In this final volume of his epic history of the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), Jonathan Sumption tells the story of the collapse of the English dream of conquering France, from the early years of Henry VI's reign to the loss of all English territories on the continent except Calais thirty years later. This sudden turn of fate was a watershed event in the history of the two most important states in Western Europe, ending four centuries of English dynastic presence in France and separating two countries whose destinies had once been closely intertwined, giving rise to a new national consciousness in both countries. The legacy of these events would shape the different destinies of both countries for centuries to come. Behind the armed conflicts were some of the most remarkable personalities of the time: the Duke of Bedford, the English regent who ruled over much of France; Charles VII of France, who patiently rebuilt his kingdom after the disasters of his early years; the captains who populate Shakespeare's pages - Fastolf, Montagu, Talbot, Dunois and, above all, the extraordinary figure of Joan of Arc, who at the age of seventeen changed the course of the war in a matter of weeks.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Sumption, Jonathan
Title
The Hundred Years War. Volume 5: Triumph and Illusion
