Kindle
$2.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$130.00
Paperback
$15.61
Kindle Price: $2.99

Save $17.00 (85%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $19.56

Save: $12.07 (62%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Ian Mortimer
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Henry V: The Warrior King of 1415 Kindle Edition

by Ian Mortimer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 339 ratings
See all formats and editions
From an award-winning historian: “A new and convincing likeness of medieval England’s most iconic king” (The Sunday Times).
 
This biography by the bestselling author of The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England takes an insightful look at the life of Henry V, casting new light on a period in history often held up as legend.
 
A great English hero, Henry V was lionized by Shakespeare and revered by his countrymen for his religious commitment, his sense of justice, and his military victories. Here, noted historian and biographer Ian Mortimer takes a look at the man behind the legend and offers a clear, historically accurate, and realistic representation of a ruler who was all too human—and digs up fascinating details about Henry V’s reign that have been lost to history, including the brutal strategies he adopted at the Battle of Agincourt.
 
“The most illuminating exploration of the reality of 15th-century life that I have ever read.” —The Independent

“Compelling, exuberant . . . vivid.” —Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times–bestselling author of The Romanovs: 1613–1918
 
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    630 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    RosettaBooks
  5. Publication date
    February 22, 2014
  6. File size
    5832 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Editorial Reviews

Review

A new and convincing likeness of medieval England's most iconic king.-- "Sunday Times"

About the Author

Ian Mortimer, PhD, is the author of The Time Travelers Guide to Medieval England. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 1998 and was awarded the Alexander Prize (2004) by the Royal Historical Society. He lives with his wife and three children on the edge of Dartmoor, in the southwest of England.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07H1915ZP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ RosettaBooks (February 22, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 22, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5832 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 630 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 339 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ian Mortimer

Ian Mortimer

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Dr Ian Mortimer has been described by The Times newspaper as 'the most remarkable medieval historian of our time'. He is best known as the author of The Time Traveller's Guides: to Medieval England (2008); to Elizabethan England (2012); to Restoration Britain (2017); and to Regency Britain (2020). He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and has published research in academic journals touching on every century from the twelfth to the twentieth.

He also writes in other genres. His latest novel, 'The Outcasts of Time', which takes place across the years 1348-1942, won the 2019 Winston Graham Prize for historical fiction. His first three novels, the Clarenceux Trilogy, set in the 1560s, appeared under his middle names, 'James Forrester'. In the year he turned fifty he wrote a memoir about the meaning of running, Why Running Matters (published in 2019).

