Very Enjoyable, 27 Oct 2008
Millenium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom by Tom Holland is a very good book dealing with the turbulent years around the turn of the first millenium. At the start of this period western European Christianity seemed to be under threat from all sides and obsessed with the end of the world. However, as time progressed Catholicism and the states of Europe gained confidence and took the offensive against its opponents. This book shows how this happened but also provides interesting pieces of information about how the nation states of Europe such as Germany, France and Germany evolved and came to be different for example how France became a deeply divided country with a weak central government while England became heavily centralised. It is an immensely readable book which provides insights into how Europe developed and how Catholicism reformed itself and became dominant unifying factor that brought about the Crusades. All in all a good and very readable book.

The Millenium is recreated by Tom Holland., 19 Oct 2008
Did you expect the Day of Judgement or the appearance of the Antichrist at the Second Millenium in 2000? If so, sympathise with the hapless inhabitants of the Christian world around 1000 AD as they struggle for survival and are caught up in the Church and State's duel for world-leadership. In Tom Holland's new book, the focus is on the decades leading to and from the first Millennium, ending in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099.

Against the violence of this background, holy men, land-hungry dukes, Viking pirates, popes and emperors briefly blaze, and are as quickly extinguished in the flames of siege and the yelling carnage of relentless warfare. In the work of any other writer, covering such a broad canvas could lead to incoherence and battle-fatigue, but Holland organises his sprawling material with exemplary clarity.

Holland is a historian for today. His zestfully colloquial style underlines the relevance that this far-off time has for us now. He relieves the derring-do occasionally by throwing in memorable descriptions of the splendour of Constantinople or the tranquil piety of the Abbey of Cluny. There has been less written about this murky period than almost any time in history. Its chief characters could only be brought to life by someone of Holland's wide-ranging scholarship and imagination, Despite his often meagre primary sources, his description of characters and events have an almost cinematographic immediacy.

This is a Big Read about a Big Subject. If you are so swept along that you miss some of the vivid detail, it will repay reading again - and again.

Another Treat For Holland Fans, 11 Oct 2008
I agree with A Hall that the author's previous books (Persian Fire and Rubicon) are tough acts to follow. But for me, Holland completes the hat-trick in real style. What he does so well is combine genuine scholarship with an eye for a great story, and he keeps on picking out neglected areas of history and bringing them to life. The 11th Century may not sound that mouthwatering to begin with but it does include the Battle of Hastings and the First Crusade - pretty juicy. And if, like me, you have a taste for the bloodthirsty details, Holland digs them all up and delivers them in spades. The hardback is a bit heavy to carry around, so I might wait until his next one comes out in paperback.

A sweeping history of a fascinating age, 06 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed Persian Fire - a masterful and accessible re-evaluation of the wars between the Persians and the ancient Greeks - and this book is even more ambitious and fascinating. The Persian Wars was a story that almost wrote itself (with Holland's insight) but making a book about the early Middle Ages read like a novel is an even greater achievement. The many strands of the story require a deft and subtle weaving together, which Holland manages to do, all the while carrying the reader along at a roaring pace. Those who enjoyed Holland's storytelling and wit in his earlier books should not be disappointed.

buy it when it comes out on paperback, 28 Sep 2008
I've loved Tom Holland's other books. Rubicon was good & Persian Fire was one of the most readable books I've come across. Millennium doesn't match his previous works but then they're a lot to live up to.

I can see why he chose this period to write about, but for me (and this is purely personal) there are other times and events I would rather read about. There's also a couple of sweeping generalisations that stuck out to me which made me question his previous works. That said it's still an entertaining read - save a tenner though and buy it on paperback.

Very Enjoyable, 27 Oct 2008
Millenium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom by Tom Holland is a very good book dealing with the turbulent years around the turn of the first millenium. At the start of this period western European Christianity seemed to be under threat from all sides and obsessed with the end of the world. However, as time progressed Catholicism and the states of Europe gained confidence and took the offensive against its opponents. This book shows how this happened but also provides interesting pieces of information about how the nation states of Europe such as Germany, France and Germany evolved and came to be different for example how France became a deeply divided country with a weak central government while England became heavily centralised. It is an immensely readable book which provides insights into how Europe developed and how Catholicism reformed itself and became dominant unifying factor that brought about the Crusades. All in all a good and very readable book.

The Millenium is recreated by Tom Holland., 19 Oct 2008
Did you expect the Day of Judgement or the appearance of the Antichrist at the Second Millenium in 2000? If so, sympathise with the hapless inhabitants of the Christian world around 1000 AD as they struggle for survival and are caught up in the Church and State's duel for world-leadership. In Tom Holland's new book, the focus is on the decades leading to and from the first Millennium, ending in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099.

Against the violence of this background, holy men, land-hungry dukes, Viking pirates, popes and emperors briefly blaze, and are as quickly extinguished in the flames of siege and the yelling carnage of relentless warfare. In the work of any other writer, covering such a broad canvas could lead to incoherence and battle-fatigue, but Holland organises his sprawling material with exemplary clarity.

Holland is a historian for today. His zestfully colloquial style underlines the relevance that this far-off time has for us now. He relieves the derring-do occasionally by throwing in memorable descriptions of the splendour of Constantinople or the tranquil piety of the Abbey of Cluny. There has been less written about this murky period than almost any time in history. Its chief characters could only be brought to life by someone of Holland's wide-ranging scholarship and imagination, Despite his often meagre primary sources, his description of characters and events have an almost cinematographic immediacy.

This is a Big Read about a Big Subject. If you are so swept along that you miss some of the vivid detail, it will repay reading again - and again.

Another Treat For Holland Fans, 11 Oct 2008
I agree with A Hall that the author's previous books (Persian Fire and Rubicon) are tough acts to follow. But for me, Holland completes the hat-trick in real style. What he does so well is combine genuine scholarship with an eye for a great story, and he keeps on picking out neglected areas of history and bringing them to life. The 11th Century may not sound that mouthwatering to begin with but it does include the Battle of Hastings and the First Crusade - pretty juicy. And if, like me, you have a taste for the bloodthirsty details, Holland digs them all up and delivers them in spades. The hardback is a bit heavy to carry around, so I might wait until his next one comes out in paperback.

A sweeping history of a fascinating age, 06 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed Persian Fire - a masterful and accessible re-evaluation of the wars between the Persians and the ancient Greeks - and this book is even more ambitious and fascinating. The Persian Wars was a story that almost wrote itself (with Holland's insight) but making a book about the early Middle Ages read like a novel is an even greater achievement. The many strands of the story require a deft and subtle weaving together, which Holland manages to do, all the while carrying the reader along at a roaring pace. Those who enjoyed Holland's storytelling and wit in his earlier books should not be disappointed.

buy it when it comes out on paperback, 28 Sep 2008
I've loved Tom Holland's other books. Rubicon was good & Persian Fire was one of the most readable books I've come across. Millennium doesn't match his previous works but then they're a lot to live up to.

I can see why he chose this period to write about, but for me (and this is purely personal) there are other times and events I would rather read about. There's also a couple of sweeping generalisations that stuck out to me which made me question his previous works. That said it's still an entertaining read - save a tenner though and buy it on paperback.

My advice: Read this book, 17 Sep 2008
This is how history should be written. I really enjoyed this book and was sorely disappointed when I got to the end and had no more pages to go. I loved Tom Holland's Rubicon and am currently very much enjoying Francis Pryor's Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans but Juliet Barker has a wonderful way of creating history in full colour. I now have a real sense of the chivalric mindset and the character of Henry V. I also loved the details such as the bills for the equipment and provisions. Also the description of Henry's financial and political skills in preparing for his campaign. If Juliet Barker keeps writing like this history will become cool and trendy!

Epic history told in a masterly way, 25 Jul 2008
The sign of a great history book is when you are able to cast new light on a well known story. Agincourt does exactly that.

