Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

While looking at some books on Amazon.com, I stumbled on this: I Serve: A Novel of the Black Prince by Rosanne E. Lortz. Sounds quite decent ... great rating on ; Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ reception less enthusiastic.

Sadly, that's as far as my 100 Years' War historical fiction knowledge extends.

What we have thus far:



ib.

Hmm. I have to admit I tend to avoid anything that's medieval on the basis I'm petrified of being accused of plagiarism. Still, there are the Bernard Cornwell stories, and I'm sure that there must be plenty more. Hmm. Think I'll go take a squint at the Historical Writers' Association site to see who else there is. It's such a fabulous period for a writer, I cannot believe there haven't been any authors grabbing the time with both hands!

I read Cornwell's The Archer's Tale, the first book in his three book series set during the 100 Years War, and recommend it. I hear he is planning on a fourth book in the series.

CB wrote: " I hear he is planning on a fourth book in the series."

Really? That's a surprise.

That's what he says on his website. Look under "Your Questions" on his website and look for questions he answered on 8/2/11.

I didn't find that one, but I did find one from October that said this....

Quote Bernard Cornwell from the 'Your Questions' page of his website:
....I'm writing another Thomas of Hookton story now!

YAYYYY!!!!!!

Terri wrote: "I didn't find that one, but I did find one from October that said this....

Quote Bernard Cornwell from the 'Your Questions' page of his website:
....I'm writing another Thomas of Hookton story now..."

Looks like we have something else to look forward to. Your place or mine?

Let's meet in between...hmmm where would that be? I think that may be India. That would give us some good food to eat while we read. :)

Terri wrote: "Let's meet in between...hmmm where would that be? I think that may be India. That would give us some good food to eat while we read. :)"

Excellent plan.

New Thomas of Hookton, a Mango Lassi and a beach in Goa.

I am going to crave a Mango lassi all day now...and I have no yoghurt. :(

CB wrote: "I read Cornwell's The Archer's Tale, the first book in his three book series set during the 100 Years War, and recommend it. I hear he is planning on a fourth book in the series."

I addition to the Grail Quest series, the only other 100 years war novel I've read is also one of Bernard Cornwell's - Azincourt.

Still not much, but that at least covers Henry V as well as the Black Prince.

Ah, good call ... I forgot about Bernard Cornwell's stuff ... didn't even have any of it in my TBR.

I was looking at Azincourt, or Agincourt as it was named here, two or three year ago and I heard that a movie was planned based on this novel? Do you guys know whether any such adaption actually materialized?

ib.

Ireney wrote: "Ah, good call ... I forgot about Bernard Cornwell's stuff ... didn't even have any of it in my TBR.

I was looking at Azincourt, or Agincourt as it was named here, two or three year ago and I heard..."

I didn't know about that, but I just looked on BC's site and found this:

(2.) Posting Date: 29 Sep, 2011

Q: got to say I'm a huge fan I was just wondering if there is any truth in the rumour that azincourt will be made into a film , and if so do you think it will be able to do the book justice ?? thanks Gareth Abbott
A: As far as I understand (and I'm utterly incurious) there is such a deal and even a script, though I couldn't swear to that. If it all happens, wonderful, and if it doesn't, then it's still wonderful.

Interesting, it sounds as though the idea is still being mulled over.

After reading your post, Lee, I decided to do some digging of my own, but I didn't find anything concrete other than rumours. According to , the filming would have started in the spring 2010, but it obviously hasn't, judging by the answer on BC's site.

The script is being/has been written by , the guy being the two Elizabeth films, "The Tudors" and "The Borgias", among others.

On IMDb, I found a development entry for , which is scant on details but a likely candidate for the title in question, especially considering user comments on the message board.

Looking forward to it, although it will be a long wait from the sounds of it!

ib.

I haven't read Azincourt. I always meant to. I even got it out from the library about 4 months ago. then got bogged down with books and couldn't fit it in.

What daunts me about Azincourt is the thought of an entire book of battle. I don't know if that would keep me interested enough.
Page after page of battle. Not that I have a problem with battle books as military non fiction is one of my favourite genres...I don't know though with fiction. *shrug*
It is Cornwell, and I am a fan. I will definitely read it, only I am not in a hurry. :)

I found anothery for the 100 Years' war thread.


