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Especially the battle scenes are so well-written you can feel the tension as if you were really there. It's like a medieval version of 'Saving Private Ryan' or 'Band of Brothers'. So, Essex Dogs follows a group of Mercenaries that sign up to Edward III's conquest of France, as he saw it as his land, while the "usurper" French King obviously disagreed. The Dogs are a group of ten people, who have all been pulled together by war, the lust of gold, or just circumstance, and formed a brotherhood led by FitzTolbert, otherwise known as Loveday, and is the main point of view for the book. His is often seen as the wise, older leader, grizzled and suffered but quite likeable from the start. The other main character is Romford, a young lad whose life is moving in all directions, and it seems he has little to no control of.
Essex Dogs: : Essex Dogs Series Dan Jones Head of Zeus -- an
I loved this book - I am already anxious to get my hands on the next book of this series. Dan Jones is an amazing writer, so it’s no surprise that his fiction work is as good as his non fiction work, all of which I’ve read. His character portrayal is fantastic and he just writes history so damn well. Fast paced, thrilling, I literally ate this book up. There really is nothing negative to say about this book. The characters, the setting of a bloody and violent period in time, the atmosphere, the pacing - I cannot fault it. If you are familiar with Dans non fiction work, you will appreciate this book. I’d highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys history, historical fiction and well written books. I’m already Jonesing for book two (see what I did there?). Few books manage to be as compelling on every level as Essex Dogs: it's adventure, history, and heart' -- Dana Schwartz Among the king's army is a tight-knit company fighting not for conquest but for each other, the 'Essex Dogs'. It opens with a medieval ‘Private Ryan’ scene and doesn’t stop from there. It’s a harsh and bloody business and each step of the way was intriguing. I’m not the biggest Kindle fan, but this kept me reading until I finished 😄
Featured Reviews
Dan Jones' debut novel is an impressive work of historical fiction set in the Hundred Years' War and, more particularly, during the Crecy Campaign. It bears all the hallmarks of the meticulous historical research we have come to expect from this author. Visceral, thrilling, gripping, this is a wild ride into the hearts and minds of men fighting to the death—and each other. The battles that shaped Europeare seen from the point of view of the soldiers and the lives of ordinary people. Searing.” —Kate Williams, author of The Pleasures of Men and Becoming Queen Victoria The Top 25 Christmas Cookbooks for 2023: A Smorgasbord of Inspiration for a Happy Foodie This Christmas Wolves of Winter follows some of the same characters you have already met in Essex Dogs - Loveday, Romford, Scotsman and the rest of the gang - and introduces some more whom I hope you will find memorable.
Book Review: ‘Essex Dogs,’ by Dan Jones - The New York Times
The epic sequel to Essex Dogs, continuing the New York Times bestselling historian’s trilogy of novels following the fortunes of ten ordinary soldiers during the Hundred Years’ War. Historian Jones’s first foray into fiction is battle-bloody, brutal and perfectly pitched. . . . Meticulously researched and vibrantly told. . . It’s a slaughterous, sweary, swaggering debut.” —The Daily Mail The Essex Dogs are a motley selection of disparate soldiers thrown together to fight an overseas war, for a cause that they don't really understand or care about. Their only aim is to survive the campaign, steel & trade war booty along the way, and eventually collect their promised pay. The characters are all well-rounded and have various fascinating personality flaws as well as some caring traits for their comrades in arms. July 1346. The Hundred Years' War has begun, and King Edward and his lords are on the march through France. But this war belongs to the men on the ground. Dan Jones'] mastery of his subject matter is obvious. The soldiers' lives are rather brilliantly recreated – the kit, the fighting, the boredom and discomfort.' The TimesThe locations were vividly word-painted, managing to weave many historical details into the fabric of the story without it ever getting in the way. Swept up in the bloody chaos, a tight-knit company from Essex must stay alive long enough to see their home again. With sword, axe and longbow, the Essex Dogs will fight, from the landing beaches of Normandy to the bloodsoaked field of Crécy. A historical saga about a motley crew of English fighters making life miserable for the French during the early days of the Hundred Years’ War. Among the hell unleashed is a close-knit company of warriors known as ‘Essex Dogs’ who must fight for each other. Ahigh-stakes, immersive war story. . .Highly recommended for fans of Bernard Cornwell or Ken Follett.” —Library Journal *starred review*
Essex Dogs by Dan Jones (9781838937935/Paperback) - LoveReading Essex Dogs by Dan Jones (9781838937935/Paperback) - LoveReading
The character's themselves are great! Often with historical fiction it's really difficult not to make your characters feel too modern. But Jones finds the perfect balance, keeping the historical accuracy and still making it easy for a modern audience to empathise with them. Superb historical fiction, as fresh, vivid and vital as this morning’s headlines … proves once again that nothing really changes, be it a soldier’s life – or great storytelling.”—Lee Child Vital, earthy, and heart-stopping... So deft and funny that you'd never guess this is Dan Jones' debut work of fiction' -- Suzannah Lipscomb
Dan Jones Press Reviews
The other band members include two intimidating warriors named Scotsman and Millstone, a shrewd soldier of small stature named Pismire, as well as five English and Welsh archers that include the youngest member of the group: a youth named Romford. These ten characters constitute a portrayal of the common English soldier’s life during the invasion, which culminates at the famous battle of Crecy. The soldiers' lives are rather brilliantly recreated - the kit, the fighting, the boredom and discomfort.' The Times One of the big things I loved about this book was that it used the modern names for the places the characters are going, and also have been. While I do like books where they use the names of places that were used in the time period, this book just made it easy by using the modern names, so you could see the map in your head perfectly of where they were. Also, the language they used, while some of it make sure you knew it was set in the 1400's, it was still modern enough to not have to worry about understanding what anyone was saying. And the detail of the period was explained with without you needing to have a phd in history. There's Pismire, small enough to infiltrate enemy camps. Scotsman, strong enough to tear down a wall. Millstone, a stonemason who'll do anything to protect his men. Father, a priest turned devilish by the horrors of war. Romford, a talented young archer on the run from his past. And Loveday FitzTalbot, their battle-scarred captain, who just wants to get his boys home safe. If you like a good historical fiction that actually has the facts right and heaps of characterisation, then this is the book for you.
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