Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England's Greatest Warrior King

I have read histories by Mr. Jones before and enjoyed them. In this biography of Henry V, he has perhaps done his best work yet. He does some things here that one rarely sees in biographies of this type. First, he writes in the present tense. I thought this choice might be distracting but, since he does it throughout, it is not distracting. In fact, it creates an immediacy to the proceedings and really brings Henry to life. Second, he spends fully half the book on Henry’s life before he becomes king. (He makes this choice plain in the Introduction.) Instead of focusing overmuch on the triumphs of his kingship, he shows us how the events of his youth led him to become the king he was. This is, in fact, much more interesting. And though I’ve read about Henry before, I found this focus on his younger days enlightening. In seeing how he grows into becoming his usurper father’s right-hand man, it becomes clear how he learned the skills of good kingship—dealing with Parliament, the arts of war (siege and negotiation), money and people management—and how he was able to solidify his place on the throne after the uncertainties of his father’s reign. I am also intrigued by how Mr. Jones brings out the paths not taken in a time when death can come suddenly. In Henry’s own life for example, there is the wound at Shrewsbury when he was a teenager that could have easily ended his life before he ever became king. Then there is the uncertain illness that ends up taking his life when he is still a relatively young man, leaving his infant son to succeed him. What would history have to say about Henry had he lived to the fullness of years? Would his adventures in France succeeded or gone awry? Would his English subjects continued to support him? Such are the speculations of history. But Mr. Jones does little speculation. He leaves that to us. Instead, he gives us a vigorous biography that fills in the gaps for those who only know Henry through Shakespeare’s great history plays (or know him not at all). This book is a great place to start.

This biography of England’s King Henry V is the middle volume of Jones’s three-part history of the Plantagenet dynasty: The Plantagenets, Henry V, and The Wars of the Roses. While Henry V is the second volume in the timeline, it is the final volume to be released. Jones is so enamored of his subject matter that he says: “I wanted to wait until I was a little more experienced in my writing to take him on.” The wait paid off. The writing is excellent, but having read The Plantagenets, that was not a surprise. It was great fun to read about Henry in depth. I read this book aloud to my wife. We learned about Henry’s strengths and his weaknesses, the complexities of English and French royal families and associates, and the brutalities and excesses that were considered acceptable in early 15th century England and France, and the brutalities and excesses that were considered beyond the pale. Those who are familiar with Shakespeare’s play will find that, as would be expected, the Bard generally shows his protagonist to be a brilliant hero. Of course, there are many darker aspects that Shakespeare either bypasses or is just ignorant of. The surprising thing about comparing Henry’s life to the play, is that Shakespeare may well have undersold the glories of Prince Hal. Henry’s military acumen, erudition, political savvy, piety, and evenhandedness are astounding. During the reading, we feel we get to know the main characters personally, and are either pleased when they get their comeuppance, or saddened by their falls. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in English and French history, lovers of the Shakespeare play, or simply people who love a rip-roaring story.

I think Dan Brown is one of the best authors and he certainly does not disappoint with this book. I was hooked in the first chapter and now I'm trying to pace myself. Well written, great flow, and (I think) a marvelous topic.

Jones is an entertaining writer as well as historian, and this biography of Henry V is excellent. That being said, and despite the gifts of Shakespeare, Olivier and Branagh, my basic opinión of Henry hasn't changed all that much. I always thought of him as a more refined versión of Richard I, both warriors intent on glory and conquest with not much concern for how just much their expensive exploits cost England. Jones does make clear, though, that Henry was very much an English king with years of experience dealing with parliaments, taxation, and uncooperative, even treasonous noblemen, like Hotspur Percy. Richard left everything to his mother; at least, Henry was directly involved in raising his armies and the necessary funds to pay for them. Richard was a crusader, caught up in the challenge to safeguard the Holy Land. Henry wanted to get back the lands in Normandy and the south of France which had belonged to his Angevin ancestors, an understandable goal. What is a bit hard to accept was his desire for the French crown. At least Edward III based his claim on the fact that his mother's father was the king. Henry's claim was based on the same French princess, his great great grandmother. But Henry did what a medieval king was expected to do and he did it well. It is sad and ironic that this great warrior king did not die in battle or of his wounds, but of dysentery. The details about the logistics of amassing the armies and the necessary arms and supplies are very interesting, even a bit mind boggling when the reader considers that roads were bad, and means of transportation were limited to wagons, oxen and horses, or wooden ships dependent on sails. The battles and sieges are well described. Jones use of the present tense adds immediacy. One of the most heart-rending descriptions is that of women, children, babies and the elderly left to ie in the ditches during on long siege. The French soldiers kicked them out of the city and the English refused to help them. Not much seems to have changed in warfare as to just who suffers most.

He nearly died early on from an arrow wound into his jaw, extracted in remarkable operation worthy of modern medicine (which is why in Shakespeare he refers to himself as unhandsome).

Love him or hate him, Henry V was highly influential. This book presents a large view of all aspects of his life. I am also very interested in his wife Catherine Valois but that is for another author to tell. I believe many traits made Henry V a great king and yet his son would go down in history as one of the weakest. Royalty rises then falls. Nothing New there. If you can't get enough of the royals and how they lived or you'd like to sneak a peek at the King of both England and France just before the drama ramps up with the wars of the roses get this book!

Well written book describing a tumultuous time. A little too much passive third person. The story is fascinating—particularly the back story of Henry V which is often overlooked. Feels a bit like Game of Thrones.

What a great book. Made me buy others from the same author. Easy to follow the flow of events. Fast read because it is such an interesting topic.

Superb! One of Dan Jones’ best. A wonderful and detailed introduction to the future king through his childhood experiences during the reign of Richard II. Ignore the complaints that he only becomes king in the second half of the book, the prelude provides an essential interrogation of the end of the Plantaganent era and the rise of the House of Lancaster with Richard’s deposition and the coronation of Henry’s father, Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV). If you enjoyed Jones’ wars of the roses books you’ll thoroughly enjoy the best biography yet written for the lay reader of Henry V.

Ein fantastisches Buch, tief recherchiert, spannend geschrieben - Hut ab vor Dan Jones. Auch die Buchgestaltung ist toll.

Très instructif

Well researched and written. Excellent pace to the book. Dan Jones delivers again.

You are always on safe ground with Dan. Terrific writer, who displays deep knowledge with a light touch that makes his subject highly accessible to all who enjoy reading history at a non pHD level. This is highly detailed but in a most readable way, and captures the key areas of the reign with insight and clarity. If you love history and want to learn about the reign of a great king, this is highly recommended.