Within The Fetterlock

Terri wrote: "I haven't read Azincourt. I always meant to. I even got it out from the library about 4 months ago. then got bogged down with books and couldn't fit it in.

What daunts me about Azincourt is the th..."

As we mentioned further up the thread, it is not just one battle. It follows Cornwell's normal narrative pattern.

That's alright Lee, I posted that comment back in November last year and you guys have cleared things up for me since then in the Azincourt thread.

Terri wrote: "That's alright Lee, I posted that comment back in November last year and you guys have cleared things up for me since then in the Azincourt thread."

Heh, ah well. I thought it looked familiar. For some reason it said "new".

Oh, maybe you haven't been back to this thread since November? Perhaps that is it.

Just discovered The White Company and Sir Nigel by Arthur Conan Doyle. Can't vouch for their quality, but anyone with an eReader who's interested should be able to find them on Project Gutenberg.

I'm pretty sure I've heard of them before, but somehow forgot.

edit: One of them, at least, seems to be directly downloadable from GoodReads.

Sir Nigel I have heard of, but not The White Company.
I may give TWC a look in one day.

Seems that Sir Nigel was a prequel to The White Company. I understand there was a third as well, but I'm not sure what it was called.

That Sir Nigel cover is misleading isn't it. :)
I thought the story was more modern. I suppose then, that is supposed to be Doyle on the cover. lol

Heh. I hadn't looked until now. I'm guessing public domain picture from a budget publisher that saw the title and didn't bother to find out anything else about the book.

Worth remembering that Conan Doyle resented the popularity of Sherlock Holmes and thought that his historic fiction was much the better body of work. Seems that a century later people still disagree.

Actually there are some rather good reviews there. And it contains "swearing, fighting and killing" according to one reviewer. Should be perfect for this group!

Swearing, fighting and killing?? Alright!

I wonder if ACD's kind of swearing and mine are different. lol

Forsooth!

hahaha!! :D
That's hysterical. I was not expecting that when I clicked on the thread. tee hee.

Egads! The lady is hysterical!

Lee wrote: "Egads! The lady is hysterical!"

lol. :D

Chris wrote: "
...... at times I was enjoying White Company feeling I reading a well written fantasy ..."

How so, Chris? Did it have fantasy storylines?

Chris wrote: "Lee wrote: "Seems that Sir Nigel was a prequel to The White Company. I understand there was a third as well, but I'm not sure what it was called."

I started both, finished neither ... at times I ..."

Not much of a recommendation!

Chris wrote: "Lee wrote: "Chris wrote: "Lee wrote: "Seems that Sir Nigel was a prequel to The White Company. I understand there was a third as well, but I'm not sure what it was called."

I started both, finish..."

I haven't, no, but somewhat coincidentally I was looking at The Brothers of Gwynedd Quartet: Comprising Sunrise in the West, The Dragon at Noonday, The Hounds of Sunset, Afterglow and Nightfall earlier today.

I've read one Cadfael short story, because it was in a collection that I had, but I'm wary of reading any more of them due to the number of times I've seen the TV adaps, so it could be good to read some of her lesser known fiction.

Chris wrote:

No, not fantasy ... atmosphere, the beliefs of the peasants, maybe like a Tolkien depiction of being in the forests ... traveling through the countryside was an adventure of spiritual magnitude for some ... ..."

Ahh I see, thanks for explaining. :)

Chris wrote: "Lee wrote: "Chris wrote: "Lee wrote: "Chris wrote: "Lee wrote: "Seems that Sir Nigel was a prequel to The White Company. I understand there was a third as well, but I'm not sure what it was called..."

Yeah, the 'building' theme is a bit off-putting after finally getting The Pillars of the Earth off my back. Thought that monkey was so badly beaten it wouldn't be rearing its ugly head again for a while.

Bloody monkeys. :\ They ruin everything.

Petrified now, having read this thread (and some others) - but I'm embarking on a 100 Years War story. Just hope it gets better comments than Follet's books. Mind you, if I had 5,600 pages of reviews like him, I'd be happy! Still, 100 Years War should at least be fun to write.

