A great addition to the field of historical fiction. Bernard Cornwell etc. watch out Dan is coming!
I know Dan as a historian through his non-fiction books and documentaries, but this is his first foray into historical fiction. And what a debut it is! The writing and storyline are top notch and the language used is authentic to the times; which is not always the case with some historical fiction.
Dan Jones' debut novel is an impressive work of historical fiction set in the Hundred Years' War and, more particularly, during the Crecy Campaign. It bears all the hallmarks of the meticulous historical research we have come to expect from this author.
It is clear from the off we're in for a no holds barred and gritty novel that depicts the brutality of warfare in the period that it is set. The invasion of France by Edward III and his son the Black Prince in the furtherance of their claim to the French throne. They claim Phillipe the French King is an imposter and Edward is the rightful King. The narrative is well written and you can almost hear the clash of swords, the screams of horses and the groans of dying men as the two armies clash. In amongst this are the Essex Dogs and though they fight on the English their first allegiance is to each other. A band of brothers for the fourteenth century. A great addition to the field of Historical Fiction. Recommended.
The opening chapter, with a brutal French beach landing for the ‘Essex Dogs’, sets the scene for an action packed story displaying just how barbaric war was in the Middle Ages.
Historian, writer, broadcaster, journalist and hugely likeable Dan Jones is back with an action-packed historical fiction thriller - Essex Dogs - The first in a planned trilogy following the fortunes of ten ordinary soldiers, in the early years of the Hundred Years’ War set in France, 1346.
“Some men fight for glory. Others fight for coin. The Essex Dogs fight for each other…..”
The opening chapter, with a brutal French beach landing for the Essex Dogs, sets the scene for an action packed story displaying just how barbaric war was in the Middle Ages, with hand to hand fighting, more often than not to the death.
What struck me instantly was just how normal and ordinary the ‘dogs’ men were. Average foot soldiers, who had more brawn and fearlessness than some of the King’s men-at-arms. Their bravado and resilience was to be commended, more than prepared to give their lives for King and country. Often sent in first, much like our modern day elite forces, they went in blind not knowing what was awaiting them and it’s this opening scene that endeared me to the men instantly.
The many battles in this book were bloody, violently brutal, chaotic and exhausting. Frequently carried out after many days of travelling by foot, in barren landscapes and unrelenting heat. The plundered, burned out and looted towns and villages was written so atmospherically, I could almost smell the rotting stench of excrement and smouldering houses. There is some swearing between the men but there’s also a lot of humour and the one liners are truly funny.
As always with a Dan Jones book, you know that the historical facts mentioned will be true to actual events. This along with his very intelligent imagination assures any story by him will be fantastically written and instantly gripping.
#EssexDogs - 5 stars a must read for true historical fiction fans.
An action-packed piece of historical fiction set during the hundred years war that you will find difficult to put down. Dan Jones has made a great piece of debut fiction.
Dan Jones' debut novel is set during the battles of The Hundred Years War, following a group of swords for hire known as the Essex Dogs from their initial landing in France to the thrilling final assault.
I found the writing really engaging and managed to avoid too much depth that can be found with some other pieces of historical fiction, there’s a good variety to the characters and I felt like I grew a fondness for some of them quite quickly, as well as a hatred of others.
The pacing was fast and furious as the band of men made their away across the french countryside, coming across the various towns which provide a backdrop for the war and playing out the set pieces of the story. The writing shows that Dan has a great deal of knowledge of this time, and has produced a gritty and exciting story.
Many other reviews have noted that this book would also probably be enjoyed by fans of fantasy as well as historical fiction, as the characters and the setting would have a familiarity. With two more books in the pipeline, I am really excited to see where this middle ages band-of-brothers story goes!
A cleverly created stark picture of what it meant to be an ordinary soldier then. A compelling book!
This is the first book in a proposed trilogy about a company of men from Essex fighting, firstly for themselves, but also for King Edward in 1346, not long after the beginning of the Hundred Years' War.
It is one of those books that brings you straight into the action - in this case landing in France, which has fascinating parallels with D day, and also starts to draw the characters from the first page.
The author cleverly creates a stark picture of what it meant to be an ordinary soldier or archer in those times, and the huge differences between being one of those and one of the hierarchy!
It is a book that’s easy to read and hard to put down. My only slightly negative comment is that some may be offended by the amount of swearing. I’m sure that’s a very true portrayal of the times but other excellent books seem to have managed without such prolific profanities. It didn’t bother me but it does limit the number of friends I could recommend it to.
However for all it’s ultra-plain speaking, blood and gore it is a compelling book and I wait with baited breathe for the second volume!