Book SynopsisThe BBC History 2022 Book of the Year and Richard & Judy Book Club Pick from Sunday Times bestselling author Dan Jones. July 1346. The Hundred Years' War has begun, and King Edward and his lords are on the march through France. But this war belongs to the men on the ground. Swept up in the bloody chaos, a tight-knit company from Essex must stay alive long enough to see their home again. With sword, axe and longbow, the Essex Dogs will fight, from the landing beaches of Normandy to the bloodsoaked field of Crécy. There's Pismire, small enough to infiltrate enemy camps. Scotsman, strong enough to tear down a wall. Millstone, a stonemason who'll do anything to protect his men. Father, a priest turned devilish by the horrors of war. Romford, a talented young archer on the run from his past. And Loveday FitzTalbot, their battle-scarred captain, who just wants to get his boys home safe. Some men fight for glory. Others fight for coin. The Essex Dogs? They fight for each other. Praise for Essex Dogs: 'A book that draws you in page by page. The way Dan Jones writes enemies reminds me of Cornwell at his best, turning up tension click by click.' Conn Iggulden 'A new champion has entered the front line of historical fiction to stand shoulder to shoulder with Bernard Cornwell.' Jane Johnson 'Battle-bloody, brutal and perfectly pitched.' Daily Mail 'Vital, earthy, and heart-stopping.' Suzannah Lipscomb 'The soldiers' lives are rather brilliantly recreated – the kit, the fighting, the boredom and discomfort.' The Times 'Only Dan Jones can carry you through blood, piss and vomit and leave you wanting more.' Daisy Dunn 'A cast of unforgettable characters.' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'Simply stunning.' Duff McKagan, New York Times No1 bestselling author of It’s So Easy, and founder member of Guns N' RosesTrade Review'Oddly joyous – rolling action, fast-paced, a book that draws you in page by page. The way Dan Jones writes enemies reminds me of Cornwell at his best, turning up tension click by click.' * Conn Iggulden *Battle-bloody, brutal and perfectly pitched... Jones captures the fear and frenzy of the fight and the loyalty and kinship of the Dogs in this slaughterous, sweary, swaggering debut * Daily Mail *With a cast of unforgettable characters, written with irrepressible verve and historical accuracy, Dan Jones delivers a compelling novel that thrums with swordswinging energy -- Simon Sebag MontefioreA new champion has entered the front line of historical fiction to stand shoulder to shoulder with Bernard Cornwell... A full-throated charge onto the mediaeval battlefield, a rip-roaring adventure full of blood and guts, camaraderie and inventive curses -- Jane JohnsonHorribly compelling... Only Dan Jones can carry you through blood, piss and vomit and leave you wanting more -- Daisy DunnVital, earthy, and heart-stopping... So deft and funny that you'd never guess this is Dan Jones' debut work of fiction -- Suzannah LipscombFew books manage to be as compelling on every level as Essex Dogs: it's adventure, history, and heart -- Dana SchwartzThe battles that shaped Europe from the point of view of the soldiers... Searing -- Kate WilliamsA busy, urgent little masterpiece -- Graham HurleyFascinating. Brutal. Real... Impossible to put down -- Simon TurneyWar. Looting. Junkies. Pintle-tugging. The English abroad. Dan Jones takes you to the year of Our Lord 1346 -- Tibor FischerEssex Dogs is the first in a planned trilogy by the bestselling medieval historian Dan Jones. His mastery of his subject matter is obvious. The soldiers' lives are rather brilliantly recreated – the kit, the fighting, the boredom and discomfort. Jones is excellent on the battles, too, focusing on the violence and the panic * The Times *[Essex Dogs] is the first instalment of what promises to be an epic trilogy * History Revealed Magazine *The historical detail is totally authentic... Essex Dogs shows the total brutalilty of medieval warfare, but also the camaraderie of a troop of men who fight for each other and for England * Bishop's Stortford Independent *Visceral and powerful, the reality of medieval warfare leaping from every page, it's gripping storytelling at its best... With a cast of unforgettable characters, this is historian Dan Jones's first foray into fiction and it's terrific * Choice *With its unflinching emphasis on the blood and guts of 14th-century battle, Jones's debut is not for the squeamish, but it's an enthralling, character-filled read * Sunday Times *Historian Dan Jones plunges the reader right into the medieval battlefield in this riotous retelling of the epic Hundred Years War between England and France * Metro *Packed with historical insight, bringing alive not only the war, but the lives of the common soldiers... I can hardly wait for the next instalment * Historical Novel Society *'Superb... The plot races along and there’s huge insight into a band of brothers. Humour, archery, violence – and a fundamental decency underpinning all the rest.' * Conn Iggulden *Rooted in historical accuracy, and told through an earthy cast of archers, men-at-arms and misfits, Essex Dogs delivers the stark reality of medieval war in the round – and shines a light on ordinary people caught in the storm. * Mortimer Historical Society *'Vivid characterizations and a strain of black humor add to the pointed drama... Brutal, graphic, and gory, the battle scenes viscerally hurl the reader into the heat of 14th-century combat. It’s good to know these Dogs will howl again.' * Publishers Weekly *starred review* *'On the whole a violent and bloody affair . . . [Reconceives] medieval military history as a swashbuckling Hollywood movie.' * New York Times Book Review *'An impeccably researched "you are there" novel with a real-time approach, Jones’ entertaining fiction debut moves episodically from encounter to life-threatening encounter... the book hums with black humor... An enjoyable romp through the darkest of ages.' * Kirkus Reviews *starred review* *'A high-stakes, immersive war story... Highly recommended for fans of Bernard Cornwell or Ken Follett.' * Library Journal *starred review* *Historian Dan Jones knows his stuff. You'll smell the sour wine and grin at the soldiers' rude humour... This razor-sharp motley crew... leap off the page and charge straight at you * The Sun *The Hundred Years' War with an amazingly contemporary feel... A cracking read * Richard Madeley, The Spectator *
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