There isn't necessarily a lot of new material here, but instead Juliet Barker really brings to life the men and women on campaign. She also does an excellent job of showing how the battle was really an accident after a rather average siege of Harfleur. Had the battle not taken place Henry V might well have become a rather obscure English King but because he wanted to do battle (against the advice of almost all around him) and the battle was won very much against the odds a legend was born and the French were humbled.

Perhaps the most masterful angle of the book is the way much of the story is from the French perspective underlining how Henry's campaign was set against a backdrop of civil war in France and it took his invasion to unite such hated foes against him, only for many of the faction leaders to die in the battle- oh the irony.

If I was to have one grumble it's that at times explaining who was where turns into unwieldy lists of people and their endless titles but this is the only mar on a gleaming example of a superb history book.

A must read for those new to the story of Agincourt as well as old battleaxes too!


a must read , 17 Jun 2008
Very readable and extremely well researched book. Juliet Barker delivers a fascinating and compelling read that will keep the reader interested through out.

The prequel to the battle, the battle itself and the aftermath are written with enough insight and fact, the reader would believe the battle took place 100 years ago and not 500 years, indeed there is a poignant reminder that the area has witnessed so much bloodshed over the years.

A must read.


One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 07 Mar 2008

I found this an extremely entertaining account of the battle of Agincourt. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the account is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 31 Jan 2008

I found this book extremely readable and very entertaining. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the book is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

Very Enjoyable, 27 Oct 2008
Millenium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom by Tom Holland is a very good book dealing with the turbulent years around the turn of the first millenium. At the start of this period western European Christianity seemed to be under threat from all sides and obsessed with the end of the world. However, as time progressed Catholicism and the states of Europe gained confidence and took the offensive against its opponents. This book shows how this happened but also provides interesting pieces of information about how the nation states of Europe such as Germany, France and Germany evolved and came to be different for example how France became a deeply divided country with a weak central government while England became heavily centralised. It is an immensely readable book which provides insights into how Europe developed and how Catholicism reformed itself and became dominant unifying factor that brought about the Crusades. All in all a good and very readable book.

The Millenium is recreated by Tom Holland., 19 Oct 2008
Did you expect the Day of Judgement or the appearance of the Antichrist at the Second Millenium in 2000? If so, sympathise with the hapless inhabitants of the Christian world around 1000 AD as they struggle for survival and are caught up in the Church and State's duel for world-leadership. In Tom Holland's new book, the focus is on the decades leading to and from the first Millennium, ending in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099.

Against the violence of this background, holy men, land-hungry dukes, Viking pirates, popes and emperors briefly blaze, and are as quickly extinguished in the flames of siege and the yelling carnage of relentless warfare. In the work of any other writer, covering such a broad canvas could lead to incoherence and battle-fatigue, but Holland organises his sprawling material with exemplary clarity.

Holland is a historian for today. His zestfully colloquial style underlines the relevance that this far-off time has for us now. He relieves the derring-do occasionally by throwing in memorable descriptions of the splendour of Constantinople or the tranquil piety of the Abbey of Cluny. There has been less written about this murky period than almost any time in history. Its chief characters could only be brought to life by someone of Holland's wide-ranging scholarship and imagination, Despite his often meagre primary sources, his description of characters and events have an almost cinematographic immediacy.

This is a Big Read about a Big Subject. If you are so swept along that you miss some of the vivid detail, it will repay reading again - and again.

Another Treat For Holland Fans, 11 Oct 2008
I agree with A Hall that the author's previous books (Persian Fire and Rubicon) are tough acts to follow. But for me, Holland completes the hat-trick in real style. What he does so well is combine genuine scholarship with an eye for a great story, and he keeps on picking out neglected areas of history and bringing them to life. The 11th Century may not sound that mouthwatering to begin with but it does include the Battle of Hastings and the First Crusade - pretty juicy. And if, like me, you have a taste for the bloodthirsty details, Holland digs them all up and delivers them in spades. The hardback is a bit heavy to carry around, so I might wait until his next one comes out in paperback.

A sweeping history of a fascinating age, 06 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed Persian Fire - a masterful and accessible re-evaluation of the wars between the Persians and the ancient Greeks - and this book is even more ambitious and fascinating. The Persian Wars was a story that almost wrote itself (with Holland's insight) but making a book about the early Middle Ages read like a novel is an even greater achievement. The many strands of the story require a deft and subtle weaving together, which Holland manages to do, all the while carrying the reader along at a roaring pace. Those who enjoyed Holland's storytelling and wit in his earlier books should not be disappointed.

buy it when it comes out on paperback, 28 Sep 2008
I've loved Tom Holland's other books. Rubicon was good & Persian Fire was one of the most readable books I've come across. Millennium doesn't match his previous works but then they're a lot to live up to.

I can see why he chose this period to write about, but for me (and this is purely personal) there are other times and events I would rather read about. There's also a couple of sweeping generalisations that stuck out to me which made me question his previous works. That said it's still an entertaining read - save a tenner though and buy it on paperback.

My advice: Read this book, 17 Sep 2008
This is how history should be written. I really enjoyed this book and was sorely disappointed when I got to the end and had no more pages to go. I loved Tom Holland's Rubicon and am currently very much enjoying Francis Pryor's Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans but Juliet Barker has a wonderful way of creating history in full colour. I now have a real sense of the chivalric mindset and the character of Henry V. I also loved the details such as the bills for the equipment and provisions. Also the description of Henry's financial and political skills in preparing for his campaign. If Juliet Barker keeps writing like this history will become cool and trendy!

Epic history told in a masterly way, 25 Jul 2008
The sign of a great history book is when you are able to cast new light on a well known story. Agincourt does exactly that.

There isn't necessarily a lot of new material here, but instead Juliet Barker really brings to life the men and women on campaign. She also does an excellent job of showing how the battle was really an accident after a rather average siege of Harfleur. Had the battle not taken place Henry V might well have become a rather obscure English King but because he wanted to do battle (against the advice of almost all around him) and the battle was won very much against the odds a legend was born and the French were humbled.

Perhaps the most masterful angle of the book is the way much of the story is from the French perspective underlining how Henry's campaign was set against a backdrop of civil war in France and it took his invasion to unite such hated foes against him, only for many of the faction leaders to die in the battle- oh the irony.

If I was to have one grumble it's that at times explaining who was where turns into unwieldy lists of people and their endless titles but this is the only mar on a gleaming example of a superb history book.

A must read for those new to the story of Agincourt as well as old battleaxes too!


a must read , 17 Jun 2008
Very readable and extremely well researched book. Juliet Barker delivers a fascinating and compelling read that will keep the reader interested through out.

The prequel to the battle, the battle itself and the aftermath are written with enough insight and fact, the reader would believe the battle took place 100 years ago and not 500 years, indeed there is a poignant reminder that the area has witnessed so much bloodshed over the years.

A must read.


One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 07 Mar 2008

I found this an extremely entertaining account of the battle of Agincourt. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the account is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 31 Jan 2008

I found this book extremely readable and very entertaining. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the book is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

Excellent, 12 Oct 2008
Superb for a newcomer to this period of history - as detailed as necessary, as concise as possible.

A superb historical account, 01 Oct 2008
A superb account of one of the most famous and influential dynasties in European history.
Beginning with an overview of Medieval Florece, Christopher Hibbert takes us back to a sumptuous world of arts, merchants and an advanced democratic civilization. It begins with the story of Cosimo, the brilliant banker, who through his connections to the Papacy, becomes a major powerbroker in Italian affairs, much to the annoyance of Florences ruling Signoria, who unable to decide on his fate, place his life or death to a plebescite, which results in temporary banishment, only to return and establish a wealthy and cultured dynasty.
Lorenzo il Manifico is the definite star, the patro of the arts who oversaw Florence's golden age. However, the most interesting part of the account is the rise of the Dominican Monk Savaronola and Florence's descent into a deranged theocracy.
By the time the book speaks of the passing of Anna Maria, one has a sense of sadness that such a great dynasty has reached its end, and such a sadness was felt in Florence at the time.
On the whole a superb book, one of the best historical accounts I have read this year.

