[Archers] Book Reveiw: THE GREAT WARBOW

[barysears]

It is an amazing book.  Who knew that glue made from the mouths of 
sturgons was highly prized?

barre

On 7/14/2011 2:34 PM, Garth Groff wrote:
> Noble friends,
>
> I just picked up my copy of THE GREAT WARBOW, FROM HASTINGS TO THE 
> MARY ROSE by Matthew Strickland and Robert Hardy (Haynes Publishing 
> Co., ISBN 9780857330901: 35 Pounds sterling, $57.95 US). As some of 
> you noted, this monster books is a reprint of the 2005 edition by 
> Sutton. The book is huge, at 538 pages and 26 x 23 cm.
>
> I have only had a few minutes to skim through the text, but it appears 
> to be the most complete book yet on the history of English archery, a 
> fitting successor to Hardy's own LONGBOW, once considered the last 
> word on the subject. Likely the work in hand will be the definitive 
> text for years to come.
>
> The text flows smoothly, a relief for such a broad and somewhat 
> technical subject. Not surprisingly, the book is chronological, and 
> covers the use of archery in almost every major English battle up to 
> 1545. I was pleased to see that sections gave excellent accounts of 
> Scottish archers as well, detailing their employment by Robert the 
> Bruce during his campaigns. There is more information about Scots 
> archery in this book than I have been able to scrape together in four 
> years of reading. The book also discusses the French response to 
> English archers in good detail, including information on Charles VII's 
> archery corps (many of whom were Scots), and sections on archers in 
> the Burgundian and other armies. I noticed a view of the English 
> mercenary Sir John Hawkwood's famous funeral painting (he left money 
> for an elaborately carved tomb, but the Italians were satisfied with 
> the painted study and pocked the difference), so I suspect some 
> archery in Italy is also covered. No doubt I will find a lot more 
> surprises as I start a serious read of the book.
>
> The whole book is lavishly illustrated with period engravings and 
> illuminations, plus many modern photographs, and nearly all the art is 
> in colour. Some famous illustrations have been used in previous books, 
> usually in black-and-white. Even so, the repeated material is a small 
> percentage of the staggering total. There are maps too, lots of them.
>
> This books is a must-have for every SCA archer, even if it is the only 
> book on archery you ever buy. If you don't reenact an English persona, 
> the history, technical details, and images, will still keep you 
> interested for many pleasurable evenings. I strongly suggest you order 
> up a copy now, as this is the sort of book that isn't likely to be 
> reprinted again for many years.
>
> Kind regards,
>
>
> Lord Mungo Napier, Shire of Isenfir Target Archery Marshal
> (aka Garth Groff, Cataloger, UVA Library System)
>
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