He lives on the northeast of Dartmoor, in the southwest of England. For more information, see www.ianmortimer.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
339 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jerry Oliver
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing narrative
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2019
Verified Purchase
I had read Mortimer's A Time Traveler's Guide to the 14th Century recently and had enjoyed his detailed account of medieval life. The release of the trailer for The King, the new movie about Henry V and Agincourt, with Timothee Chalamet playing Henry V, had drawn me to watch the BBC's production of Shakespeare's Henriad. I had already seen, years ago, Kenneth Branagh's version of Henry V. The next logical step was to try Mortimer's day by day account of the year 1415, which covers not only the English court and Henry, but also the French court, and the Council of Constance, called to end a schism in the Catholic church. Mortimer's command of detail and daily recounting of the acts of the courts and the council, I found riveting. I was a little disappointed to learn that Henry was not the flawless monarch depicted by Shakespeare and acclaimed by generations of historians as "perhaps England's greatest king." But as Mortimer himself allows in his judicious conclusion, Henry achieved "something extraordinary" despite being "deeply flawed." And "that is what gives us hope." I have ordered his biographies of Henry IV and also of Edward III.
23 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
nugyeb
4.0 out of 5 stars 75% perfect, 25% meh
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
I found the calendar structure used in 75% of the book fascinating, and if the whole book used this methodology I would give it an enthusiastic five stars. Mortimer is correct in his thesis - the calendar method provides a unique look at Henry V and the world he lived in that was hard to put down. Unfortunately, the other 25% is filled with reflections on the process of writing the book, speculations about historical methodology, and comments on Henry V that didn't fit into the main narrative. None of this was bad, per say, but it had a "navel-gazing" quality and was not up to the level of the main chronology. I can see myself reading this again a few years down the road and skipping everything but the calendar. Its a wonderful book, but realize that you may not love the whole thing.
14 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
G Myers
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for those that enjoy history
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
I enjoy reading history. It is the source of who we are. Many writers while sharing the details that happened over look the driving action to cause historical events, the thinking of the historical people and the impact on them and those around them, present and in the future. Many historical writers do great amounts of research, I believe Ian Mortimer goes a step beyond most. Ian looks to many various sources and references of his historical figures, even accounts of their expenses. His presentations include analysis of the times, influences of others, alternatives that could have been made and a rational from the figurer’s personal perspective. I believe this leads to a more likely recreations of the time, the people and the outcome. At times is seems there is too much detail, but before I finish one of his books, I am appreciative of the detail.
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Diane Berger
3.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very interesting and informative. Must pay very close attention to names and dates. Some surprising facts and interesting points of view.
Helpful
 Report
Aharon Ben Yossef
4.0 out of 5 stars I very much enjoyed the chronological style of presentation
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016
Verified Purchase
I very much enjoyed the chronological style of presentation, - came away feeling I had received a much broader and balanced picture of the Man.......almost as if the recital was in real time, - almost photographic.
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Admirable Presentation
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
This was my first experience with English experimental history and I found it quite enjoyable. For some the annalistic approach may seem a bit tedious, but I believe that the reader will discover this more than offset by the amount of interesting historical data incorporated into the text. This is also a very good companion volume to his other presentations of Roger Mortimer, Edward III, and Henry IV. Taken together they provide a great opportunity to explore in depth English history just prior to the Wars of the Roses through the lives of the four most prominent historical personages actively engaged in the political arena. In short, as with his other works, an enjoyable experience well worth the effort.
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Anonymous Reviewer
5.0 out of 5 stars Covers more than Agincourt
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
This slightly mistitled book goes deeper into Henry V than just the key year of 1415. If a reader is looking for a bit of background for Shakespeare's Henry IV and V plays, then this might fit the bill (although for a deeper view, you still want to read Ian Mortimer's bio of Henry IV, which also fleshes out Henry IV's relationship with Richard II, so helpful for that Shakespeare play too). Mortimer writes well, so I would recommend any of his English history books.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Tom
4.0 out of 5 stars Book for History Nerds
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
Liked the product. Used it to build my medical library.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Dan Brooks
5.0 out of 5 stars A famous king revealed in details of daily life
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
Mortimer's work as a storyteller is always top notch. This book is no exception, even though he follows the daily routines of a year's worth of kingship, which is not always the most exciting stuff in and of itself. But he keeps the details balanced against the bigger picture issues like war in France, and intrigue and betrayal in his own court, so the momentum of the story never slackens. Highly recommend.
Customer image
Dan Brooks
5.0 out of 5 stars A famous king revealed in details of daily life
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2022
Mortimer's work as a storyteller is always top notch. This book is no exception, even though he follows the daily routines of a year's worth of kingship, which is not always the most exciting stuff in and of itself. But he keeps the details balanced against the bigger picture issues like war in France, and intrigue and betrayal in his own court, so the momentum of the story never slackens. Highly recommend.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
Report
ArrowPen
5.0 out of 5 stars Geschichte verständlich und mitreißend
Reviewed in Germany on March 29, 2013
Verified Purchase
Ian Mortimers Buch über das Ruhmesjahr des englischen Königs, Henry V, ist ein erstaunliches Werk. Höchst ungewöhnlich sein Ansatz, das Jahr am ersten Januartag zu beginnen und sich Tag für Tag voran zu arbeiten, so daß der geneigte Leser die Geschehnisse auf beiden Seiten des Kanals mitverfolgen und verstehen kann - quasi als Begleiter durch das ganze Jahr. Zahlreiche Zitate aus bekannten Briefen und Reden bereichern die Erfahrung immens. Ferner befleißigt sich der Autor eines wunderbaren, reichen Vokabulars - die Freude, die es macht, dieses Buch zu lesen, läßt sich nur schwer beschreiben.

Wir erleben keinen romantisierten englischen König, sondern einen kontroversen Charakter, dem Shakespeare mit seinem hinreißenden Stück ein Denkmal setzte, das Henry V zu einem löwenhaften Idol Englands erhob, dessen Geschichte jedoch vielschichtiger und nicht frei von Intrigen und Skrupellosigkeit ist. Dennoch ist und bleibt Henry V gewiß eine der interessantesten Figuren der Geschichte, die dem Leser von Ian Mortimer in großartiger Weise nahe gebracht wird. Ein großartiges Buch!
6 people found this helpful
 Report
C. Ball
5.0 out of 5 stars Shakespeare has a lot to answer for...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2010
Verified Purchase
Shakespeare has a lot to answer for when it comes to the perception of certain English kings. Shakespeare wrote Richard III as a villain and a villain is how people remember him. He wrote Henry V as the perfect warrior king and again, that's how we remember him. The fact that neither king bore any real relation to Shakespeare's potrayals are almost irrelevant.