Polaroid View of History, 07 Jul 2007
This book focuses on a fascinating period, but the camera (i.e. Historian Christopher Hibbert) is a polaroid camera, so the image is not particularly sharp and enchanting.
As I read this book I realised that it could have been written by almost anyone in a university history department. It didn't have a disntinctive style or anything particular to say. It just ran through the gamut of the subject in an entirely predicatable way -- the rise of the city state, trade more important than before, new ways of thinking but respect for the ways of the Church, the rise of the 'new man' and the threat this posed to the putative democracy of the city state, the fate of the Medici tied to the varying abilities of different members, an interest in the arts, the gradual co-opting of the Medici to the old nobility, etc. etc.

The phrase 'scissors and paste attempt' kept running through my mind as I turned the pages, a thought further emphasised by the poor quality of the paper on which the book was printed and the cover, which soon curled up even though I had read it quickly and only once.


Not a very intellectual book, 01 Oct 2000
As an A-level history student I waited for this book to arrive. After beginning to read it I was deeply disappointed. The language is completely descriptive, not very good for a text book; and has no kind of counter argument to it. Lorenzo de Medici is praised, but his bad points are not shown. The descriptive language is overtly, almost offensively flowery and there is very little actual evidence to back up Mr. Hibbert's views. Mr Hibbert relies on hearsay and public events, none of which was properly established and offends the intellect with his set piece scenarios. I also get the feeling he makes things up for his sensationalist ideas. All in all this book is a waste of time if you are looking for anything with historical value at all.

Brilliant! One of the best books I've ever read., 06 Jun 2000
Why has it taken me over 20 years to discover this book? Erudite, factual, witty, entertaining, this is a must for anyone with the slightest interest in Florence, the Renaissance, art, history. Better than any guidebook, Chapter 10 should be read by every tourist who wants to understand the very convoluted history of Florence.

Very Enjoyable, 27 Oct 2008
Millenium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom by Tom Holland is a very good book dealing with the turbulent years around the turn of the first millenium. At the start of this period western European Christianity seemed to be under threat from all sides and obsessed with the end of the world. However, as time progressed Catholicism and the states of Europe gained confidence and took the offensive against its opponents. This book shows how this happened but also provides interesting pieces of information about how the nation states of Europe such as Germany, France and Germany evolved and came to be different for example how France became a deeply divided country with a weak central government while England became heavily centralised. It is an immensely readable book which provides insights into how Europe developed and how Catholicism reformed itself and became dominant unifying factor that brought about the Crusades. All in all a good and very readable book.

The Millenium is recreated by Tom Holland., 19 Oct 2008
Did you expect the Day of Judgement or the appearance of the Antichrist at the Second Millenium in 2000? If so, sympathise with the hapless inhabitants of the Christian world around 1000 AD as they struggle for survival and are caught up in the Church and State's duel for world-leadership. In Tom Holland's new book, the focus is on the decades leading to and from the first Millennium, ending in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099.

Against the violence of this background, holy men, land-hungry dukes, Viking pirates, popes and emperors briefly blaze, and are as quickly extinguished in the flames of siege and the yelling carnage of relentless warfare. In the work of any other writer, covering such a broad canvas could lead to incoherence and battle-fatigue, but Holland organises his sprawling material with exemplary clarity.

Holland is a historian for today. His zestfully colloquial style underlines the relevance that this far-off time has for us now. He relieves the derring-do occasionally by throwing in memorable descriptions of the splendour of Constantinople or the tranquil piety of the Abbey of Cluny. There has been less written about this murky period than almost any time in history. Its chief characters could only be brought to life by someone of Holland's wide-ranging scholarship and imagination, Despite his often meagre primary sources, his description of characters and events have an almost cinematographic immediacy.

This is a Big Read about a Big Subject. If you are so swept along that you miss some of the vivid detail, it will repay reading again - and again.

Another Treat For Holland Fans, 11 Oct 2008
I agree with A Hall that the author's previous books (Persian Fire and Rubicon) are tough acts to follow. But for me, Holland completes the hat-trick in real style. What he does so well is combine genuine scholarship with an eye for a great story, and he keeps on picking out neglected areas of history and bringing them to life. The 11th Century may not sound that mouthwatering to begin with but it does include the Battle of Hastings and the First Crusade - pretty juicy. And if, like me, you have a taste for the bloodthirsty details, Holland digs them all up and delivers them in spades. The hardback is a bit heavy to carry around, so I might wait until his next one comes out in paperback.

A sweeping history of a fascinating age, 06 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed Persian Fire - a masterful and accessible re-evaluation of the wars between the Persians and the ancient Greeks - and this book is even more ambitious and fascinating. The Persian Wars was a story that almost wrote itself (with Holland's insight) but making a book about the early Middle Ages read like a novel is an even greater achievement. The many strands of the story require a deft and subtle weaving together, which Holland manages to do, all the while carrying the reader along at a roaring pace. Those who enjoyed Holland's storytelling and wit in his earlier books should not be disappointed.

buy it when it comes out on paperback, 28 Sep 2008
I've loved Tom Holland's other books. Rubicon was good & Persian Fire was one of the most readable books I've come across. Millennium doesn't match his previous works but then they're a lot to live up to.

I can see why he chose this period to write about, but for me (and this is purely personal) there are other times and events I would rather read about. There's also a couple of sweeping generalisations that stuck out to me which made me question his previous works. That said it's still an entertaining read - save a tenner though and buy it on paperback.

My advice: Read this book, 17 Sep 2008
This is how history should be written. I really enjoyed this book and was sorely disappointed when I got to the end and had no more pages to go. I loved Tom Holland's Rubicon and am currently very much enjoying Francis Pryor's Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans but Juliet Barker has a wonderful way of creating history in full colour. I now have a real sense of the chivalric mindset and the character of Henry V. I also loved the details such as the bills for the equipment and provisions. Also the description of Henry's financial and political skills in preparing for his campaign. If Juliet Barker keeps writing like this history will become cool and trendy!

Epic history told in a masterly way, 25 Jul 2008
The sign of a great history book is when you are able to cast new light on a well known story. Agincourt does exactly that.

There isn't necessarily a lot of new material here, but instead Juliet Barker really brings to life the men and women on campaign. She also does an excellent job of showing how the battle was really an accident after a rather average siege of Harfleur. Had the battle not taken place Henry V might well have become a rather obscure English King but because he wanted to do battle (against the advice of almost all around him) and the battle was won very much against the odds a legend was born and the French were humbled.

Perhaps the most masterful angle of the book is the way much of the story is from the French perspective underlining how Henry's campaign was set against a backdrop of civil war in France and it took his invasion to unite such hated foes against him, only for many of the faction leaders to die in the battle- oh the irony.

If I was to have one grumble it's that at times explaining who was where turns into unwieldy lists of people and their endless titles but this is the only mar on a gleaming example of a superb history book.

A must read for those new to the story of Agincourt as well as old battleaxes too!


a must read , 17 Jun 2008
Very readable and extremely well researched book. Juliet Barker delivers a fascinating and compelling read that will keep the reader interested through out.

The prequel to the battle, the battle itself and the aftermath are written with enough insight and fact, the reader would believe the battle took place 100 years ago and not 500 years, indeed there is a poignant reminder that the area has witnessed so much bloodshed over the years.

A must read.


One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 07 Mar 2008

I found this an extremely entertaining account of the battle of Agincourt. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the account is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 31 Jan 2008

I found this book extremely readable and very entertaining. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the book is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

Excellent, 12 Oct 2008
Superb for a newcomer to this period of history - as detailed as necessary, as concise as possible.