Good luck Michael, I hope you enjoy the process. And at the very least what this thread shows is that we all have different tastes when it comes to books!

To look at it in another way, at least one person thinks that you're a far better writer than Follett!

Lee wrote: "Good luck Michael, I hope you enjoy the process. And at the very least what this thread shows is that we all have different tastes when it comes to books!

To look at it in another way, at least o..."

Haha! One reader thinks I'm better, eh? Wish I had a tenth of his monthly income, though! Still, the book's shaping up in my mind. I know the start and finish, and two scenes in the middle, which rather helps when embarking on a new novel! Cheers!

Good luck, Michael. Keep us posted on how it goes for you. :)

Terri wrote: "Good luck, Michael. Keep us posted on how it goes for you. :)"

Certainly will, Terri. Mind you, got the copyedit of the next one to go through first!

Michael wrote: "Hmm. I have to admit I tend to avoid anything that's medieval on the basis I'm petrified of being accused of plagiarism. Still, there are the Bernard Cornwell stories, and I'm sure that there must ..."

I haven't gotTon into your interchanges. But I wondernif u have heard or read Mary Gentle"s trio of the Books of Ash. They are a series of 3 books in the areas of the Burgundians and the main character is a Joan of ace like woman warrior,

Loved Agincourt and really hoping it will be into the film.

Try the following two books:

Kemp: The Road to Crecy
Kemp: Passage at Arms

By Daniel Hall (pen name for Jonathon Lunn I believe)

Decent books and I wonder if there will be more and I hope so. I wish Hall would take it further and have Kemp at Poitiers. Ironically, these book are the contrast of "I Serve". Sir Thomas Holland is the good guy in the Kemp series where he is the antagonist in Lortz's story.

Hi Jared,
I had not heard of this Kemp series. Thanks for the heads up, I shall check it out.

Be nice if they did make Agincourt into a movie. Save me having to read the book (as it is one I am hesitant about).

Terri wrote: "Hi Jared,
I had not heard of this Kemp series. Thanks for the heads up, I shall check it out.

Be nice if they did make Agincourt into a movie. Save me having to read the book (as it is one I am he..."

I loved Agincourt - it is a good story with a nice ending.

One more thing about the Kemp series, I can almost guarantee that Lortz got her hands on the first book and that inspired her idea to make Holland the bad guy in "I Serve" (although I cannot be certain). It really presented two nice perspectives.

Seems Agincourt is one of those books that divides opinion. I think perhaps this is one of the reasons that I am yet to take the plunge. (well, that and the fact that Cornwell has a formula for every book and I am not sure I want to be too exposed to that formula for fear of it putting me off my favourite Saxon series).

Many say Agincourt is great, many say it was not so great.
I will take the plunge one day for sure. :)

Did you see the interview with Cornwell? The video I posted in the groups videos? It is a good interview if you haven't seen it yet.

I was looking at Daniel Hall's profile here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and I am wondering..as you say, only two books in this series..is the reader left hanging in book 2? or is it tied up?

Terri wrote: "I was looking at Daniel Hall's profile here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and I am wondering..as you say, only two books in this series..is the reader left hanging in book 2? or is it tied up?"

It is somewhat tied up. From what I have read in the past, Hall (or Lunn whatever his real name is) intended to make this into a series but it stalled after book 2. No idea why but I would love to see more. Kemp is actually a very likeable character and the references to many historical figures not to mention events is intriguing.

One can only hope that Hall has a revelation and writes more. Kemp is young in the novels so that him going to Poitiers is very conceivable.

Terri wrote: "Seems Agincourt is one of those books that divides opinion. I think perhaps this is one of the reasons that I am yet to take the plunge. (well, that and the fact that Cornwell has a formula for eve..."

I have seen some videos of him, not sure if it is the same but I will take a look. Agincourt was very similar to the Arhcer/Grail series but I thought it was great simply because of the research he did for it. He makes reference to all he read about the actual battle, the disparities between researchers about the numbers of soldiers and had some interesting tidbits about viewing the actual muster rolls from Agincourt. They are online and open to the public and I took a look at them to see if any possible relatives fought there. There was an actual Nicholas Hook (the main charcater) that fought int he battle too. Again, I thought the ending was great.