"The greatest writer of historical adventures today" (Washington Post) tackles his richest, most thrilling subject yet the heroic tale of Agincourt.

Young Nicholas Hook is dogged by a cursed past haunted by what he has failed to do and banished for what he has done. He is driven to fight as a mercenary archer in France, where he discovers two things he can love: his instincts as a fighting man, and a girl in trouble. Together they survive the notorius massacre at Soissons, and, with no options left, head home to England. Discovered by the young King of England Henry V himself Hook takes up the longbow again, returning to France as part of the superb army Henry leads in his quest to claim the French crown. But after the English campaign suffers devastating early losses, it becomes clear that Hook and his fellow archers are their king's last resort in a desparate fight against an enemy more daunting than they could ever imagined.

One of the most dramatic victories in British history, the battle of Agincourt pitted undermanned and overwhelmed English forces against a French army determined to keep their crown out of Henry's hands. This exhilarating story of survival and slaughter is at once a brillant work of history and a triumph of imagination Bernard Cornwell at his best.

This is a book for those who like nonstop action, preferably drenched in blood, mud and bad language…Cornwell's historical accuracy is excellent throughout, and he gracefully acknowledges his sources in an interesting "Historical Note" at the end. Agincourt isn't a glorious battle; you see every mud-clogged, blood-soaked inch of the field and smell the sweat and excrement of the archers, knights and foot soldiers who fought for those hard-won inches. But when the fighting's over, you're left with a sense of awe at what was done there, and admiration for the men who did it.

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