A superb historical account, 01 Oct 2008
A superb account of one of the most famous and influential dynasties in European history.
Beginning with an overview of Medieval Florece, Christopher Hibbert takes us back to a sumptuous world of arts, merchants and an advanced democratic civilization. It begins with the story of Cosimo, the brilliant banker, who through his connections to the Papacy, becomes a major powerbroker in Italian affairs, much to the annoyance of Florences ruling Signoria, who unable to decide on his fate, place his life or death to a plebescite, which results in temporary banishment, only to return and establish a wealthy and cultured dynasty.
Lorenzo il Manifico is the definite star, the patro of the arts who oversaw Florence's golden age. However, the most interesting part of the account is the rise of the Dominican Monk Savaronola and Florence's descent into a deranged theocracy.
By the time the book speaks of the passing of Anna Maria, one has a sense of sadness that such a great dynasty has reached its end, and such a sadness was felt in Florence at the time.
On the whole a superb book, one of the best historical accounts I have read this year.

Polaroid View of History, 07 Jul 2007
This book focuses on a fascinating period, but the camera (i.e. Historian Christopher Hibbert) is a polaroid camera, so the image is not particularly sharp and enchanting.
As I read this book I realised that it could have been written by almost anyone in a university history department. It didn't have a disntinctive style or anything particular to say. It just ran through the gamut of the subject in an entirely predicatable way -- the rise of the city state, trade more important than before, new ways of thinking but respect for the ways of the Church, the rise of the 'new man' and the threat this posed to the putative democracy of the city state, the fate of the Medici tied to the varying abilities of different members, an interest in the arts, the gradual co-opting of the Medici to the old nobility, etc. etc.

The phrase 'scissors and paste attempt' kept running through my mind as I turned the pages, a thought further emphasised by the poor quality of the paper on which the book was printed and the cover, which soon curled up even though I had read it quickly and only once.


Not a very intellectual book, 01 Oct 2000
As an A-level history student I waited for this book to arrive. After beginning to read it I was deeply disappointed. The language is completely descriptive, not very good for a text book; and has no kind of counter argument to it. Lorenzo de Medici is praised, but his bad points are not shown. The descriptive language is overtly, almost offensively flowery and there is very little actual evidence to back up Mr. Hibbert's views. Mr Hibbert relies on hearsay and public events, none of which was properly established and offends the intellect with his set piece scenarios. I also get the feeling he makes things up for his sensationalist ideas. All in all this book is a waste of time if you are looking for anything with historical value at all.

Brilliant! One of the best books I've ever read., 06 Jun 2000
Why has it taken me over 20 years to discover this book? Erudite, factual, witty, entertaining, this is a must for anyone with the slightest interest in Florence, the Renaissance, art, history. Better than any guidebook, Chapter 10 should be read by every tourist who wants to understand the very convoluted history of Florence.

The Best of the Templars, 27 Sep 2008
Michael Haag's The Templars: History & Myth, is the best book I have read on the history of the Knights Templar. Written for the non-academic reader, it nevertheless is a comprehensive, scholarly approach to a fascinating subject. Anyone who subscribes to some of the modern myths and pseudo histories involving the order should read this book.

Very Enjoyable, 27 Oct 2008
Millenium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom by Tom Holland is a very good book dealing with the turbulent years around the turn of the first millenium. At the start of this period western European Christianity seemed to be under threat from all sides and obsessed with the end of the world. However, as time progressed Catholicism and the states of Europe gained confidence and took the offensive against its opponents. This book shows how this happened but also provides interesting pieces of information about how the nation states of Europe such as Germany, France and Germany evolved and came to be different for example how France became a deeply divided country with a weak central government while England became heavily centralised. It is an immensely readable book which provides insights into how Europe developed and how Catholicism reformed itself and became dominant unifying factor that brought about the Crusades. All in all a good and very readable book.

The Millenium is recreated by Tom Holland., 19 Oct 2008
Did you expect the Day of Judgement or the appearance of the Antichrist at the Second Millenium in 2000? If so, sympathise with the hapless inhabitants of the Christian world around 1000 AD as they struggle for survival and are caught up in the Church and State's duel for world-leadership. In Tom Holland's new book, the focus is on the decades leading to and from the first Millennium, ending in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099.

Against the violence of this background, holy men, land-hungry dukes, Viking pirates, popes and emperors briefly blaze, and are as quickly extinguished in the flames of siege and the yelling carnage of relentless warfare. In the work of any other writer, covering such a broad canvas could lead to incoherence and battle-fatigue, but Holland organises his sprawling material with exemplary clarity.

Holland is a historian for today. His zestfully colloquial style underlines the relevance that this far-off time has for us now. He relieves the derring-do occasionally by throwing in memorable descriptions of the splendour of Constantinople or the tranquil piety of the Abbey of Cluny. There has been less written about this murky period than almost any time in history. Its chief characters could only be brought to life by someone of Holland's wide-ranging scholarship and imagination, Despite his often meagre primary sources, his description of characters and events have an almost cinematographic immediacy.

This is a Big Read about a Big Subject. If you are so swept along that you miss some of the vivid detail, it will repay reading again - and again.

Another Treat For Holland Fans, 11 Oct 2008
I agree with A Hall that the author's previous books (Persian Fire and Rubicon) are tough acts to follow. But for me, Holland completes the hat-trick in real style. What he does so well is combine genuine scholarship with an eye for a great story, and he keeps on picking out neglected areas of history and bringing them to life. The 11th Century may not sound that mouthwatering to begin with but it does include the Battle of Hastings and the First Crusade - pretty juicy. And if, like me, you have a taste for the bloodthirsty details, Holland digs them all up and delivers them in spades. The hardback is a bit heavy to carry around, so I might wait until his next one comes out in paperback.

A sweeping history of a fascinating age, 06 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed Persian Fire - a masterful and accessible re-evaluation of the wars between the Persians and the ancient Greeks - and this book is even more ambitious and fascinating. The Persian Wars was a story that almost wrote itself (with Holland's insight) but making a book about the early Middle Ages read like a novel is an even greater achievement. The many strands of the story require a deft and subtle weaving together, which Holland manages to do, all the while carrying the reader along at a roaring pace. Those who enjoyed Holland's storytelling and wit in his earlier books should not be disappointed.

buy it when it comes out on paperback, 28 Sep 2008
I've loved Tom Holland's other books. Rubicon was good & Persian Fire was one of the most readable books I've come across. Millennium doesn't match his previous works but then they're a lot to live up to.

I can see why he chose this period to write about, but for me (and this is purely personal) there are other times and events I would rather read about. There's also a couple of sweeping generalisations that stuck out to me which made me question his previous works. That said it's still an entertaining read - save a tenner though and buy it on paperback.

My advice: Read this book, 17 Sep 2008
This is how history should be written. I really enjoyed this book and was sorely disappointed when I got to the end and had no more pages to go. I loved Tom Holland's Rubicon and am currently very much enjoying Francis Pryor's Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans but Juliet Barker has a wonderful way of creating history in full colour. I now have a real sense of the chivalric mindset and the character of Henry V. I also loved the details such as the bills for the equipment and provisions. Also the description of Henry's financial and political skills in preparing for his campaign. If Juliet Barker keeps writing like this history will become cool and trendy!

Epic history told in a masterly way, 25 Jul 2008
The sign of a great history book is when you are able to cast new light on a well known story. Agincourt does exactly that.

There isn't necessarily a lot of new material here, but instead Juliet Barker really brings to life the men and women on campaign. She also does an excellent job of showing how the battle was really an accident after a rather average siege of Harfleur. Had the battle not taken place Henry V might well have become a rather obscure English King but because he wanted to do battle (against the advice of almost all around him) and the battle was won very much against the odds a legend was born and the French were humbled.

Perhaps the most masterful angle of the book is the way much of the story is from the French perspective underlining how Henry's campaign was set against a backdrop of civil war in France and it took his invasion to unite such hated foes against him, only for many of the faction leaders to die in the battle- oh the irony.

If I was to have one grumble it's that at times explaining who was where turns into unwieldy lists of people and their endless titles but this is the only mar on a gleaming example of a superb history book.

