Essex Dogs: The epic Richard & Judy Summer Book Club Pick 2023 from a Sunday Times bestselling historian (Essex Dogs Series 1)

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If you like a good historical fiction that actually has the facts right and heaps of characterisation, then this is the book for you. Horribly compelling... Only Dan Jones can carry you through blood, piss and vomit and leave you wanting more' -- Daisy Dunn

Essex Dogs by Dan Jones | Waterstones

The siege of Calais 1346-7 is the setting for my second novel - Wolves of Winter - which is the next instalment in the trilogy begun with Essex Dogs .

Few books manage to be as compelling on every level as Essex Dogs: it's adventure, history, and heart.' Dana Schwartz The soldiers' lives are rather brilliantly recreated – the kit, the fighting, the boredom and discomfort.' The Times So, Essex Dogs follows a group of Mercenaries that sign up to Edward III's conquest of France, as he saw it as his land, while the "usurper" French King obviously disagreed. The Dogs are a group of ten people, who have all been pulled together by war, the lust of gold, or just circumstance, and formed a brotherhood led by FitzTolbert, otherwise known as Loveday, and is the main point of view for the book. His is often seen as the wise, older leader, grizzled and suffered but quite likeable from the start. The other main character is Romford, a young lad whose life is moving in all directions, and it seems he has little to no control of.

Essex Dogs by Dan Jones: 9780143137634 | PenguinRandomHouse

Especially the battle scenes are so well-written you can feel the tension as if you were really there. It's like a medieval version of 'Saving Private Ryan' or 'Band of Brothers'. Underpinned by historic realities, and propelled by edge-of-your-seat pace, Essex Dogs thrusts readers to the heart of the Hundred Years’ War that shaped Europe – strap in for a wild ride. The Essex Dogs are a motley selection of disparate soldiers thrown together to fight an overseas war, for a cause that they don't really understand or care about. Their only aim is to survive the campaign, steel & trade war booty along the way, and eventually collect their promised pay. The characters are all well-rounded and have various fascinating personality flaws as well as some caring traits for their comrades in arms.

Read Essex Dogs by Dan Jones

With a cast of unforgettable characters, written with irrepressible verve and historical accuracy, Dan Jones delivers a compelling novel that thrums with swordswinging energy.' Simon Sebag Montefiore I loved this book - I am already anxious to get my hands on the next book of this series. Dan Jones is an amazing writer, so it’s no surprise that his fiction work is as good as his non fiction work, all of which I’ve read. His character portrayal is fantastic and he just writes history so damn well. Fast paced, thrilling, I literally ate this book up. There really is nothing negative to say about this book. The characters, the setting of a bloody and violent period in time, the atmosphere, the pacing - I cannot fault it. If you are familiar with Dans non fiction work, you will appreciate this book. I’d highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys history, historical fiction and well written books. I’m already Jonesing for book two (see what I did there?). The soldiers' lives are rather brilliantly recreated - the kit, the fighting, the boredom and discomfort.' The Times