The Lucky Few

I saw this review the other day: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123267111434808365.html. Bernard Cornwell has a book out centered around the Battle of Agincourt. Cornwell is a prolific author of historical novels, most notably his Sharpe series depicting a British officer and his exploits during the Napoleonic wars. Ripping yarns. Agincourt, is of course, famous for the victory of young Hank the Five's rag tag English force over the vaunted French knights, due largely to his deadly use of the legendary long bowmen (England's chief export in those days along with plague and buggery). The frogs were hampered by the muddy conditions which hampered their horses, bogged down by the weight of their armored riders and also the inability to get a decent claret prior to kickoff. The rest is history.

Keegan, of course, turned in a good reading of Agincourt as one of the subjects of his classic "Face of Battle."

One other thing: note the opening line of the book review as it quite nicely mimics something said by a certain Mississippi author about Southern boys. Something about a July day with the flags unfurled and the regiments in line...