A must read for those new to the story of Agincourt as well as old battleaxes too!


a must read , 17 Jun 2008
Very readable and extremely well researched book. Juliet Barker delivers a fascinating and compelling read that will keep the reader interested through out.

The prequel to the battle, the battle itself and the aftermath are written with enough insight and fact, the reader would believe the battle took place 100 years ago and not 500 years, indeed there is a poignant reminder that the area has witnessed so much bloodshed over the years.

A must read.


One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 07 Mar 2008

I found this an extremely entertaining account of the battle of Agincourt. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the account is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 31 Jan 2008

I found this book extremely readable and very entertaining. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the book is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

Excellent, 12 Oct 2008
Superb for a newcomer to this period of history - as detailed as necessary, as concise as possible.

A superb historical account, 01 Oct 2008
A superb account of one of the most famous and influential dynasties in European history.
Beginning with an overview of Medieval Florece, Christopher Hibbert takes us back to a sumptuous world of arts, merchants and an advanced democratic civilization. It begins with the story of Cosimo, the brilliant banker, who through his connections to the Papacy, becomes a major powerbroker in Italian affairs, much to the annoyance of Florences ruling Signoria, who unable to decide on his fate, place his life or death to a plebescite, which results in temporary banishment, only to return and establish a wealthy and cultured dynasty.
Lorenzo il Manifico is the definite star, the patro of the arts who oversaw Florence's golden age. However, the most interesting part of the account is the rise of the Dominican Monk Savaronola and Florence's descent into a deranged theocracy.
By the time the book speaks of the passing of Anna Maria, one has a sense of sadness that such a great dynasty has reached its end, and such a sadness was felt in Florence at the time.
On the whole a superb book, one of the best historical accounts I have read this year.

Polaroid View of History, 07 Jul 2007
This book focuses on a fascinating period, but the camera (i.e. Historian Christopher Hibbert) is a polaroid camera, so the image is not particularly sharp and enchanting.
As I read this book I realised that it could have been written by almost anyone in a university history department. It didn't have a disntinctive style or anything particular to say. It just ran through the gamut of the subject in an entirely predicatable way -- the rise of the city state, trade more important than before, new ways of thinking but respect for the ways of the Church, the rise of the 'new man' and the threat this posed to the putative democracy of the city state, the fate of the Medici tied to the varying abilities of different members, an interest in the arts, the gradual co-opting of the Medici to the old nobility, etc. etc.

The phrase 'scissors and paste attempt' kept running through my mind as I turned the pages, a thought further emphasised by the poor quality of the paper on which the book was printed and the cover, which soon curled up even though I had read it quickly and only once.


Not a very intellectual book, 01 Oct 2000
As an A-level history student I waited for this book to arrive. After beginning to read it I was deeply disappointed. The language is completely descriptive, not very good for a text book; and has no kind of counter argument to it. Lorenzo de Medici is praised, but his bad points are not shown. The descriptive language is overtly, almost offensively flowery and there is very little actual evidence to back up Mr. Hibbert's views. Mr Hibbert relies on hearsay and public events, none of which was properly established and offends the intellect with his set piece scenarios. I also get the feeling he makes things up for his sensationalist ideas. All in all this book is a waste of time if you are looking for anything with historical value at all.

Brilliant! One of the best books I've ever read., 06 Jun 2000
Why has it taken me over 20 years to discover this book? Erudite, factual, witty, entertaining, this is a must for anyone with the slightest interest in Florence, the Renaissance, art, history. Better than any guidebook, Chapter 10 should be read by every tourist who wants to understand the very convoluted history of Florence.

The Best of the Templars, 27 Sep 2008
Michael Haag's The Templars: History & Myth, is the best book I have read on the history of the Knights Templar. Written for the non-academic reader, it nevertheless is a comprehensive, scholarly approach to a fascinating subject. Anyone who subscribes to some of the modern myths and pseudo histories involving the order should read this book.

Achieved its objective!, 18 Nov 2008
As the title clearly indicates, this book is an attempt to depict the experience of the crusades through Arab eyes; in my opinion, it succeeded.

Until I read this title, my two favourite works concerning the crusades were 'The first crusade' by Thomas Asbridge and 'The sword and the scimitar' by Ernle Bradford. This book joins that short list.

One of the many bonuses to this title was that it filled a lot of the gaps in the aftermath of July 1099, such as the attempts by the Fatimids to reconquer Jerusalem, how the crusaders conquered Tripoli, Acre, the impact of the Mongols and the Mamluks on Arab civilisation. You come across interesting characters including Saladin, Zangi, Nur-Al-Din, Baybars, Qutuz, to name a few.

If I have any criticism, it is that some bits of information should not be taken at face value. For instance, the author asserts that Richard the Lionheart had Conrad of Montferrat killed by the Assassins - this is speculation at best.

I really enjoyed reading this and have certainly developed a more informed view of the crusades.

Interesting book, 20 Oct 2008
Amin Maalouf is a good French-Lebanese writer, and this, a translation from the original French, reads very well.

The occasional reviewer who says that it is one-sided is a bit unfair. It is a history of the Crusades from one point of view, as Maalouf says, and as the title makes clear. In writing the book, he says in the introduction, he has deliberately relied almost exclusively on contemporary Arabic sources. Even so, his account is fairly even-handed in that respect. Sometimes he does write as if he is cheering and jeering at the appropriate places in the story, but all even-handed historians, such as Runciman, make it clear that the Crusaders were on the whole a pretty barbaric bunch. Also although Maalouf describes Crusader-Muslim alliances as "bizarre", he makes it clear that as the Crusader kingdoms become stable, they played a role that often cut across religious lines, and few leaders on either side were consistent allies to their co-religionists, nor consistent enemies to those of another faith.

Also, at the end, after detailing the huge amount that the Europeans learnt in science, technology, art, culture, medicine and so on from the Muslim world, he then considers a few things that the Muslim world even at the time could have learnt from the otherwise less advanced west, if they had wished to.

However, the strength of the book doesn't come from its even-handedness. A good history book can be as biased as the writer wants it to be in tone, so long as it is factually accurate. Maalouf's account substantially agrees with (for example) Runciman's history, but fills it out by explaining the debates, the conflicts and the plans that the Muslims had in response to the invasion.

The single perspective of the narrative would be a weakness if someone were to take this as the last word, or the most complete account of the Crusades. At times it reads almost like Hamlet without the prince, as the driving force of the narrative, necessarily, is the Crusaders themselves. Maalouf's account of them is very thin, especially when it comes to explaining their motivations, the plea for help of the Byzantine emperor, the preaching of Peter the Hermit, the mass hysteria, the hopes and the fantasies and so on. This is not really a weakness of the book, but just something you should bear in mind. Whatever the grounds for your interest in the Crusades, you would need to read an account of how it all came about. Runciman's history is the standard work, and still well regarded. Maalouf however, will add much vital information that Runciman doesn't cover, however limited Maalouf's book would be considered in itself.

The great strengths of Maalouf's book come when he is explaining the political and social context of the Muslim world at the time. His explanation of the divisions between Turkish military commander and Arab civilian, burgher and villager, qadi and officer, Sunni and Shia gives you a deeper understanding of the Crusades than you would have if you only read other sources. He also explains the Assassins in a way that treats them not as an exotic curiosity, but an important social movement.

This book will enrich whatever else you have read about the Crusades. Although many of the original Arabic texts have now been translated, his overview and narrative is based on a wide variety of Arabic sources, and gives a broad understanding of what the Muslims thought of the event, and how they reacted to it.


Overated pseudo-history, 04 May 2008
This book highlights the dangers inherent in journalists writing history. The author has a lively style and the book is ceratinly readable (one previous reviewer even fooled into thinking it's a novel!) but it is very poor as history. It lacks objectivity and although presents us with a very interesting account of events from the Arab point of view and is critical of the Muslim states and their inability to work together, displays the author's ignorance (or deliberate lack of interest in) their opponents. Western authors have been writing more balanced views of the religious wars in the middle east for some time as any serious student of mediaeval history is well aware and this books pretensions at presenting 'the other side' is disingenuous. To sum up, it reminded me of a couple of books I read many years ago about events on the Russian front in 1943 and 44, which were written by Russian authors writing under communist rule, - go figure!

