The Hundred Years War: Trial by Fire v. 2

Trial by Fire documents the continuing relentless domination of France by Edward III from the fall of Calais in 1347 to his decision in 1369 to add the French coat of arms to those of England on his seals in celebration of his apparent triumph. Along the way we see the French reduced to a squabbling rabble after the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 which resulted in revolutions in Paris and the countryside. Sumption is too shrewd an observer to tell such a one-sided history and he is at pains to point out that however impressive the English victories may have seemed, the scale of them was largely illusory and short-lived.

Whatever the perception of the Hundred Years War as an epic conflict between two nation states, the reality was far more complicated. Both the English and the French camps were made up of a series of uneasy and shifting alliances. So who actually won never became clear--at least not until long after the swords had been sheathed. For instance, after King John II had been captured at Poitiers, the French were forced into a humiliating treaty which handed over much of France to King Edward. But John conveniently, or inconveniently, depending which way you look at it, died shortly after and his successor Charles V decided there were good reasons to no longer recognise the agreement. Seen like this, Edward's decision to add the French coat of arms to the English looks more like an empty gesture than an expression of all-conquering might.

As with the first volume, Sumption writes with engaging simplicity, making sense of the apparently pointless and bringing together a cast of thousands into a homogenous digestible whole. -- John Crace

I found the in-depth analysis of the revolt of the Parisian commoners (following the disastrous Battle of Poitiers and the capture of the French King by the English) of particular interest. I have read several one-volume histories of the War and I do not recall any of them making more than passing reference to this episode. Obviously, in a multi-volume history Mr Sumption has more space in which to fully explain events, yet the revolt is of great importance to understanding the social and economic disasters that befell France as a result of this period of the War. It is also illuminating in respect to the later history of Paris and that city's "tradition" of revolution. Similarly, the attention to the ravages of the notorious companies brings home forcefully the sufferings experienced by France and her people.

Although this is an excellent book, I could not in good faith recommend it to those who have only a passing interest in the subject - one of the several good one-volume histories would be sufficient to cover the major events of the War. For those who want a more in-depth understanding, however, I do not believe that Mr Sumptions's work has been bettered.

Like the earlier reviewer, I am eagerly awaiting Volume III and sincerely hope that Mr Sumption will not wait so long to produce this next volume as he did between Volumes I & II. I am sure I am not the only person who wishes that he would retire from the Bar and concentrate on history (although our motives are probably different).


Continuing the stunning work of Volume 1   December 31, 2001
Andrew Howell (Birmingham, UK)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Sumption simply takes off with Volume II in the same style that one so many admirers in the first volume.

'Trial by Fire' takes us through the lowest ebb of the French crown: John II a prisoner in London; 'companies' of mercanaries terrorising and laying waste to the country. Edward III was probably the strongest monarch in Europe at that time and yet, by the time of his death, had not pressed home his advantage in any kind of decisive manner.

Sumption takes us through the strategy and thinking of the English Crown while also showing how much of the activity done in his name was really beyond his control and, perhaps, not in his long term interest.

This is amazing stuff. Easy to read, informative and exciting.

I can't wait 'till volume III !!!!