Henry V as Warlord

In Henry V as Warlord , acclaimed historian Desmond Seward sweeps away the myths and idolatry of Henry V to reveal a cruel, intolerant bigot who thirsted for victory at any cost. Seward shows the ruthlessness of the man who called himself "the scourge of God" when reproached for a massacre; exploited the dormant Hundred Years War for his own gains; and committed atrocities in battle. Henry V's blind ambition arose from his determination to prove his tenuous claim to the throne of England, which his father had usurped. Here, Seward argues that Henry V created a deep distrust between France and England that has lasted to this day.

"With precision, wit, and remarkable clarity, [Seward] chronicles the entwined lives of these 'half-savage squireens, scarcely more than peasants with coats of arms' through an all but unbelieveable saga of vanity, stupidity, and mindless greed." ( The Washington Post Book World )