An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

490. Hundred Years' War: England Triumphant (Part 4)

September 04, 2024

Description

St Crispin’s day, 1415: Henry V stands victorious, after a tremendous defeat of the French forces at the Battle of Agincourt. He is just about to make a historic speech which will be retold by...
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Books Referenced

Agincourt

Author: Juliet Barker

Context:

Referenced when discussing the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt. The host quotes Barker's description: 'the sheer scale of the French defeat was genuinely humbling, even frightening.'

Le Morte d'Arthur

Author: Thomas Malory

Context:

Referenced when discussing how peasants stripped the dead after battles. The host mentions 'a passage in the Mort d'Arthur, Thomas Mallory's account of the Arthurian legends' describing peasants stripping dead knights.

The Hundred Years War: Volume 4, Cursed Kings

Author: Jonathan Sumption

Context:

Referenced multiple times regarding his historical account of the Hundred Years' War. Specifically quoted describing the mottos emblazoned over London during Henry's triumphant return, and later regarding the Treaty of Troyes period.

Henry V

Author: Christopher Allmand

Context:

Described as 'Henry's biographer' when quoting his assessment that the naval battle at Harfleur 'was in its effects the most telling of the few naval battles of the Hundred Years' War.'

Lancastrian Kings and Lollard Knights

Author: K.B. McFarlane

Context:

Referenced at the end of the episode as 'one of the great, great historians of the 15th century' who said 'Henry V was the greatest man that ever ruled England.'