Longbow: A Social and Military History Book

Robert Hardy is famous throughout the world as an actor. Not so widely known is his deep interest in archery and its history. An acknowledged expert on the longbow, he was for eleven years a Trustee of the Royal Armouries at HM Tower of London, and is a consultant and trustee of the Mary Rose Trust.

His meticulously researched book begins by describing the earliest known examples of the longbow, revealing that it was in use worldwide at least 8,000 years ago. With drama, vigour and enthusiasm he chronicles the arrival of the longbow in Britain, its curious temporary disappearance, its return and gradual adoption as the most important weapon in the English military arsenal, and its coming of age at the battles of Crécy, Poitiers and Agincourt.

Longbow describes the archers themselves, where they came from, their equipment, training, uniform, way of life and terms of service; the fact and fiction of the Robin Hood legend; the reasons why the French never took to the weapon; the devastating effects of longbow against longbow in the Wars of the Roses; the eventual decline of the bow and Henry VIII's campaign to maintain it.

Longbow, beautifully illustrated in both colour and black and white, is a compelling story and a major contribution to the history of archery.