A fast-paced and rollicking fictionalized account of the English invasion of Normandy in 1346, focused on a small company of men-at-arms. ( )

I have been a fan of Dan Jones since I read his history of the Plantagenets. His foray into historical fiction at the beginning of what would become the Hundred Years War starts with action and doesn't slow down. The main characters, the Dogs, are introduced in a way that doesn't slow down the narrative but you still get to know each one through their different personalities. I look forward to his next volume in the series. And I really want to know more about the Scotsman. ( )

The beginning of the Hundred Years' War [14th century] in France told through the device of a small group of mercenary soldiers, rampaging, burning. killing, and pillaging, through France, starting from landing at the beaches of Normandy, climaxing at the battle of Crecy. Exciting but I did not like so much dirty language.

I did like the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter, taken from contemporary chronicles, that summed up the action in each chapter. ( )

Where did Jones go wrong with this book? Well the story is not that bad. It moves at a breakneck pace and really requires the reader to grab ahold of something solid, lest they be sucked up by the tone. I have read all of Jones work and I have been itching to read his first real fictional jaunt. He was successful in fleshing out the characters. Their development was very well done. The smells, sights and horrors of middle age combat is grueling and very well written. You can smell Essex Dogs from page one. The problem with this book is number one. The Language. I am an old retired sailor and foul language surely does not bother me. But at some points the use of it in this story is distracting. Now…. I know these are hard men, in a hard world living in battlefields. I get it. Second. The story itself kind of goes far too rapidly and I do believe that Jones did that with a purpose. Perhaps we will get a second volume. But there are quite a few holes in the story in general. Overall Essex Dogs is well written, easy to read and encourages the reader to read more on the subject of the Hundred years war. I won’t fault Jones. He was having fun. ( )

The company known as the Essex Dogs are a motley bunch, a mix of general fighters and archers. They are in the pay of Sir Richard le Straunge and have been contracted to travel to France in his army for forty days. From the beaches of Normandy to the forest of Crecy the men suffer fortune and agony as they fight for the King and for themselves.
Dan Jones has always been a very engaging writer of non-fiction. His history books are suitably scholarly but have popular appeal due to their general readability. Here Jones turns to fiction. Obviously not straying far from his medieval roots he is telling the tale of a group of fighters during the Hundred Years War, here focusing on 1346 and the build-up to the battle of Crecy. I loved the irreverence of much of this book, the language is salty and much of that from the nobles, the Black Prince is a drunk and callous youth not the great warrior we normally read about. All in all a fantastic read ( )