The story of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, under the leadership of Henry V, has been told before, most notably by Shakespeare, who gives King Henry perhaps the most rousing speech in English literature.

Bernard Cornwell incorporates that speech in this narrative, but it's more of a footnote than anything else. The real work is done in the trenches, by the men with the longbows and the empty stomachs. Cornwell tells their story, and nobody does it better.

One of the things that makes Cornwell's writing so good is his intense attention to detail, vividly painting the picture of a long-ago time and place in a compelling manner without feeling dry or academic. We certainly get a good sense of how warfare was conducted during the 15th century, and about how different life was for the nobility as opposed to everyone else. His books are populated with stout, resolute heroes, noble enemies and the treacherous plots of evil men.

HARLEQUIN is no exception: it is the story of English longbowman Nick Hook’s experiences in the climactic battle. Nick is a simple rough-around-the-edges peasant farmer, but honest and likeable. He has been outlawed for hitting a priest, the result of a feud between his family and another local family. However, he can shoot an arrow using the challenging longbow over 200 yards and still find his mark - and good longbowmen are in demand. He joins a troop of soldiers, learns how to fight hand to hand, and is a part of the invasion of France by the troops of Henry V.

What follows is a rollicking yarn told from the perspective of the archers and foot soldiers, not the kings and nobles. It encompasses royally supported religious intolerance in England, bloodthirsty savagery and betrayal at Soissons France, the miserable siege at Harfleur and ultimately the famous battle at Agincourt. Nick’s band of immediate brothers includes Will and Tom Scarlet, William of the Dale, big Will Sclate and other country boys right out of Robin Hood. And he finds a mentor in Sir John Cornewaille, the European tournament champion and master of martial fighting whose constant exhortation is "Kill, kill, kill!"

Nick Hook is a man driven by revenge and hate, but also possessed of warmth and love for those close to him. In amongst the obvious plot of war, there is family feuding, heresy, love, honour and sickness. It's gory, but then war is. The arrogance of those with power, the fear of those without, all is captured in a truly great yarn.

All the way through this, I felt I'd read it before - but I was enjoying it so much and I couldn't picture the ending - so I kept reading. It turned out I had - but under a different title - AZINCOURT. I've since discovered that this is the first in teh Grail series - and I'll certainly be looking for the later ones. ( )