Not the best account!, 06 Sep 2007
I have to disagree with the other reviewers. The idea of the book is a very good one. We're used to reading about the crusades from the western perspective. Even the most objective account will tend to examine the motivations/ideas of the crusaders rather than the Arabs. So Ma'alouf's book is needed. However, it is, academically speaking, a bit slim. In my opinion this book is NOT well researched; however, even though it does so poorly, it touches on an understudied side of the crusades.

To use a rather odd analogy: if this was a movie I'd tell you to watch it on a plane or on TV but not to buy it!

Well researched, Acessible, Intriguing, 19 Jun 2007
I'm not much of a history buff. but this book is written in a clear accessible style. Events are detailed and accurate, and the journey through time is eyeopening. Well written, read this book!

Very Enjoyable, 27 Oct 2008
Millenium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom by Tom Holland is a very good book dealing with the turbulent years around the turn of the first millenium. At the start of this period western European Christianity seemed to be under threat from all sides and obsessed with the end of the world. However, as time progressed Catholicism and the states of Europe gained confidence and took the offensive against its opponents. This book shows how this happened but also provides interesting pieces of information about how the nation states of Europe such as Germany, France and Germany evolved and came to be different for example how France became a deeply divided country with a weak central government while England became heavily centralised. It is an immensely readable book which provides insights into how Europe developed and how Catholicism reformed itself and became dominant unifying factor that brought about the Crusades. All in all a good and very readable book.

The Millenium is recreated by Tom Holland., 19 Oct 2008
Did you expect the Day of Judgement or the appearance of the Antichrist at the Second Millenium in 2000? If so, sympathise with the hapless inhabitants of the Christian world around 1000 AD as they struggle for survival and are caught up in the Church and State's duel for world-leadership. In Tom Holland's new book, the focus is on the decades leading to and from the first Millennium, ending in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099.

Against the violence of this background, holy men, land-hungry dukes, Viking pirates, popes and emperors briefly blaze, and are as quickly extinguished in the flames of siege and the yelling carnage of relentless warfare. In the work of any other writer, covering such a broad canvas could lead to incoherence and battle-fatigue, but Holland organises his sprawling material with exemplary clarity.

Holland is a historian for today. His zestfully colloquial style underlines the relevance that this far-off time has for us now. He relieves the derring-do occasionally by throwing in memorable descriptions of the splendour of Constantinople or the tranquil piety of the Abbey of Cluny. There has been less written about this murky period than almost any time in history. Its chief characters could only be brought to life by someone of Holland's wide-ranging scholarship and imagination, Despite his often meagre primary sources, his description of characters and events have an almost cinematographic immediacy.

This is a Big Read about a Big Subject. If you are so swept along that you miss some of the vivid detail, it will repay reading again - and again.

Another Treat For Holland Fans, 11 Oct 2008
I agree with A Hall that the author's previous books (Persian Fire and Rubicon) are tough acts to follow. But for me, Holland completes the hat-trick in real style. What he does so well is combine genuine scholarship with an eye for a great story, and he keeps on picking out neglected areas of history and bringing them to life. The 11th Century may not sound that mouthwatering to begin with but it does include the Battle of Hastings and the First Crusade - pretty juicy. And if, like me, you have a taste for the bloodthirsty details, Holland digs them all up and delivers them in spades. The hardback is a bit heavy to carry around, so I might wait until his next one comes out in paperback.

A sweeping history of a fascinating age, 06 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed Persian Fire - a masterful and accessible re-evaluation of the wars between the Persians and the ancient Greeks - and this book is even more ambitious and fascinating. The Persian Wars was a story that almost wrote itself (with Holland's insight) but making a book about the early Middle Ages read like a novel is an even greater achievement. The many strands of the story require a deft and subtle weaving together, which Holland manages to do, all the while carrying the reader along at a roaring pace. Those who enjoyed Holland's storytelling and wit in his earlier books should not be disappointed.

buy it when it comes out on paperback, 28 Sep 2008
I've loved Tom Holland's other books. Rubicon was good & Persian Fire was one of the most readable books I've come across. Millennium doesn't match his previous works but then they're a lot to live up to.

I can see why he chose this period to write about, but for me (and this is purely personal) there are other times and events I would rather read about. There's also a couple of sweeping generalisations that stuck out to me which made me question his previous works. That said it's still an entertaining read - save a tenner though and buy it on paperback.

My advice: Read this book, 17 Sep 2008
This is how history should be written. I really enjoyed this book and was sorely disappointed when I got to the end and had no more pages to go. I loved Tom Holland's Rubicon and am currently very much enjoying Francis Pryor's Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans but Juliet Barker has a wonderful way of creating history in full colour. I now have a real sense of the chivalric mindset and the character of Henry V. I also loved the details such as the bills for the equipment and provisions. Also the description of Henry's financial and political skills in preparing for his campaign. If Juliet Barker keeps writing like this history will become cool and trendy!

Epic history told in a masterly way, 25 Jul 2008
The sign of a great history book is when you are able to cast new light on a well known story. Agincourt does exactly that.

There isn't necessarily a lot of new material here, but instead Juliet Barker really brings to life the men and women on campaign. She also does an excellent job of showing how the battle was really an accident after a rather average siege of Harfleur. Had the battle not taken place Henry V might well have become a rather obscure English King but because he wanted to do battle (against the advice of almost all around him) and the battle was won very much against the odds a legend was born and the French were humbled.

Perhaps the most masterful angle of the book is the way much of the story is from the French perspective underlining how Henry's campaign was set against a backdrop of civil war in France and it took his invasion to unite such hated foes against him, only for many of the faction leaders to die in the battle- oh the irony.

If I was to have one grumble it's that at times explaining who was where turns into unwieldy lists of people and their endless titles but this is the only mar on a gleaming example of a superb history book.

A must read for those new to the story of Agincourt as well as old battleaxes too!


a must read , 17 Jun 2008
Very readable and extremely well researched book. Juliet Barker delivers a fascinating and compelling read that will keep the reader interested through out.

The prequel to the battle, the battle itself and the aftermath are written with enough insight and fact, the reader would believe the battle took place 100 years ago and not 500 years, indeed there is a poignant reminder that the area has witnessed so much bloodshed over the years.

A must read.


One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 07 Mar 2008

I found this an extremely entertaining account of the battle of Agincourt. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the account is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 31 Jan 2008

I found this book extremely readable and very entertaining. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the book is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

Excellent, 12 Oct 2008
Superb for a newcomer to this period of history - as detailed as necessary, as concise as possible.

A superb historical account, 01 Oct 2008
A superb account of one of the most famous and influential dynasties in European history.
Beginning with an overview of Medieval Florece, Christopher Hibbert takes us back to a sumptuous world of arts, merchants and an advanced democratic civilization. It begins with the story of Cosimo, the brilliant banker, who through his connections to the Papacy, becomes a major powerbroker in Italian affairs, much to the annoyance of Florences ruling Signoria, who unable to decide on his fate, place his life or death to a plebescite, which results in temporary banishment, only to return and establish a wealthy and cultured dynasty.
Lorenzo il Manifico is the definite star, the patro of the arts who oversaw Florence's golden age. However, the most interesting part of the account is the rise of the Dominican Monk Savaronola and Florence's descent into a deranged theocracy.
By the time the book speaks of the passing of Anna Maria, one has a sense of sadness that such a great dynasty has reached its end, and such a sadness was felt in Florence at the time.
On the whole a superb book, one of the best historical accounts I have read this year.

