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georgewbscott 's review for:
The White Company
by Arthur Conan Doyle
Tolkien read this book. This is high praise.
I am giving this surprising novel five stars, and wish I could discover it again for the first time.
This book is not for everyone. It’s uses terminology and phrasing that sometimes takes research or just acceptance when the characters describe their weapons, clothes, actions, relationships…just ride with the flow and enjoy the medieval action.
The narrative is told surrounding a second son of an ancient petty noble house. The boy grows up in a monastery and, on his 20th birthday is released to spend a year in the real world so that he can choose, if he wishes, to return to a life of cleric. This is in England, during the Hundred Years War. At this point in my review, dear reader, you may decide this book is not for you. If you have interest in this period of nation-defining history for England, read on!
The major character of interest is Sir Nigel, a short and bald knight, humorous in his constant need to prove his honor against just about anyone, especially knights of his station in the service of his country’s enemies.
The “White Company” itself is one of the “free companies” supporting themselves by roving and pillaging the countryside of Europe, mostly France, between major military conflicts of England’s generations-long attempt to control the kingdom of France. I had recently read the excellent history of Barbara Tuchman, “A Distant Mirror, The Calamitous Fourteenth Century,” which lays out the brutal culture of the time, and sets up comprehension of this world well.
The White Company is composed largely of English archers, and their weapons and tactics are fascinating. One of my favorite scenes is a contest between an expert longbow archer and an expert crossbowman.
The tale is told in a picaresque style, constantly moving across England, France, into Spain and back. A real joy. Conan Doyle, famous for other English characters of the Victorian era (Sherlock Holmes) has given us a world of valor and heroes, where chivalric ethos drives stories of adventure, warfare, love, and wry humor. Thank you Sir Arthur! A true delight!
I am giving this surprising novel five stars, and wish I could discover it again for the first time.
This book is not for everyone. It’s uses terminology and phrasing that sometimes takes research or just acceptance when the characters describe their weapons, clothes, actions, relationships…just ride with the flow and enjoy the medieval action.
The narrative is told surrounding a second son of an ancient petty noble house. The boy grows up in a monastery and, on his 20th birthday is released to spend a year in the real world so that he can choose, if he wishes, to return to a life of cleric. This is in England, during the Hundred Years War. At this point in my review, dear reader, you may decide this book is not for you. If you have interest in this period of nation-defining history for England, read on!
The major character of interest is Sir Nigel, a short and bald knight, humorous in his constant need to prove his honor against just about anyone, especially knights of his station in the service of his country’s enemies.
The “White Company” itself is one of the “free companies” supporting themselves by roving and pillaging the countryside of Europe, mostly France, between major military conflicts of England’s generations-long attempt to control the kingdom of France. I had recently read the excellent history of Barbara Tuchman, “A Distant Mirror, The Calamitous Fourteenth Century,” which lays out the brutal culture of the time, and sets up comprehension of this world well.
The White Company is composed largely of English archers, and their weapons and tactics are fascinating. One of my favorite scenes is a contest between an expert longbow archer and an expert crossbowman.
The tale is told in a picaresque style, constantly moving across England, France, into Spain and back. A real joy. Conan Doyle, famous for other English characters of the Victorian era (Sherlock Holmes) has given us a world of valor and heroes, where chivalric ethos drives stories of adventure, warfare, love, and wry humor. Thank you Sir Arthur! A true delight!