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Jonathan Sumption

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on September 19, 2023, 4:44 pm

The bloke that made bundles from the Hutton Inquiry has published the fifth and last volume of his narrative history of the Hundred Years' War.

The Hundred Years War Vol 5: Triumph and Illusion (2023)

Which I've been reading since 1999.

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

Would you recommend his books?

Posted by SueC <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=SueC' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on September 19, 2023, 6:38 pm, in reply to "Jonathan Sumption"

Keith, I've been toying with buying Lord Sumption's volumes on the 100 Years' War but reading them is clearly a significant project - how do you rate the books?

Re: Would you recommend his books?

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on September 19, 2023, 6:53 pm, in reply to "Would you recommend his books?"

OK for narrative history but volumes III and IV are hard going because the story changes from great events in a few places to small events all over the place.

He tells a good anecdote about a Castellan in south-west France who let the French capture it by escalade while they were abed. He swore blind to the English authorities in Bordeaux that it was mere negligence. Sumption found his receipt to the French about the bribe they paid him....;O)

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

Re: Would you recommend his books?

Posted by SueC <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=SueC' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on September 19, 2023, 7:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Would you recommend his books?"

Keith, thanks for your reply - I'll probably go ahead and take a wheelbarrow to my local bookshop for the purchase. I remember a similar anecdote about a note he (Sumption) found scribbled in a steward's record book complaining about a bitterly cold winter along the lines of 'ye gods, I cannot work in this'. We can all relate.

Re: Would you recommend his books?

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on September 19, 2023, 8:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Would you recommend his books?"

It might be worth your while to get volume I and see how it goes. I vaguely remember a lot about taxation and excise duties disappearing at a great rate but not to the extent of allowing Edward III to finance a proper war. Then comes Crecy and Poitiers. The French did a very good job of losing for far too long.

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

The 100 years read :-) nm

Posted by Shyaku <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Shyaku' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on September 20, 2023, 12:17 pm, in reply to "Would you recommend his books?"

992-page raid :-) nm

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on September 20, 2023, 3:18 pm, in reply to "The 100 years read :-) nm"

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

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