But rather than view this characteristic as exclusively negative, I view it instead as intensely positive: in this monumental, extraordinary, generational project, Sumption essentially summarizes the Hundred Years War as it stood at the end of the twentieth century.

Sumption’s monumental history will gain well-deserved praise not just as a gripping and eminently readable account of innumerable crimes, follies and misfortunes but as a compelling justification for the enduring value of historical narrative.

You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. He describes the text of the convention as "wholly admirable" [50] but argues that the Strasbourg court has interpreted and developed the rights very broadly to go beyond their original meaning and to the extent that the rights cover issues which are properly the remit of elected legislatures. The eagerly anticipated final volume in Jonathan Sumption's prize-winning history of the Hundred Years War, 'one of the great historical undertakings of our age' (Dan Jones, Sunday Times ). There were also valid dynastic reasons to defend hereditary territories in Normandy and in the south-western province of Gascony.

He does not overburden the reader with his own conclusions, but offers them when he has a deep insight to share. Thus the great English victory at the Battle of Agincourt receives much detailed and breathless (though hardly revelatory) attention in the book, while the great Franco-Scottish victory at the Battle of Baugé is something to be dealt with in far more summary terms.Extra postage may be required for the shipment of the four volumes depending on destination, but it would be a challenge to find a complete set of this magisterial (an overused word, but here applicable) study in this condition. Many negotiations were held, but gradually Valois control was established across French territory, last of all taking Bordeaux in 1453, though leaving difficult to attack from the land Calais in English hands for another century.