided England with hope of a new beginning. Nobody could have foreseen how radical Henry's rule would prove to be. Often overshadowed by the bloody saga of his six marriages, his reign has left a lasting legacy. An absolute monarch, Henry's quest for fame was as obsessive as any modern celebrity.His fierce battles against Papal authority mark one of the most dramatic and defining moments in the history of Britain. Yet his early life was insecure. The Tudor regime was viewed by many as rule by usurpers and the dark shadows of the Wars of the Roses often threatened to tear England apart once more. The culmination of a lifetime's research, David Starkey gives a radical and unforgettable portrait of the man behind the icon; the Renaissance prince turned tyrant, who continues to tower over history. This is David Starkey at his absolute best, doing what he does best, telling the story of Prince Henry, who later became Henry VIII. The court, the people, the places, the events all come alive. This is no ordinary history book, this is a prince among history books.

A single collection of the three Elizabeth novels, by Margaret Irwin: Young Bess, Elizabeth, Captive Princess and Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain. Margaret Irwin beautifully recreates the life of the vivacious Princess Elizabeth, the girl who will one day be Queen. But Elizabeth`s path to power is fraught with danger: from the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn, through her troubled childhood in the court of the venal and unpredictable Henry VIII and the religious terror of "Bloody Mary", she must struggle against all odds just to survive... Psychologically rich, meticulously researched and delightfully realized, the Elizabeth trilogy is an unmissable classic of the historical genre. I've always been a fan of Magaret Irwin, though lately she's been overshadowed somewhat by Philippa Gregory and David Starkey. This is a fantastically good, very readable account of Queen Eliizabeth I, excellent value and a terrific read.