Polaroid View of History, 07 Jul 2007
This book focuses on a fascinating period, but the camera (i.e. Historian Christopher Hibbert) is a polaroid camera, so the image is not particularly sharp and enchanting.
As I read this book I realised that it could have been written by almost anyone in a university history department. It didn't have a disntinctive style or anything particular to say. It just ran through the gamut of the subject in an entirely predicatable way -- the rise of the city state, trade more important than before, new ways of thinking but respect for the ways of the Church, the rise of the 'new man' and the threat this posed to the putative democracy of the city state, the fate of the Medici tied to the varying abilities of different members, an interest in the arts, the gradual co-opting of the Medici to the old nobility, etc. etc.

The phrase 'scissors and paste attempt' kept running through my mind as I turned the pages, a thought further emphasised by the poor quality of the paper on which the book was printed and the cover, which soon curled up even though I had read it quickly and only once.


Not a very intellectual book, 01 Oct 2000
As an A-level history student I waited for this book to arrive. After beginning to read it I was deeply disappointed. The language is completely descriptive, not very good for a text book; and has no kind of counter argument to it. Lorenzo de Medici is praised, but his bad points are not shown. The descriptive language is overtly, almost offensively flowery and there is very little actual evidence to back up Mr. Hibbert's views. Mr Hibbert relies on hearsay and public events, none of which was properly established and offends the intellect with his set piece scenarios. I also get the feeling he makes things up for his sensationalist ideas. All in all this book is a waste of time if you are looking for anything with historical value at all.

Brilliant! One of the best books I've ever read., 06 Jun 2000
Why has it taken me over 20 years to discover this book? Erudite, factual, witty, entertaining, this is a must for anyone with the slightest interest in Florence, the Renaissance, art, history. Better than any guidebook, Chapter 10 should be read by every tourist who wants to understand the very convoluted history of Florence.

The Best of the Templars, 27 Sep 2008
Michael Haag's The Templars: History & Myth, is the best book I have read on the history of the Knights Templar. Written for the non-academic reader, it nevertheless is a comprehensive, scholarly approach to a fascinating subject. Anyone who subscribes to some of the modern myths and pseudo histories involving the order should read this book.

Achieved its objective!, 18 Nov 2008
As the title clearly indicates, this book is an attempt to depict the experience of the crusades through Arab eyes; in my opinion, it succeeded.

Until I read this title, my two favourite works concerning the crusades were 'The first crusade' by Thomas Asbridge and 'The sword and the scimitar' by Ernle Bradford. This book joins that short list.

One of the many bonuses to this title was that it filled a lot of the gaps in the aftermath of July 1099, such as the attempts by the Fatimids to reconquer Jerusalem, how the crusaders conquered Tripoli, Acre, the impact of the Mongols and the Mamluks on Arab civilisation. You come across interesting characters including Saladin, Zangi, Nur-Al-Din, Baybars, Qutuz, to name a few.

If I have any criticism, it is that some bits of information should not be taken at face value. For instance, the author asserts that Richard the Lionheart had Conrad of Montferrat killed by the Assassins - this is speculation at best.

I really enjoyed reading this and have certainly developed a more informed view of the crusades.

Interesting book, 20 Oct 2008
Amin Maalouf is a good French-Lebanese writer, and this, a translation from the original French, reads very well.

The occasional reviewer who says that it is one-sided is a bit unfair. It is a history of the Crusades from one point of view, as Maalouf says, and as the title makes clear. In writing the book, he says in the introduction, he has deliberately relied almost exclusively on contemporary Arabic sources. Even so, his account is fairly even-handed in that respect. Sometimes he does write as if he is cheering and jeering at the appropriate places in the story, but all even-handed historians, such as Runciman, make it clear that the Crusaders were on the whole a pretty barbaric bunch. Also although Maalouf describes Crusader-Muslim alliances as "bizarre", he makes it clear that as the Crusader kingdoms become stable, they played a role that often cut across religious lines, and few leaders on either side were consistent allies to their co-religionists, nor consistent enemies to those of another faith.

Also, at the end, after detailing the huge amount that the Europeans learnt in science, technology, art, culture, medicine and so on from the Muslim world, he then considers a few things that the Muslim world even at the time could have learnt from the otherwise less advanced west, if they had wished to.

However, the strength of the book doesn't come from its even-handedness. A good history book can be as biased as the writer wants it to be in tone, so long as it is factually accurate. Maalouf's account substantially agrees with (for example) Runciman's history, but fills it out by explaining the debates, the conflicts and the plans that the Muslims had in response to the invasion.

The single perspective of the narrative would be a weakness if someone were to take this as the last word, or the most complete account of the Crusades. At times it reads almost like Hamlet without the prince, as the driving force of the narrative, necessarily, is the Crusaders themselves. Maalouf's account of them is very thin, especially when it comes to explaining their motivations, the plea for help of the Byzantine emperor, the preaching of Peter the Hermit, the mass hysteria, the hopes and the fantasies and so on. This is not really a weakness of the book, but just something you should bear in mind. Whatever the grounds for your interest in the Crusades, you would need to read an account of how it all came about. Runciman's history is the standard work, and still well regarded. Maalouf however, will add much vital information that Runciman doesn't cover, however limited Maalouf's book would be considered in itself.

The great strengths of Maalouf's book come when he is explaining the political and social context of the Muslim world at the time. His explanation of the divisions between Turkish military commander and Arab civilian, burgher and villager, qadi and officer, Sunni and Shia gives you a deeper understanding of the Crusades than you would have if you only read other sources. He also explains the Assassins in a way that treats them not as an exotic curiosity, but an important social movement.

This book will enrich whatever else you have read about the Crusades. Although many of the original Arabic texts have now been translated, his overview and narrative is based on a wide variety of Arabic sources, and gives a broad understanding of what the Muslims thought of the event, and how they reacted to it.


Overated pseudo-history, 04 May 2008
This book highlights the dangers inherent in journalists writing history. The author has a lively style and the book is ceratinly readable (one previous reviewer even fooled into thinking it's a novel!) but it is very poor as history. It lacks objectivity and although presents us with a very interesting account of events from the Arab point of view and is critical of the Muslim states and their inability to work together, displays the author's ignorance (or deliberate lack of interest in) their opponents. Western authors have been writing more balanced views of the religious wars in the middle east for some time as any serious student of mediaeval history is well aware and this books pretensions at presenting 'the other side' is disingenuous. To sum up, it reminded me of a couple of books I read many years ago about events on the Russian front in 1943 and 44, which were written by Russian authors writing under communist rule, - go figure!

Not the best account!, 06 Sep 2007
I have to disagree with the other reviewers. The idea of the book is a very good one. We're used to reading about the crusades from the western perspective. Even the most objective account will tend to examine the motivations/ideas of the crusaders rather than the Arabs. So Ma'alouf's book is needed. However, it is, academically speaking, a bit slim. In my opinion this book is NOT well researched; however, even though it does so poorly, it touches on an understudied side of the crusades.

To use a rather odd analogy: if this was a movie I'd tell you to watch it on a plane or on TV but not to buy it!

Well researched, Acessible, Intriguing, 19 Jun 2007
I'm not much of a history buff. but this book is written in a clear accessible style. Events are detailed and accurate, and the journey through time is eyeopening. Well written, read this book!

Almost perfect., 26 Jun 2004
This book is intended for everybody who is interested in byzantine history,(maybe for an early student of byzantium as well)but not for specialists.
Written in an academic language by Cyril Mango, i had some unknonwn words. The language of the other historians writing in the book is quite flawless. The book contains many information on both culture and military history of byzantium and is superbly illustrated(emphasis given to hagiographies). My rating is 5 stars for all above; but what made it a 5 and not a 4 is the sincerity of the writers as to religion(christianity). Patriarchs, priests and followers of christianity arent seen as holy persons(*Julius Norwich* for example did exactly the opposite in many cases); instead, they are judged in the same way as islamists or the pope or western christians are.
I find his objective judgement very important because, although we know that he killed his wife and his son, *some* try to hide these informations in order to remain 'perfect' in the eyes of followers. It's good when historians write history as it is, and not the way some would like it to be...

