Henry V: The Conscience of a King

More than just a single-minded warrior-king, Henry V comes to life in this fresh account as a gifted ruler acutely conscious of spiritual matters and his subjects€ welfare

Shakespeare€s centuries-old portrayal of Henry V established the king€s reputation as a warmongering monarch, a perception that has persisted ever since. But in this exciting, thoroughly researched volume a different view of Henry emerges: a multidimensional ruler of great piety, a hands-on governor who introduced a radically new conception of England€s European role in secular and ecclesiastical affairs, a composer of music, an art patron, and a dutiful king who fully appreciated his obligations toward those he ruled.
 
Historian Malcolm Vale draws on extensive primary archival evidence that includes many documents annotated or endorsed in Henry€s own hand. Focusing on a series of themes€"the interaction between king and church, the rise of the English language as a medium of government and politics, the role of ceremony in Henry€s kingship, and more€"Vale revises understandings of Henry V and his conduct of the everyday affairs of England, Normandy, and the kingdom of France.