Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve
This impressive and very readable version of the life of Henry V, one of England’s most celebrated monarchs, portrays a young man far from the rollicking, pleasure seeking Prince of Shakespeare’s plays.
Dan Jones’s king is a fine leader, cool in his victories, and deeply religious. Upon his triumphant parade through London streets, after the battle of Agincourt, he went to St. Paul’s Cathedral, then on to Westminster Abbey to give heartfelt thanks to his Lord.
As a member of the house of Lancaster, Henry IV’s son, and heir to the throne of England, he became familiar with the tough demands a royal prince must meet. At the age of 14, he is given the task of dealing with the Welsh insurrection fed by Owain Glyndwr who considered himself to be the ‘real’ Prince of Wales. This was not his first encounter with the field of battle. He had accompanied his father, the King, to battles in Ireland, France and Scotland.
Dan Jones’s biography occasionally reads like an action-packed blockbuster film, starring fiery characters such as Henry Percy – Hotspur – and disloyal supporters belonging to the House of Northumberland. Conflict festered which erupted in the famous Battle of Shrewsbury. The account is exciting and gripping in its vivid detail. Slaughter was terrible; made more profound in impact as it was not merely a skirmish but a full-scale battle. An astonishing spectacle for the young prince to witness.
In the turmoil of the battle, Henry suffered an arrow embedded in his cheek, six inches deep. For nearly a month he lay between life and death. Only the knowledge and skill of the King’s surgeon saved him.
As his father was ailing and less able to attend to royal affairs, the Prince was given opportunities to develop his abilities in dealing with them in his place. His inexperience and immaturity in this role sometimes meant he made mistakes. One that had future grave repercussions was his ordering the death of Archbishop Scrope, who was the high-ranking Bishop of York. Not only an insult to the Church, an incident such as this had not occurred since the murder of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury.
With a monarch in steady decline, Henry had to speedily hone his skills. He learned the value of patience, perseverance, and political spin. From 1409 for two years he was energetic and engaged. He reformed the coinage, attended to the ‘lurching’ affairs in France ruled by a mad king, prepared to defend the seas and fund wars.
Second of his three brothers, Thomas, was his father’s favourite, and uneasy times followed while Henry eyed the Crown and even made a move to claim it. Finally, in 1413 he was crowned King and reigned for 10 years.
By 1415, England’s French possessions were becoming more problematic which led to the siege of Harfleur. Graphic detail here, makes for riveting reading.
It was as the army headed back to English shores, via Calais, that the renowned Battle of Agincourt was waged. It is famous for the remarkable victory of a smaller, weakened ‘band of brothers’ over the much greater number of French. At this stage in his life Henry had become even more deeply religious and serious in outlook, extolling peace and justice. Ironically, he then spent over 3 years waging war in France! There he married Catherine, 19 years old.
Henry was tireless and uncompromising in many aspects of his life. In his thirty-five years he made history as many refer to as ‘England’s greatest king’, although his reign stretched over just ten years. This period of Medieval history is made alive with his achievements, dominated by his warrior exploits. His constant conflicts in France led to his departure once more in 1420, never again to return to England.
In those final years, conditions became dire with starvation and disease decimating his army. Close to Paris, he succumbs to severe dysentery yet remained the gallant soldier to the end.
His complex, at times elusive, character fascinates, and Dan Jones, writing in uncluttered present tense that banishes the fustiness of some historical works, makes certain we appreciate and enjoy the life of this brilliant man, born to be an exceptional king.
Energetic, charismatic and devoted to the role of King with selfless motives, Henry V remains one of the very greatest of England’s rulers although he was a mere 35 years old when he died.
Henry V
[2024]
by Dan Jones
Bloomsbury
ISBN 978 1 0359 1081 6
$34.99; 450pp