Mango shines, 25 Nov 2002
Excellent presentation, fantasic pictures, the clarity of the text was outstanding, all the authors are world renound experts in thier particular fields. The sections from Mango himself were a particular treat, brillianty written and as awlays he never assumes that the reader knows to much, or in some casese to little. The last section on the Paiologan dynasty, was as good, if not better than anything that Nicol could have written.The oxford history will once and for all cast off the shadow left by Gibbon. In short this is SUPERB. This is a book for specialists and those with only a passing intrest in the subject. BUY IT NOW

Very Enjoyable, 27 Oct 2008
Millenium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom by Tom Holland is a very good book dealing with the turbulent years around the turn of the first millenium. At the start of this period western European Christianity seemed to be under threat from all sides and obsessed with the end of the world. However, as time progressed Catholicism and the states of Europe gained confidence and took the offensive against its opponents. This book shows how this happened but also provides interesting pieces of information about how the nation states of Europe such as Germany, France and Germany evolved and came to be different for example how France became a deeply divided country with a weak central government while England became heavily centralised. It is an immensely readable book which provides insights into how Europe developed and how Catholicism reformed itself and became dominant unifying factor that brought about the Crusades. All in all a good and very readable book.

The Millenium is recreated by Tom Holland., 19 Oct 2008
Did you expect the Day of Judgement or the appearance of the Antichrist at the Second Millenium in 2000? If so, sympathise with the hapless inhabitants of the Christian world around 1000 AD as they struggle for survival and are caught up in the Church and State's duel for world-leadership. In Tom Holland's new book, the focus is on the decades leading to and from the first Millennium, ending in the recapture of Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099.

Against the violence of this background, holy men, land-hungry dukes, Viking pirates, popes and emperors briefly blaze, and are as quickly extinguished in the flames of siege and the yelling carnage of relentless warfare. In the work of any other writer, covering such a broad canvas could lead to incoherence and battle-fatigue, but Holland organises his sprawling material with exemplary clarity.

Holland is a historian for today. His zestfully colloquial style underlines the relevance that this far-off time has for us now. He relieves the derring-do occasionally by throwing in memorable descriptions of the splendour of Constantinople or the tranquil piety of the Abbey of Cluny. There has been less written about this murky period than almost any time in history. Its chief characters could only be brought to life by someone of Holland's wide-ranging scholarship and imagination, Despite his often meagre primary sources, his description of characters and events have an almost cinematographic immediacy.

This is a Big Read about a Big Subject. If you are so swept along that you miss some of the vivid detail, it will repay reading again - and again.

Another Treat For Holland Fans, 11 Oct 2008
I agree with A Hall that the author's previous books (Persian Fire and Rubicon) are tough acts to follow. But for me, Holland completes the hat-trick in real style. What he does so well is combine genuine scholarship with an eye for a great story, and he keeps on picking out neglected areas of history and bringing them to life. The 11th Century may not sound that mouthwatering to begin with but it does include the Battle of Hastings and the First Crusade - pretty juicy. And if, like me, you have a taste for the bloodthirsty details, Holland digs them all up and delivers them in spades. The hardback is a bit heavy to carry around, so I might wait until his next one comes out in paperback.

A sweeping history of a fascinating age, 06 Oct 2008
I really enjoyed Persian Fire - a masterful and accessible re-evaluation of the wars between the Persians and the ancient Greeks - and this book is even more ambitious and fascinating. The Persian Wars was a story that almost wrote itself (with Holland's insight) but making a book about the early Middle Ages read like a novel is an even greater achievement. The many strands of the story require a deft and subtle weaving together, which Holland manages to do, all the while carrying the reader along at a roaring pace. Those who enjoyed Holland's storytelling and wit in his earlier books should not be disappointed.

buy it when it comes out on paperback, 28 Sep 2008
I've loved Tom Holland's other books. Rubicon was good & Persian Fire was one of the most readable books I've come across. Millennium doesn't match his previous works but then they're a lot to live up to.

I can see why he chose this period to write about, but for me (and this is purely personal) there are other times and events I would rather read about. There's also a couple of sweeping generalisations that stuck out to me which made me question his previous works. That said it's still an entertaining read - save a tenner though and buy it on paperback.

My advice: Read this book, 17 Sep 2008
This is how history should be written. I really enjoyed this book and was sorely disappointed when I got to the end and had no more pages to go. I loved Tom Holland's Rubicon and am currently very much enjoying Francis Pryor's Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans but Juliet Barker has a wonderful way of creating history in full colour. I now have a real sense of the chivalric mindset and the character of Henry V. I also loved the details such as the bills for the equipment and provisions. Also the description of Henry's financial and political skills in preparing for his campaign. If Juliet Barker keeps writing like this history will become cool and trendy!

Epic history told in a masterly way, 25 Jul 2008
The sign of a great history book is when you are able to cast new light on a well known story. Agincourt does exactly that.

There isn't necessarily a lot of new material here, but instead Juliet Barker really brings to life the men and women on campaign. She also does an excellent job of showing how the battle was really an accident after a rather average siege of Harfleur. Had the battle not taken place Henry V might well have become a rather obscure English King but because he wanted to do battle (against the advice of almost all around him) and the battle was won very much against the odds a legend was born and the French were humbled.

Perhaps the most masterful angle of the book is the way much of the story is from the French perspective underlining how Henry's campaign was set against a backdrop of civil war in France and it took his invasion to unite such hated foes against him, only for many of the faction leaders to die in the battle- oh the irony.

If I was to have one grumble it's that at times explaining who was where turns into unwieldy lists of people and their endless titles but this is the only mar on a gleaming example of a superb history book.

A must read for those new to the story of Agincourt as well as old battleaxes too!


a must read , 17 Jun 2008
Very readable and extremely well researched book. Juliet Barker delivers a fascinating and compelling read that will keep the reader interested through out.

The prequel to the battle, the battle itself and the aftermath are written with enough insight and fact, the reader would believe the battle took place 100 years ago and not 500 years, indeed there is a poignant reminder that the area has witnessed so much bloodshed over the years.

A must read.


One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 07 Mar 2008

I found this an extremely entertaining account of the battle of Agincourt. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the account is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

One of the Most Famous Battles in English History, 31 Jan 2008

I found this book extremely readable and very entertaining. Not something you can say about a lot of historical tomes.

The author gives a compelling account of the actual battle. So much so that the smell of the horses, the blood and gore and all the other noxious smells that are part and parcel of a battlefield seem to pervade the readers nostrils.

However the book is not just about the battle itself but also about the participants particularly the English King, scheming churchmen and murderous Dukes. The knightly heroes, cowards, surgeons and spies. The book has them all.

The author has made it possible for history to be enjoyed by a wider audience, rather than the academic. History has always been interesting. Books written like this one will make many more readers aware of that fact.

Excellent, 12 Oct 2008
Superb for a newcomer to this period of history - as detailed as necessary, as concise as possible.

A superb historical account, 01 Oct 2008
A superb account of one of the most famous and influential dynasties in European history.
Beginning with an overview of Medieval Florece, Christopher Hibbert takes us back to a sumptuous world of arts, merchants and an advanced democratic civilization. It begins with the story of Cosimo, the brilliant banker, who through his connections to the Papacy, becomes a major powerbroker in Italian affairs, much to the annoyance of Florences ruling Signoria, who unable to decide on his fate, place his life or death to a plebescite, which results in temporary banishment, only to return and establish a wealthy and cultured dynasty.
Lorenzo il Manifico is the definite star, the patro of the arts who oversaw Florence's golden age. However, the most interesting part of the account is the rise of the Dominican Monk Savaronola and Florence's descent into a deranged theocracy.
By the time the book speaks of the passing of Anna Maria, one has a sense of sadness that such a great dynasty has reached its end, and such a sadness was felt in Florence at the time.
On the whole a superb book, one of the best historical accounts I have read this year.