Agincourt

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What to expect

Agincourt is one of the most famous battles in English history, a defining part of the national myth. This groundbreaking study by Mike Livingston, author of Never Greater Slaughter, presents a new interpretation of Henry V's great victory.

'It’s quite a feat to write an account of England’s most famous battle that makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing history that is fresh, new and exhilarating.' Dan Snow

King Henry V’s victory over the French armies at Agincourt on 25 October 1415 is unquestionably one of the most famous battles in history. From Shakespeare’s ‘band of brothers’ speech to its appearances in numerous films, Agincourt rightfully has a place among a handful of conflicts whose names are immediately recognized around the world.

The English invasion of France in 1415 saw them take the French port of Harfleur after a long siege, following which Henry was left with a sick and weakened army, which he chose to march across Normandy to the port of Calais against the wishes of his senior commanders. The French had assembled a superior force and shadowed the English Army before finally blocking its route. The battle that followed was an overwhelming victory for the English, with the French suffering horrific casualties. Agincourt opened the door for Henry V’s further conquests in France.

Agincourt provides a new look at this famous battle. Mike Livingston goes back to the original sources, including the French battle plan that still survives today, to give a new interpretation, one that challenges the traditional site of the battlefield itself. It is a thrilling new history that not only rewrites the battle as we know it, but also provides fresh insights into the men who fought and died there.

Critics Review

  • This astonishing book fixes the myth of Agincourt and adds to our understanding of what led to that slaughteryard of horrors, atrocities, and, for at least one side, unforgettable glories.

    Bernard Cornwell, bestselling author of The Last Kingdom series

  • It’s quite a feat to write an account of England’s most famous battle that makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing history that is fresh, new and exhilarating.

    Dan Snow

  • Bold and conversational, forensic and vivid, this is an extraordinary history of Agincourt – full of remarkable insight – that grips from the very first word and doesn’t let go.

    Helen Castor, author of 'She-Wolves'

  • Michael Livingston continues to overturn centuries of scholarship, redefining some of the world’s most celebrated battles. Coupling ironclad scholarship with a breakneck narrative, Livingston cuts new historical ground.

    Myke Cole, author of 'Legion versus Phalanx' and 'The Bronze Lie'

  • A thought provoking, thoughtful and fast-paced account of what one might think is one of the best known and understood medieval battles. Despite what we think we know, from reading Livingston’s detailed book, it is clear that we aren’t really sure we even know exactly where this famous battle was fought!

    Robert Woosnam-Savage FSA, Curator Emeritus, Royal Armouries

  • The battle of Agincourt has had many interpretations. Michael Livingston’s is the latest, but also one of the best … It tells a fresh, compelling story of the battle, the campaign that led up to it, and its aftermath.

    Kelly Devries, Professor of History, Loyola University Maryland

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