King Henry V: A Biography

by Harold Frederick Hutchison

Biography of Henry V of England

Genres: History, Biography

287 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Dick Edwards]

Three years after Henry’s death at age 35, Katherine married Owen Tudor, by whom she had a son who was to become the father of King Henry VII. She died in 1437. This book calls for a new assessment of Henry. His victory at Agincourt was due more to French mistakes than to his own strategy. The decision to march to Calais was military folly. Following Jean de Arc, the French gained back all that they had lost, and left England in the War of the Roses. Henry was very religious, and very brave. England gained little from the French conquests, and lost much treasure and many men. The cultural atmosphere was pale compared to that of Richard II, who had welcomed Froissart, patronized Chaucer, and propounded a policy of peace which might have carried England to the efflorescence of the Tudors without so much tragedy and bloodshed.

[Francisco]

Very good biography, succinct and direct while covering every important aspect of Henry's life. A deeper character analysis wouldn't hurt!