King Henry The Fifth

The life of the warrior king and the Battle of Agincourt 1415

From a master historian comes an astonishing chronicle of life in medieval Europe and the battle that altered the course of an empire. Although almost six centuries old, the Battle of Agincourt still captivates the imaginations of men and women on both sides of the Atlantic. It has been immortalized in high culture (Shakespeare's Henry V) and low (the New York Post prints Henry's battle cry on its editorial page each Memorial Day). It is the classic underdog story in the history of warfare, and generations have wondered how the English -- outnumbered by the French six to one -- could have succeeded so bravely and brilliantly. Drawing upon a wide range of sources, eminent scholar Juliet Barker casts aside the legend and shows us that the truth behind Agincourt is just as exciting, just as fascinating, and far more significant. She paints a gripping narrative of the October 1415 clash between outnumbered English archers and heavily armored French knights. But she also takes us beyond the battlefield into palaces and common cottages to bring into vivid focus an entire medieval world in flux. Populated with chivalrous heroes, dastardly spies, and a ferocious and bold king, Agincourt is as earthshaking as its subject -- and confirms Juliet Barker's status as both a historian and a storyteller of the first rank.

Fresh examinations of the activities of Henry V, looking at how his reputation was achieved.

In the early 15th century, young King Henry V ascends to the throne of England after the death of his father, King Henry IV. As his restless subjects deal with the aftermath of bitter civil wars, the young king must face his wild youth and prove himself to gain the respect of his people. Using his family’s distant roots to French royalty and the interpretation of ancient land laws, Henry lays claim to parts of France. Unsurprisingly, the Dauphin, the ruling prince of France, ridicules Henry’s claim and dismisses it. Left with little choice Henry decides to invade France instead. "Henry V" is the last of William Shakespeare’s historical plays, often referred to as The Henriad. The others are "Richard II" "Henry IV, Part 1." and "Henry IV, Part 2." All plays are loosely based on the Lancaster branch of England’s House of Plantagenet. Fans of the Netflix show "The King" will recognize similar storylines that are also loosely based on true events. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. Considered the greatest dramatist of all time, he is widely regarded as the most influential English language writer. Shakespeare’s plays focus on the range of human emotion and conflict, and have been translated into more than 100 languages. Many including "Hamlet" "Macbeth" and "Romeo and Juliet" have been adapted for stage and screen.