Knight: Noble Warrior of England 1200-1600 (General Military) - Hardcover

Gravett, Christopher

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 184603342X ISBN 13: 9781846033421

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2008

Synopsis

The traditional "knight in shining armor" has become a staple figure in popular culture and the images of bloody battlefields, bustling feasting halls and courtly tournaments have been creatively interpreted many times in film and fiction.

But what was the knight truly like? The world of the English Medieval Knight was complex, and ever-changing. From the household of King John to the defenders of Elizabeth I, there was great change in the social standing of knights, their equipment and appearance, and their involvement in politics and warfare.

An expert on Medieval military history Christopher Gravett describes how the knight evolved over four centuries of English and European history, the wars they fought, their lives in peacetime and on campaign, the weapons they fought with, the armor and clothing they wore and the fascinating code and mythology of chivalry. The text is richly illustrated with images ranging from manuscript illustrations to modern artwork reconstructions, and many photographs of historic artifacts and sites.

About this title

About the Author:

Chris Gravett is a former Senior Curator at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and a recognised authority on the arms, armour and warfare of the medieval world. He has worked as an advisor for numerous TV and film productions, and has written many books for Osprey, including Warrior 1: Norman Knight 950-1204 AD. He currently works as a curator at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. The author lives in UK.

Review:

"Gravett...[takes] the reader inside the castles and battlefields of yesteryear for a closer look at the daily life of the knight, both on and off the campaign. The evolution of the knight's weaponry and armor is revealed throughout the pages of Knight in lavish illustrations, including detailed plates by Graham Turner, the historical sketches and prints, and contemporary photographs of surviving artifacts. Knight is a welcome addition to the collection of any reader interested in the history of England's noble warriors." -Barb Allhouse, Renaissance (January 2009)

"...In this beautifully illustrated tome, Gravett has combined four of his previously published books into one distinguished work that is a must-have for anyone wlth an interest in the progression and the ultimate decline of English knighthood ... Knight is a welcome addition to the collection of any reader interested in the history of England's noble warriors." -Barb Allshouse, Renaissance Magazine (Issue 64)

" Within the contents of this 288 page book, Gravett includes details about the knight's clothing, weapons, wars, and peacetime functions. Also included is a detailed explanation of their chivalry code which has made this warrior truly famous. Not to be missed by the historian or those with an interest in history just a little outside the norm."- Timothy Baghurst, Traveler (August 2008)

"Lavishly illustrated in color and black and white, this book is a must for all historical fans of the horse-charging, lavishly dressed warrior... Not to be missed by the historian or those with an interest in history just a little outside the norm." -Timothy Baghust, The Traveler (May 2008)

"Christopher Gravett's Knight: Noble Warrior of England 1200-1600 examines the figure and actions of the knight in medieval times, surveying his development, social standing, training and battles in great detail. While any library strong in college-level medieval history needs this, it's also the military history collection that will benefit from its thorough review, accompanied by original color art and modern photography of armor. Very highly recommended indeed." -California Bookwatch (May 2008)

"This is...a compendium, this time of Mr Gravett's four Warrior titles covering English knights from the rule of King John to Tudor times... [It] gives very a authoratative account of armour, weapons and fighting as well as dealing with the lifestyles of knights over the whole period. A host of contemporary illustrations and photographs of surviving items are accompanied by superb colour plates... highly recommended to anyone who has not got the individual titles." -John Prigent, Internet Modeler (April 2008)

About this edition

• Publisher: Osprey Publishing
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 184603342X
• ISBN 13: 9781846033421
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288