Book Reviews
The Medieval Archer
by Jim Bradbury
published by The Boydell press, ISBN 0 85115, 1949.
This book traces the history of the archer in the medieval period from the Norman conquest to the wars of the Roses. It opens with a definition of the different kinds of bows in use and challenges the usual assumption that the "longbow" was a new and devastation weapon used only by the English armies from the late thirteenth century onwards. The book continues with a chapter on twelfth century battle tactics, (something quite rare in historical texts) following on to the Battle of Agincourt.
The Medieval Archer is completed with a study of the archer in society including the the most famous archer of all, Robin Hood. Other books previous to The Medieval Archer have been obscure in their conclusions, leaving the reader with many more questions than he or she can answer. The history of the military archer is is a difficult subject ,as written sources are few, and apart from the Mary Rose bows and arrows, physical evidence is non-existent. Mr. Bradbury gives a clear, concise and common sense account which makes his book by far the best I have read.
Paul Seal
Norman Knight, 950-1204 AD
Osprey Warrior Series, no. 1
Christopher Gravett and Christina Hook
Norman Knight is the first in an all new series from Osprey publications, which covers in great - nay, meticulous detail a warrior from a specific historical period. With sections on historical background, appearance and equipment, construction and repair of equipment, training, tactics, logistics and even modern museum displays of Norman arms & armour, this book goes even further than the Elite series # 9, The Normans, in exploring the Norman warrior.
The usual high standards of artwork one has come to expect from the Osprey series is maintained, including some very usefull details of equipment such as buckles and swordbelts, and some wonderfull exploded views of helmets. The Warrior series is ideal for re-enactors, because it deals more with the stuff we need to know; while the elite series often dealt with such interesting, but impractical (from the re-enactment perspective) topics such as castles, ships and overall history, the warrior series tells you how the knights dressed, what armour they fought in, and how to make it. Others books promised in this series that will intrest us include no. 3: Viking Hersir, and no. 5: Saxon Thegn, both avaliable soon. If they are as good as this one, they will become a fixture on the shelf of every re-enactor interested in the early medieval period.
Sir Michael DeLacy
Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066
Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291
Armies of Feudal Europe 1066-1300
Armies of the Middle Ages, vol 1 1300-1487
Armies of the Middle Ages, vol 2 1300-1500
Published by the Wargames Research Group, printed by Flexiprint Ltd., Worthing, Sussex
Ian Heath's five volumes on the Armies of the Medieval period provide a very condensed and readable history of weapons, warfare and military costume from 600 AD. through to 1500. This series is indispensable to anyone who wants a broader understanding of the evolution of the medieval warrior, or to any fighter who wants to broaden his or her understanding of their persona. For new fighters especially, a look in one of these books should be your very first step in deciding what style of armour you want, and what military background your persona would have had.
The books are all organized in the same manner, with an introduction dealing with the broader historical and social background of the period, followed by chapters which detail the military organization and tactics of each nation/people, a chronological list of the major battles of the period, a long chapter on the dress and equipment of the warriors, complete with hundreds of good quality line drawings and well documented commentary, and finally, a good bibliography that will point you in the right direction for further research.
Although these are not technically scholarly books (being made instead as a reference work for wargaming enthusiasts), I have found it to be very well researched and up to date (Ian Heath has also penned several of the Osprey series), with plenty of sources cited to aid you in your further research. One of the best things about these books is that they do not just cover the old standards; Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and Franks etc., but they delve into the entirety of the European/Mediterranean world, with information on such exotic peoples such as the Khazars, Ghuzz, Pecheneg, Vijayangar and the White Sheep Turks. These books are great both as an introduction to the field of warfare and armour, and as a reference work for the experienced anachronist, and I recommend them highly!
Sir Michael DeLacy