Azincourt (novel)
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LC Class | PR6053.O75 A97 2008 |
Azincourt is an historical novel written by Bernard Cornwell, published in 2008. The book relates the events leading to the Battle of Agincourt through its protagonist Nicholas Hook. In the United States, it was published under the title Agincourt.
Plot
Nicholas Hook, a
Hook escapes and joins an expedition to
By returning alive from Soissons and reporting the treachery of the English knight Sir Roger Pallaire, who conspired with the French and sacrificed his own archers, Hook earns good stead with his new lord,
During the siege, Hook meets the seigneur de Lanferelle, who disapproves of Hook's relationship with his daughter Melisande and, claiming that he does indeed care for his illegitimate child, vows to kill Hook and return Melisande to the nunnery. Sometime later Hook and Melisande are formally married.
Henry, against the advice of his vassal lords, then decides to march his ragged army to Calais along the coast of France as a demonstration of his sovereignty (and as an insult to the French king). The Hook–Perrill feud reignites during the march as Tom Perrill frames Hook's brother Michael for stealing a religious pyx. Henry hangs Michael in public for the crime.
To reach Calais, the English army must cross the
The French foolishly allow the English to advance within range of the English longbows. The English are ordered by Henry to hammer sharpened stakes into the ground, forming an impenetrable wall to repel the French cavalry. Hook and Tom Perrill agree to end their feud until the battle is over, believing they will both be killed by the French anyway. The archers launch volleys as the French begin a difficult advance toward the English. The first attack is driven back by the English as they retreat behind the stakes, so that the French horses either bolt in terror or are impaled upon the deadly spikes.
During the mayhem, Father Martin attempts to rape Melisande. Melisande kills Martin using her crossbow. The battle is also portrayed from the opposite side via the seigneur de Lanferelle, who hopes to capture valuable prisoners including his rival and Hook's lord Cornewaille. The English repel the second attack through a combination of their remaining arrows and the surprising skill of the archers in hand-to-hand combat. The French decline to launch a third attack and retire, leaving thousands of French dead and many French lords in captivity. Hook takes Lanferelle prisoner, and Lanferelle kills Tom Perrill as Hook had vowed to his friend and mentor Father Christopher that he would not kill Perrill. The English claim a famous victory, and Hook returns to England with Melisande and his prisoner the seigneur de Lanferelle, who now accepts and approves of Hook.
Hook becomes a wealthy man from the ransom of his prisoner and is promoted to command Cornewaille's archers. He pays a priest to say prayers for the girl he could not save.
Publication
- The book was released on 1 October 2008 in the United Kingdom.
- The worldwide publication was in January 2009.
Film adaptation
In 2009, screenwriter Michael Hirst was said to be writing a screenplay based on the novel, with filming scheduled to begin in 2010.[1] As of 2010, it was revealed that Michael Mann will direct the film adaptation, with filming for Mann's passion project pushed back due to script revisions by Benjamin Ross and Stuart Hazeldine.[2][3][4]
References
- ^ Triggs, John (17 October 2009). "The Heroes of Agincourt". Daily Express. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (25 October 2010). "Michael Mann Mulls Mob Movie, 'Agincourt'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (1 May 2013). "Michael Mann Taps Stuart Hazeldine For 15th Century Battle of Agincourt Tale". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (24 April 2017). "Michael Mann may finally go to war with a Vietnam miniseries". A.V. Club. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
and Agincourt, his long-in-the-works (and still in development) passion project about the most famous battle of the Hundred Years' War.