The Half-Hanged Man by David Pilling

 



The front cover of 'The Half Hanged Man by David Pilling' 

I have just finished reading 'The Half-Hanged Man' by David Pilling, which I started only yesterday, and didn't want to put down. Alas, work pulled me away from my Kindle, and I was itching to resume reading the rest. The book is set in the late 14th Century, and tells the life story of a man named Thomas page (aka. The Wolf of Burgundy), who became notorious throughout West Christendom in The Hundred Year Wars for starting his own company. The Companies themselves were loosely connected into small armies, whose main aims were to become rich from pillaging and plundering.

The novel is set in to three chapters, with the first two giving different perspectives on the wars from the views of Thomas Page (The Wolf), and his lover Eleanor Menezes (The Raven). Whilst the last, but shortest chapter is that of Captain-General Hugh Calveley (The Bull), who wants blood thirsty revenge against Page. The famous chronicler Jean Froissart is being retold this story, so that he can record it, and lives to see the chilling conclusion to the story.

Whilst, the Hundred Year Wars are not in my area of Historical knowledge, I thoroughly enjoyed Pillings book. His passion for the weaponry, and savagery of battle from within the period is evident throughout. His style of writing is also to be complemented, he doesn't hide from the sheer truth of how battle would have been, he is very descriptive, which is why I found it such an intriguing read. If you love chivalric wars, before the introduction of cannon, and gunpowder, then this book is a must.

The only issue I have with the book, is probably the ending, whilst I enjoyed it, I feel it could have benefited from being made more surprising, as you were able to guess the ending. That aside it is truly a great piece of writing. Well done, David Pilling!

The Half-Hanged Man is currently available to buy from Amazon (Kindle Version) for £3.09, using the following link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/276-3246080-3071812?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=half hanged man by david pilling