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Kinvig
30-07-09, 08:02 AM
Right, Summer's here....kinda ;o)

If you're looking for a book to read on holiday, then I reccommend, "Azincourt" by Bernard Cornwall.

it's set around Henry V's 1415 campaign to be recognised as the rightful king of France & climaxes at the Battle of Agincourt

It's written through the eyes of an english archer, one of the 6000 men that fought against 30000 cabbage farting french men. I won't spoil the ending....;o)

The story's great, it's easy to pick up & follow from where you left off. Some of the characterisation is a bit 2-d & the plot's a bit boy's-own adventure at times, but overall it's really interesting and it paints a picture of tactics in mediaeval warfare which is often lacking or bland in a text-book.

Bernard Cornwall has written loads of other historical warfare type books, most notably the Sharpe books that featured Sean Bean on tele.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007271220/ref=s9_simz_gw_s7_p14_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1JPG4NZB4RFR9TCA5613&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

So, has anyone else got any summer reads that they'd reccommend?

pete m
30-07-09, 11:03 AM
Orgers dont like books !:rolleyes:

apart from Lonesome Dove and Commanche Moon by L McMurtry - which i mentioned to enormous hilarity a year or so ago...

metalangel
30-07-09, 11:06 AM
Reading Dune while lying on a burning hot Spanish beach was an interesting experience :smt081

pete m
30-07-09, 11:09 AM
yep i enjoyed Dune - forget the film with sting, dont work...

Ed
30-07-09, 11:11 AM
one of the 6000 men that fought against 30000 cabbage farting french men. I won't spoil the ending....;o)

How cool is that. 'Fart' passes the swear filter:cool:

metalangel
30-07-09, 11:22 AM
yep i enjoyed Dune - forget the film with sting, dont work...

The Children of Dune miniseries is worth watching just for the rather busty girl getting nekkid though :smt040

Warthog
30-07-09, 11:59 AM
Great recommendation Dirk! I have read all the Viking novels by Bernard Cornwell, all of the King Arthur Warlord novels, and I'm currently on the Grail quest third one. They are brilliant and I will move onto Azincourt next :).

Sosha
30-07-09, 12:47 PM
Gormenghast trilogy?

"A Place of Greater Safety" (French Revolution) Hillary Mantel Lasted well.

Once took "The Rise & Fall of the Third Reich"

Sucker for Carl Hiaasen but they don't last me long.

anna
30-07-09, 01:13 PM
Gormenghast trilogy?

I loved that trilogy, did you see the BBC drama of it??

Skip
30-07-09, 01:17 PM
I just got back from Turkey where I read three books in the week I was there:

Dan Brown - Deception Point (a very good read)
Sidney Sheldon - Bloodline (not bad but not great)
Andy McNab - Last Light (pretty good and well written)

keithd
30-07-09, 01:19 PM
i have a beach holiday in september, i shall be reading Birdsong

started reading it couple of weeks ago but each time i started i was so tired i fell asleep, so want to do it justice and read it quickly.