Description
'Like Crécy itself, this book is a triumph and the tale it tells gives an old story new life.'- Bernard Cornwell, bestselling author of The Last Kingdom series
A groundbreaking new study of the battle of Crécy, in which the outnumbered English under King Edward III won a decisive victory over the French and changed the course of the Hundred Years War.
The battle of Crécy in 1346 is one of the most famous and widely studied military engagements in history. The repercussions of this battle were felt for hundreds of years, and the exploits of those fighting reached the status of legend. Yet cutting-edge research has shown that nearly everything that has been written about this dramatic event may be wrong.
In this new study, Michael Livingston reveals how modern scholars have used archived manuscripts, satellite technologies and traditional fieldwork to help unlock what was arguably the battle's greatest secret: the location of the now quiet fields where so many thousands died.
Crécy: Battle of Five Kings is a story of past and present. It is a new history of one of the most important battles of the Middle Ages: a compelling narrative account of the battle of Crécy that still adheres to the highest scholarly standards in its detail. It is also an account that incorporates the most cutting-edge revelations and the personal story of how those discoveries were made.
About the Author
Dr Michael Livingston teaches the military and cultural history of the Middle Ages at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. He recently co-authored the textbook reader Medieval Warfare, and future works include books on the battles of Hastings and Shrewsbury. These add to previous books The Battle of Crécy: A Casebook, winner of the 2017 Distinguished Book Award from the Society for Military History, Never Greater Slaughter: Brunanburh and the Birth of England (Osprey, 2021), and Crécy: Battle of Five Kings (Osprey, 2021). He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Bernard Cornwell, who has been called "one of the most accomplished storytellers now writing" (Kirkus Reviews) is the author of numerous international bestsellers, including the Sharpe series. He was born in Britain and now lives with his wife in Cape Cod.
Praise For…
“Like Crécy itself, this book is a triumph and the tale it tells gives an old story new life.” —Bernard Cornwell, bestselling author of The Last Kingdom series
“Original, insightful and revelatory – Michael Livingston has once again transformed the way we think about one of the great battles of the Middle Ages. An indispensable guide for anyone interested in Crécy and the Hundred Years War.” —Dan Jones, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of 'The Plantagenets' and 'Powers and Thrones'
“There are master conflict analysts. There are master storytellers. There are master historians. Only once in a lifetime do you find all three skills at the highest level in a single person. Crécy: Battle of Five Kings is what you get when that person writes a book.” —Myke Cole, author of 'Legion versus Phalanx' and 'The Bronze Lie'
“Fascinating and engaging, and told with clear passion for the subject, Crécy: Battle of Five Kings is not to be missed.” —Aspects of History
“This is an enjoyable and informative read.” —British Archaeology
“Crécy” will change the way you view the battle and its players” —Epoch Times
“This work by Livingston should be placed among the great books on the Hundred Years' War and this legendary battle. In many ways, this book, its discoveries, and its newly proposed probabilities are indispensable to the medieval story.” —Dustin Bass, Epoch Times