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<p class="MsoNormal">Noble Friends of the Bow,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I haven’t quite finished my copy of Mike Loades new book THE LONGBOW (Osprey Publishing; ISBN 9781782000853), but circumstances drove me to post this brief review early. This book is interesting, well written, and filled with a lot of information.
Little is new here, but it does bring together information from many sources. It is largely free from the details of battles, political situations and royal personalities (all interesting in their own right), but instead concentrates on the bow, its ammunition
and the men who used the weapon. Good stuff. I was particularly pleased to see that Loades explores some topics that are barely mentioned in other books, including those odd dumb-dumb arrows from the LUTTRELL PSALTER, and bows made from materials other than
yew. I somewhat disagree with this de-emphasis of long distance shooting, something he also poo-pooed in his otherwise excellent History Channel documentary GOING MEDIEVAL, despite the evidence of battle accounts and the very real presence of long-distance
flight arrows (examples: the Westminster Arrow and the shafts found on the <i>Mary Rose</i>). Despite my quibbling, this is an excellent book, and worth adding to the library of every Scadian archer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My reason for rushing this review was the discovery this morning that THE LONGBOW is available from E.R. Hamilton Booksellers (item 5677459) at a substantial discount: their price is $12.95, plus $3.50 flat rate per order. The price is
slightly more when ordered online and paid by credit card. The list price from Osprey is $18.95.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would also suggest buying the GOING MEDIEVAL DVD from the History Channel. While I disagree with some of Loades’ statements about archery, this 2-hour program is filled with all sorts of great stuff about building castles, going on hunt,
cooking, sword fighting, trade, justice, etc. The archery sections are among the best, showing how castles were defended by archers, and including compelling scientifically measured arrow penetration tests. It is also filled with cool costumes worn by professional
re-enactors from museums like Weald & Downland. There’s lots of learn from this program.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yours Aye,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lord Mungo Napier, The Archer of Mallard Lodge<o:p></o:p></p>
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