I don't like reviewing a book before it has even been published but the latest copy of Medieval Warfare magazine has a large back page advert for a new book.
Medieval Military Combat by Tom Lewis is being published by Casemate with a projected date of May 2021.
The website says:
"• A concise and entertaining explanation of how exactly close combat in battles during the Wars of the Roses was carried out
• Clear analysis for the different types of soldier: bowmen, swordsmen, spearmen, and plated men-at-arms
• Shows how other accounts, and popular culture such as films, have mis-represented medieval warfare
We don't know how medieval soldiers fought. Did they just walk forward in their armour, to smash each other with their maces and poleaxes, for hours on end, as depicted on film in programs such as Game of Thrones?
They could not have done so. It is impossible to fight in such a manner for more than several minutes as exhaustion becomes a preventative factor.
Indeed, we know more of how the Roman and Greek armies fought than we do of the 1300 to 1550 period.
So how did medieval soldiers in the War of the Roses, and in the infantry sections of battles such as Agincourt and Towton, carry out their grim work?
Medieval Military Combat shows, for the first time, the techniques of such battles. It also breaks new ground in establishing medieval battle numbers as highly exaggerated, and that we need to look again at the accounts of actions such as the famous Battle of Towton, which this work uses as a basic for its overall study."
Here: link
If the above is true it is the answer to a maiden's prayer but I would like to know its sources. I suspect it is based on re-enactor experience which might be useful.
List price is allegedly £25.00 GBP but it is being offered as a pre-order price of £20.00 GBP
I am interested, it would make a nice birthday present for me!
Barry
ponders nirvana.