Azincourt

Bernard Cornwell

Having read it

★★★★★

One of those rare books I have now read twice (the first go was back in 2009!) and this second time around it remains a good ol’ story with good pace, good characters and good narrative which all come together to paint an interesting and well researched piece of fiction.

Brilliant stuff, with plenty of life, death, a bit of devilry, some chivalry and a little recompense for good measure!

A good passage

Sir John dropped from his saddle, took Hook’s ale, and drained it. ‘Remind me why you were outlawed, Hook?’
‘Because I hit a priest, Sir John,’ Hook admitted.
‘That priest?’ Sir John asked, jerking a thumb towards the retreating horsemen.
‘Yes, Sir John.’
Sir John shook his head. ‘You did wrong, Hook, you did very wrong. You shouldn’t have hit him.’
‘No, Sir John,’ Hook said humbly.
‘You should have slit the goddam bastard’s putrid bowels open and ripped his heart out through his stinking arse,’ Sir John said, looking at Father Christopher as if hoping his words might offend the priest, but Father Christopher merely smiled. ‘Is the bastard mad?’ Sir John demanded.
‘Famously,’ Father Christopher said, ‘but so were half the saints and most of the prophets. [...]’