History Literature / Azincourt

''Azincourt'' is a HistoricalFiction novel written by Creator/BernardCornwell. Essentially Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/HenryV'' written as a LowerDeckEpisode, the story follows AntiHero Nicholas Hook, a common-born English archer fighting in UsefulNotes/TheHundredYearsWar against France.

''Azincourt'' is a HistoricalFiction novel written by veteran novelist Creator/BernardCornwell. Essentially Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/HenryV'' written as a LowerDeckEpisode, the story follows AntiHero Nicholas Hook, a common-born English archer fighting in UsefulNotes/TheHundredYearsWar against France.

Forced into military service after being declared an outlaw by a [[SinisterMinister corrupt priest]], Hook soon experiences seemingly divine messages from [[GodWasMyCopilot the Saints Crispin and Crispinian]] after surviving [[TheSiege the terrible siege and sacking of Soissons]]. Recruited into the army of King Henry V in his campaigns to take the throne of France, Hook encounters tremendous dangers and cruel foes, both amongst the French and amongst his own fellows...

* AntiHero: Nick Hook, who at the outset of the book attempts to murder one of his neighbors as part of a blood-feud, had an affair with another man's wife, and at one point kills a defenseless enemy because the voice in his head told him to. He is still relatively admirable by the standards of a Cornwelle protagonist, though, as he is genuinely religious, courageous in his lord's service, and prone to sticking his neck out for women in need.
* ArmorIsUseless: Thoroughly averted, particularly with the extremely durable Milanese plate worn by the French at Agincourt.
* BloodierAndGorier: Probably one of Cornwell's [[SerialEscalation most violent novels to date, and considering the body of his work, that's saying something.]]

* CorruptChurch: As per usual for Cornwell's writings. Even beyond the sadistic and perverse [[SinisterMinister Father Martin]] (whose actual Biblical knowledge is pretty scant), the Church is generally presented as self-serving, tyrannical, and at best negligent toward the people.

* AntiHero: Nick Hook, though by the standards of a Cornwell protagonist he's fairly tame.

%%* BoisterousBruiser: Sir John Cornewaille is pretty much the new poster boy for this trope.
* CorruptChurch: As per usual for Cornwell's writings. Even beyond the sadistic and perverse [[SinisterMinister Father Martin]] (whose actual Biblical knowledge is pretty scant), the Church is generally presented as self-serving, tyrannical and at best negligent toward the people.

* RescueRomance: Hook saves his eventual lover and future wife, Melisande, from [[AttemptedRape being raped]] when the French sack Soissons.

* HeroesPreferSwords: During the final battle, Henry wields a sword despite a mace or poleax being more effective against plate armour, as he considers the sword a heroic weapon.

* RescueRomance: Hook saves his eventual lover and future wife, Melisandre, from [[AttemptedRape being raped]] when the French sack Soissons.

''Azincourt'' is a HistoricalFiction novel written by veteran novelist Creator/BernardCornwell. Essentially Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/HenryV'' written as a LowerDeckEpisode, the story follows AntiHero Nicholas Hook, a common-born English archer fighting in UsefulNotes/TheHundredYearsWar against France. Forced into military service after being declared an outlaw by a [[SinisterMinister corrupt priest]], Hook soon experiences seemingly divine messages from [[GodWasMyCopilot the Saints Crispin and Crispinian]] after surviving [[TheSiege the terrible siege and sacking of Soissons]]. Recruited into the army of King Henry V in his campaigns to take the throne of France, Hook encounters tremendous dangers and cruel foes, both amongst the French and amongst his own fellows...

Tropes present in the novel include:

* BoisterousBruiser: Sir John Cornewaille is pretty much the new poster boy for this trope.

* GoodShepherd: Father Christopher.

* Heroes Prefer Swords: During the final battle, Henry wields a sword despite a mace or poleax being more effective against plate armour, as he considers the sword a heroic weapon.

''Azincourt'' is a HistoricalFiction novel written by veteran novelist Creator/BernardCornwell. Essentially Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/HenryV'' written as a LowerDeckEpisode, the story follows AntiHero Nicholas Hook, a common-born English archer fighting in the HundredYearsWar against France. Forced into military service after being declared an outlaw by a [[SinisterMinister corrupt priest]], Hook soon experiences seemingly divine messages from [[GodWasMyCopilot the Saints Crispin and Crispinian]] after surviving [[TheSiege the terrible siege and sacking of Soissons]]. Recruited into the army of King Henry V in his campaigns to take the throne of France, Hook encounters tremendous dangers and cruel foes, both amongst the French and amongst his own fellows...

* GoodSheperd: Father Christopher.

* GoodShepard: Father Christopher.

* GodWasMyCoPilot: Hook thinks he hears the patron saints of Soissons, Crispin and Crispinian, in his head.

''Azincourt'' is a HistoricalFiction novel written by veteran novelist BernardCornwell. Essentially Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''HenryV'' written as a LowerDeckEpisode, the story follows AntiHero Nicholas Hook, a common-born English archer fighting in the HundredYearsWar against France. Forced into military service after being declared an outlaw by a [[SinisterMinister corrupt priest]], Hook soon experiences seemingly divine messages from [[GodWasMyCopilot the Saints Crispin and Crispinian]] after surviving [[TheSiege the terrible siege and sacking of Soissons]]. Recruited into the army of King Henry V in his campaigns to take the throne of France, Hook encounters tremendous dangers and cruel foes, both amongst the French and amongst his own fellows...