BOOK REVIEWS: Henry V: Dan Jones

Published 7:41 am Friday, March 14, 2025

Henry V: Dan Jones

What most people know of medieval English King Henry V, if most people know anything at all about him, is what Shakespeare wrote of him.

Rambunctious and partying young Prince Hal of “Henry IV Part I” and “Henry IV Part 2,” before becoming the serious warrior king of “Henry V.”

And if what most people know is the Shakespearean Henry V then most people know the fiction of Henry V.

In other words, most people don’t know Henry V.

As Dan Jones explains in his new, bold biography, “Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King,” Henry V was never the carefree Hal of the Shakespeare plays. Instead, even in his youth, Henry was a serious leader thrust into military matters at a young age when his father unexpectedly became the king of England.

Henry IV was a usurper, a man who took the throne from Richard II, after he felt wronged by the king. Upon his father’s power-play ascension to the throne, young Henry became heir to the crown.

Though the eldest of four brothers and two sisters, Henry did not have time to play and carouse with a real-life Falstaff. He was too busy defending his father’s uncertain hold on the throne.

As the Prince of Wales, the teenaged Henry was sent there to crush a Welsh rebellion. He did so brutally and mercilessly. At an age when most teens are getting their driver’s licenses, Prince Henry was leading men in bloody war. In one battle, young Henry received a devastating wound when an arrow struck him in the face and the arrowhead lodged deep within his head. Jones opens “Henry V” with the treatment of this wound.

Jones chronicles Henry V’s childhood, youth and kingship in an interesting way. He writes in the present tense. Roughly translated: While Henry V rode off to the Battle of Agincourt in the early 1400s, Jones writes with immediacy; it may still be 600 years ago but Henry V rides to Agincourt, he fights in France. While Henry V lived and died chasing his dream of ruling two separate kingdoms in Britain and France, Jones writes that Henry V lives and dies chasing his dreams.

Henry V pursues them with gusto, intelligence, strategy and a broad streak of ruthlessness. He has a sense of the theatric. He lives a life balanced by reading, fighting, music. He is loyal but to a measured extent. He expects absolute loyalty to him; Henry V is not above killing old friends and colleagues who cross him or whom he believes have betrayed him.

Jones knows this territory well. He is also the author of “The Plantagenets,” which chronicles the history of Henry II in 1154 to the usurpation of Richard II in 1399, and “The War of the Roses,” which picks up the English tale in 1420 and continues through 1525.

As Jones notes of his earlier book, “Between those two I left a Henry V-shaped gap.”

Given the scant record left behind 600-plus years later, Jones fills that gap well.

Readers should come away with a better understanding of why Henry V is considered the greatest of England’s medieval kings, whether or not they agree with his methods.

Darth Vader: Phantoms

Marvel Comics concludes its latest “Darth Vader” series with a bang.

For a decade, Marvel has published a handful of comic book series featuring Vader. These series usually focus on a period before, after or in between the original “Star Wars” movie storylines.

The latest series, penned by Greg Pak joined with several artists during the course of 50 issues, takes place between “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”

Here, Vader is angered by Luke Skywalker’s refusal to join him in the dark side of the Force, even after sharing that famed line: “I am your father.” The Emperor is also aware of Vader’s attempt to partner with his son to overthrow him. These events set into motion the storyline explored by Pak and his fellow creative team.

It was a wild ride as Vader delves into the concepts of power and order; is challenged by memories of his days as Anakin Skywalker when he meets the handmaiden of his great love, Padme Amidala; continues in a back and forth struggle with the Emperor who wishes to crush, rebuild and reclaim the spirit of his rebellious Sith lord.

“Phantoms” collects the last few issues of the 50-issue run in a trade paperback edition. Luke Skywalker appears in these final issues. Pak brings the series to an excellent conclusion, ready to segue into the events of “Return of the Jedi.”