Published by Osprey in 2014 retailing at £12.99
Richard Brooks is a free lance military historian with a
reputation for writing analytical military history based on fresh research of
original sources. One of his previous books, The Battlefields of Britain and Ireland, is considered the
definitive work on the subject. His biography on Fred Jane (founder of Jane’s
Fighting Ships and the Fred Jane Naval Wargame) is recognised as outstanding.
Therefore, I was very interested when I heard about his new book by Osprey.
This book covers one of the lesser known heroes of the
medieval world, William Marshal. He was a right hand man for three kings and
the regent for a 4th. He was loyal to kings, respected by
practically all, a fearsome knight at tournaments and a formidable general. His
achievement in preserving England as a separate country is important today.
Based in part on The
History of William Marshal, the first biography of a non-royal layman in
medieval times, the work weaves a complex and detailed tale about the life and
time of William Marshal. It covers the tournaments, the intrigue and politics,
populated by accounts of the sieges and battles.
There are a number of factors that (to me) make Brooks’s
style so interesting. One is his ability to bring together discussion of competing
historical sources. Some historians simply state this is what happened, but
Brooks outlines if there are different views before giving a reasoned decision
which account he deems most likely. Another aspect is the narrative is
interspersed with detailed analytical work on the technical aspects of early
medieval warfare. Brook’s wider military knowledge is used to place this in a
more general context, such as the analysis of the rate of march set against
that achieved by armies from other periods of military history. Basically, in
times of need, medieval armies could move very rapidly.
I have taken a close academic interest in the critical
battle of Marshal’s career, The Battle of Lincoln (1217). This was a very
important battle for England in the medieval era and 36 pages are devoted to a detailed
investigation of this urban battle. Brooks has done some detailed battlefield
walking and this is reflected in his excellent account. A criticism of the book
is perhaps the map of Lincoln should have been included in with the chapter about
the battle, rather than at the front of the book. I read half the chapter
before I remember to check for the map in the front. Perhaps there should have
been a note at the start of the chapter reminding the reader of the location of
the map. However, this is just a minor point in a very enjoyable book.
For those interested
in medieval history, I whole heartedly recommend this particular book.
