The Hundred Years War : the English in France, 1337-1453 /

Desmond Seward, author of The Bourbon Kings of France among other works, has written a narrative account for the general reader of that series of Anglo-French conflicts which has come to be known as the Hundred Years War. Seward makes no claim to original research, but his work has value as a straightforward, lucid running account of the political and military struggles that began with Edward III's claim to the French throne in 1337. In addition, the author stresses the interesting notion that ""it is arguable that the Hundred Years War was medieval England's greatest achievement."" He argues this not only in the sense that a small and poor England was able to wage a successful military campaign against the greatest armed power in Europe, but also because the horrible plundering of France greatly enriched England and the English participants in the battles. For the English of the time, France became ""a kind of El Dorado,"" and in terms of social mobility, the wealth generated by the war and the depletion of the nobility through war casualties made this ""a time to rise in the world."" In the end, England was defeated, of course, and financially exhausted by the costs of defending conquered territory, but it had established its formidability and was dotted by castles and churches paid for with stolen riches. Aside from his treatment of this new wealth, however, Seward's account is lamentably short on social history--the Black Death and its effects, for instance, receive a scant two pages--although he is able to squeeze in many of the colorful details which were inextricably bound up with the fortunes of England and France. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.