Mortimer sets out to portray the real Henry in this book, and by a large he succeeds admirably. He takes a rather unusual form (for history, at least) by following Henry through every single day of this year, and as a result this book draws in far more than just Agincourt and the military prepreations. You see the context Henry was operating in, the way wider events influenced his decisions - most especially you see Henry was preparing for war even whilst he claimed to be negotiating for peace.

The Henry in this book is not Shakespeare's. He is not charming, he is not chivalrous, he is not a marvellous patriot, he is not kind and funny and charitable. The real Henry was ruthless, exceptionally pious, ambitious, determined, and above all, utterly convinced of the rightness of his cause. He was testing himself and his dynasty's legitimacy against God, and that he came through the other side of Agincourt alive and victorious is more down to luck (or as Henry would have claimed, God) than it was to Henry himself.

Mortimer's Henry is, as he himself puts it, less 'England's Golden Boy' than 'Cold Steel'. No worse a king for that, but far from Shakespeare's legend.
6 people found this helpful
 Report
Pandaloo
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on the era and events of 1415
Reviewed in Germany on November 14, 2014
Verified Purchase
I have read most of Ian Mortimer's books, and several on the Agincourt battle from other authors, but I must say that this one is the BEST. Read Henry IV first, and you are about to embark on a journey much better than any modern thriller! Gripping and with a lot of superb interpretations of what we know or have left from the era!
One person found this helpful
 Report
W. Scott
4.0 out of 5 stars Henry V's Year of Glory
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2010
Verified Purchase
The author of this is conscious of having found a new way of conveying a historical event. It is novel and it is worthwhile. What has bedevilled history before is the absence of systematic examination of documents and ancillary events, which has meant that certain influential events were often forgotten. The day by day treatment of this book largely overcomes this problem. The account of Agincourt makes good sense and the surprise attack by the (apparently) inferior English was novel to this reader. What does not make sense is the strategy of Henry V. What did he intend to achieve in France? And what does it mean that he took less than 12,000 troops when so many more well equipped enemies were likely? The idea that Henry V decided to go to France and march from Harfleur to Calais and fight a battle with the French if they obstructed him, makes no sense. The French too, had many archers. Why did Henry V make such a risky move? Worse, having won the battle, why did Henry not remain to take advantage of it? March on Paris, take over the realm, capture king and court and their treasure? This does not make sense. His army was not so depleted that he had to get home to recover. The author's answer seems to be that Henry V was so pious and so self confident that he expected to be successful because God was on his side. This may be but it does not ring true. Of course our values are not Henry's. Even so, the event as portrayed does not make sense. Every aspect of strategy except the victory itself which could not be foreseen, was unwise. Yet, the author's assessment of Henry is harsh in places. He was obliged to condemn to death the conspirators [Scrope, Gray, Cambridge) not because he could not see that some were innocent but because the subtlety of mind necessary to see it was not part of the people of that time: his own judges who (largely) determined the outcome.
Capturing a town like Harfleur was bound to be difficult. In the event it cost Henry 3,000, a quarter of his force. Many died of disease, many had to be sent home unfit. This reverse could have been expected. Henry gives every sign of sleepwalking to glory: a matter of a happy choice of ground, suitable weather (for his men), overconfidence and bad command and control by the French and his own courage and good tactics on the day. And he knew what his archers could do.
This is an absorbing read even though some events reported do not seem to be significant.
There is a discussion of what constitutes good history and assessments of Henry's character. Mortimer argues that history is inevitably subjective because we are affected by emotional aspects of historical correlatives and we apply our values to a time with different values. Even so, there are questions that any age must ask about Henry V. Why are you travelling to France with only 12,000 soldiers? How can you expect to win a battle against many more Frenchmen on their home ground? What do you expect to gain from winning such a battle? And have you no care for the many lives, English and French, that will be lost because of your actions? What is the point of capturing Harfleur (at the cost of a decent fraction of your army)? Will it not just revert to France as soon as you quit the place? These questions are time invariant.

A very perceptive and thoughtful book.

William Wallace Cunningham Scott
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report