Comments on: Agincourt by Bernard Cornwell http://calitreview.com/2601 An arts and culture magazine. Wed, 23 May 2012 07:16:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Max Johnsonhttp://calitreview.com/2601/comment-page-1#comment-101529 Max Johnson Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:56:27 +0000 http://calitreview.com/?p=2601#comment-101529 What an excellent review! Perhaps made more excellent in my eyes because I agree with almost all of it, including your reference to Cornwell's other books. Apropos of nothing, my main historical interest is the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, but I most enjoyed his 'Starbuck' series which addresses the American Civil War. (I wonder if that's because I know even less about it?). Anyway - great review. Where we diverge in on the subject of the 'V' sign. Being British, I can absolutely assure you that this rude gesture was used during the '50s and '60s, and had nothing to do with what you see as an outpouring of Nationalism in the 1970s which was actually an understandable reaction to a sudden flood of immigration into a small island and which, at that time, really only affected the cities that were immediately affected. I believe that the gesture was certainly used prior to that time (the 1950s) but admittedly not much, otherwise Churchill's use of the trademark 'V' sign would have been heavily satirised and yet it wasn't. As to it's real origin, Why not Agincourt? Or, more likely Crecy or Poitiers, which were more important battles? English (and Welsh) peasants cut swathes through the 'chivalry' of Europe with their clothyard arrows. I wonder what the peasants thought about that? Will anybody ever read this? My best wishes to you, wherever you are! What an excellent review! Perhaps made more excellent in my eyes because I agree with almost all of it, including your reference to Cornwell’s other books. Apropos of nothing, my main historical interest is the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, but I most enjoyed his ‘Starbuck’ series which addresses the American Civil War. (I wonder if that’s because I know even less about it?). Anyway – great review.

Where we diverge in on the subject of the ‘V’ sign. Being British, I can absolutely assure you that this rude gesture was used during the ’50s and ’60s, and had nothing to do with what you see as an outpouring of Nationalism in the 1970s which was actually an understandable reaction to a sudden flood of immigration into a small island and which, at that time, really only affected the cities that were immediately affected. I believe that the gesture was certainly used prior to that time (the 1950s) but admittedly not much, otherwise Churchill’s use of the trademark ‘V’ sign would have been heavily satirised and yet it wasn’t. As to it’s real origin, Why not Agincourt? Or, more likely Crecy or Poitiers, which were more important battles? English (and Welsh) peasants cut swathes through the ‘chivalry’ of Europe with their clothyard arrows. I wonder what the peasants thought about that?
Will anybody ever read this? My best wishes to you, wherever you are!

]]> By: John R. Guthriehttp://calitreview.com/2601/comment-page-1#comment-43143 John R. Guthrie Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:47:18 +0000 http://calitreview.com/?p=2601#comment-43143 Hi Jem Bloomfeld--I appreciated reading your "Agincourt" review. Phrases such as the following piqued my interest; "his common soldiers would find convivial company in much modern writing about World War I or Vietnam." Ditto the allusion to the complexities of the long bow, and other "military technology" of that time. Though you expressed a few reservations, I'll look around for a copy later today. Hi Jem Bloomfeld–I appreciated reading your “Agincourt” review. Phrases such as the following piqued my interest; “his common soldiers would find convivial company in much modern writing about World War I or Vietnam.” Ditto the allusion to the complexities of the long bow, and other “military technology” of that time. Though you expressed a few reservations, I’ll look around for a copy later today.

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