Dan Jones’ first historical fiction is a gripping read and can’t wait for the next two in the trilogy. Set in the 100 years war, I can imagine that the descriptions are authentic. His words are earthy, his generous use of profanities is greater than hubby I could manage!

7/10. Essex Dogs is by no means a remarkable book. But given this is historian Dan Jones's first foray into writing fiction, I think it is good enough to be worth a quick read. Jones has had great success as a historian of the medieval world, particularly medieval England, and his tome, Power and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages was one of my favorite 2022 reads.

In Essex Dogs, Jones attempts to illustrate the early weeks of the Hundred Years War from the perspective of a band of ordinary soldiers: the Essex Dogs. As a fictionalized narrative tour of history, this book works really well, and it succeeded in teaching history through story (as all historical fiction should do). Jones's years of experience writing on medieval warfare, politics, and everyday life serves him really well here, as Essex Dogs brings the gritty reality and barbarity of the period to life through grotesque scenes of medieval violence and filth.

Where this book falls short is in the fiction itself. Jones's prose is unremarkable, and includes very little literary flair. Unlike many works of historical fiction, the dialogue feels jarringly modern, and other than repeated crude jokes about Christ, the saints, and the Virgin Mary, the locker room banter in this book sounds like it would fit better in the Normandy of 1944 than of 1346. The characters in Essex Dogs are simple, yet enjoyable. Each one fits into the exact archetypes you would expect (reluctant leader, burly warrior, troubled youth, weird priest, arrogant noble, entitled prince), so much so that they often feel like they belong in a roleplaying video game or movie script. The plot, similarly is incredibly straightforward, and plays out in a series of missions and fetch quests that, again, felt like novelized notes from the Assassin's Creed developers' files.

Overall, Essex Dogs is a fun read that does not take itself too seriously, and I think it works best as a companion piece to learning about the Hundred Years War. If you are open to being entertained by crude jokes and gory descriptions of blood splattering while heads and limbs fly across the battlefield, you will have a good time. If you are looking for a lofty literary experience full of deep characters and themes, this book will be as unwelcome as a crossbow bolt to the face.

I will probably pick up the inevitable sequel, if only to see how Dan Jones's prose develops.

This was pretty ok. I appreciate that this was made by a historian and that the events and details were all period accurate.

The rest of the plot felt incomplete, however, and the main characters had a bit too much plot armor and I had trouble suspending my disbelief at how central a role they continued to find themselves playing. Either they're a rag tag bunch of misfits or essentially attached to the field Marshall as a specialist unit; you can't have your cake and eat it too; that's the wrong historical period.

An exceptional historical fiction adventure.

Essex Dogs by Dan Jones

Audio Book duration: 13hrs 22m

Dan Jones best known for his non fiction history books,has written his first historical fiction novel. Oh boy and what a first book! I was hooked from the start and didn't want this 13hr epic audiobook to end. Lucky for me this is the first of a trilogy. 

A perfect novel to learn more of the Hundred Years War (1346). I was captivated from the start and found it a fascinating read. From learning about the mundane aspects of camp life in a medieval campaign to the complexities of battle. It's an all immersive read.

Which characters in the Essex Dogs band of men will you be urging on in battle? Half way through and it dawned on me that not all will survive the violence of war. By which time I already had some favourite characters. 

I really felt for the ordinary people and merchants, caught up in the marauding horde of soldiers, which is well told within the story. There is also an insight on the battlefield of The Black Prince, which I'm sure we will see more of in the following books.

One character in particular for me was brought to life by the narrator Ben Miles, the Earl of Nottingham. A horrid man, but the style and manner of his character. Just perfect. That alone is the reason you should listen to the audiobook version.

Without hesitation I recommend this book, welcome to the new king of historical fiction, Dan Jones...long live the King!

3.5