Henry V: The Scourge of God [Hardcover]

Desmond Seward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 1988

A biography that'll present a radical reassessment of henry v as a brutal warmonger. In the course of the hunderd years war, henry v was the english figure most responsible for the mutual antipathy that existed between french and anglo-saxon. His pursuit of 'dampnum', the art of attacking an opponent by making total war on civilians as well as soldiers, created tremendous distrust and enmity between the french and english, which survives unto this day. He wa a man of many contradictions, a perverse mix of rigorous orthodoxy - exemplified by his fanatical and intolerant religion - and of neurotic insecurity, stemming in part from the dubious nature of his claim to the engligh throne. Henry v owed his popularity to victories against the french which gratified the emerging english nationalism. A tremendously ardent military strategist who experimented with ballistics and built a navy with new carved planking, at the time of his early death at the age of 36 he ruled a third of france. NOT UK/OM

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The British author of The Hundred Years War and other histories, Seward here reveals a Henry V far different from previous studies of the centuries-old royal persona. The glorious hero of Agincourt in Shakespeare's drama has been revered by nearly all chroniclers since the monarch's time (1387-1422) as just, honorable, pious and gentle. Yet Seward's biography shows a monstrous king who spread misery throughout his short life. Henry and his armies massacred people in Wales, Scotland and, especially, France; survivors were left to starve; the conqueror brought French plunder home for sale. Proclaiming himself the "scourge of God," the devout Christian king tortured and murdered the Lollard Protestants at home. The author enriches the book with vivid portraits of allies and foes of Henry, some also demythologized: the French Princess Catherine wed the English ruler reluctantly in a union he forced to strengthen a weak dynastic claim to the crowns of both England and France; and the real Sir John Fastolf was no fat, roistering "Falstaff" but a tough, professional soldier. As for King Henry V, the author concludes that he was a superb military strategist and political intriguer, whose victories turned disastrous. When he died at age 35, he had instigated the War of the Roses, a curse on England and Henry's son. Illustrations not seen by PW. BOMC alternate.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile

Finally someone has spattered a little mud on Shakespeare's revered hero of Agincourt and given us a more balanced picture of the king and the man. Drawing from both French and English chronicles for support, Seward portrays a Henry who was cruel, tyrannical, and narrowly religious, albeit a masterful soldier and tactician. Bob Hanrott's reading, however, is less than masterful. While generally adequate to the task, it is somewhat choppy and out of breath, unfortunately muting a little of the humor and satiric thrust of Seward's informative text. P.E.F. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 251 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult; 1st Ame bce edition (May 20, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670811742
• ISBN-13: 978-0670811748
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,115,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Biased and unreliable., June 6, 2003

By 

H. Scott Gingrich (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry V: The Scourge of God (Hardcover)

Disappointing. If you're hoping for a balanced treatment of the life of Henry V, this is not the book for you. If you wish to read a pro-French, late-twentieth century politically correct biography, this is it.

Seward is biased in his use of sources--if it contradicts his conclusions, he does not use it. For example, there were contemporary French historians who blamed Henry's execution of many prisoners during the battle of Agincourt on the actions of the French, but Seward makes no mention of this. Seward also sins against good biography in telling us what Henry was thinking at times--not what he may have been thinking, and not what he wrote or said or others said he said, but what was actually going through his mind.

Seward also refuses to take Henry as a man of his times, instead comparing him to the ideal Politically Correct leader of the late twentieth century. Understandably, Henry is found wanting. Since Henry did not have our modern concept of religious tolerance, he was an intolerant bigot, etc. Sigh.

Not everything Seward writes is negative--he seems to have a grudging admiration for his subject at times--but his bias and use of sources are such that you cannot trust him. This book might be useful as a balance to books on Henry V written by biographers who refuse to see any warts on their subject, but it fails to be a balanced treatment by itself.

4.0 out of 5 stars Contradicts the standard hagiographies of Henry but is still a balanced work, April 27, 2011

By 

E.J. Kaye (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry V: The Scourge of God (Hardcover)

Another good effort from Desmond Seward, who provides the best prose discourse of all the Medieval history writers. Well researched and easy to follow, Seward takes pains to ensure that the narrative is lucid and informative. He hits repeatedly on his disagreement with the theme that France at this time had no national identity, and he makes that case successfully in my view. Similarly, he is very even in his treatment of Henry -- this is not the standard hagiography, but rather a nuanced vision of a brilliantly gifted soldier and administrator who nevertheless bankrupted his country and his cause through ceaseless monetary demands and constant repression.

The book is pretty short, making it an easy read. A great way to get an introduction to the period through one of the most compelling characters.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prince Hal the Butcher, February 4, 2003

By 

Cory Heitman "cheitman23" (Vermillion, SD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henry V: The Scourge of God (Hardcover)

This is an essential piece of scholarship on the life of Henry V for the lay reader. Recently re-printed as "Henry V as military commander". Loved by Shakespeare fans or anglophiles, Hal is given the overdue and necessary analysis by one of the finest writers on medieval history for the lay public. (And if you like to think of Shakespeare as an accurate source, check out his vicious & bigoted portrayal of Joan of Arc in "Henry VI".) This is no character assasination however, as the diplomatic skill and administrative abilities of Henry are illuminated by research as well as his megalomania and barbarity. More comparable to a more vicious Edward I than noble prince of courtly virtue. Only faulted by it's brevity or lack of background on Plantagenet family pre-Richard II