Richard Foreman (2)Critiques

Short book about a soldier who is forced to briefly become a gladiator.

Despite being an area of personal interest for fiction and nonfiction alike, I found myself skipping chunks. Overall I liked the storyline, it just didn't hold my interest throughout.

Autumn 1415 and Henry V's army is no longer the shining victors at Harfleur. Dysentery and hunger stalk the men and the French army is gathering to destroy them before they can make their way back to Calais with the spoils they have amassed. Henry is keen for battle, to exert supremacy over the French and claim his bride, his men want to go home to their loved ones but they will follow their leaders anywhere they are asked to, some are seeking revenge for wrongs done to their friends and lovers in the past. Blocked from the coast at every turn the English finally make a stand in a muddy field, massively outnumbered and weakened.

This is the third book in series by Foreman but is easy to pick up if the others haven't been read. It is very short and details are not expounded upon but there is a stab at characterisation and motive. My biggest issue was with the use of language. Rather than use the vernacular of the day Foreman has liberally peppered his characters speech with idioms attributed to Shakespeare and the like, not jus the St Crispin's Day speech but many more which led a slightly discordant note. However if one is looking for a brisk narrative based around the battle of Agincourt then this is perfectly enjoyable.