BOOK REVIEWS

Longbow: A Social and Military History
Author: Robert Hardy
Publisher: Bois d’ Arc Press, third edition
Paperback: 224 pages
Reviewed by J. D. Duff

There are few matters within the sphere of classical archery that elicit the passionate debates, the stubborn dogmas, and the nostalgia that are generated by the English longbow. Developed under the necessities of war and refined by a pragmatic and aesthetic sensibility, the English design’s simplicity, coupled with traditions of near mythical performance have made it the object of praise and scrutiny that it has been for hundreds of years. For those of us who love this classic weapon, for those entranced by the history of archery, and for those who just want in on the fun of the debate, the essential text remains Robert Hardy’s 1976 classic, Longbow.

Longbow is a scholarly and reverent chronology, tracing the English longbow from its ancestry in ancient Europe, through its rise and fall as a military weapon, and finally to its continued use as a hunting and target weapon today.

The book begins with a chapter exploring prehistoric longbows such as the Holmegaard and Meare Heath, and the Nydam bows of Scandinavia—long Yew bows employing sapwood backs and heartwood bellies, which bear a strong resemblance to the medieval longbows that would follow a thousand years later.

The book then chronicles the ‘coming of age’ of the longbow as it is brought into Brittan and developed for its use in war. Equally important to the development of the longbow itself, Hardy shows, were the tactical applications of massed archers learned in the fights at Duplin and Halidon, and employed so successfully in the great battles of Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt.
While the next chapters give detailed histories of the oft-mentioned battles in which the longbow played a decisive role, there is something deeply compelling about Hardy’s approach. An impressive collection of quotes contemporary to these battles reveal how hard the archers worked to achieve their strength and skill, and how individual proponents of longbow warfare influenced its history. The reader will undoubtedly feel a kinship with those of the past who fought against the odds to keep the use of the longbow alive.

The following chapters trace the slow and torturous decline of the longbow from a powerful weapon of war to the genteel sporting tackle of the Victorian era and the hunting and sporting weapon of the present day. An entire chapter is dedicated to the contributions the United States has made to the development of the longbow. A chapter on building and hunting the English longbow follows.

This third and current edition of Longbow has the advantage over previous editions of an added chapter on the archery equipment of the Mary Rose. The chapter focuses on the process of determining plausible draw weights and range for medieval warbows. Included in this chapter are pictures of actual Mary Rose warbows and the all-too-rare illustrations of cross-sections that bowyers need to craft accurate replicas.

Throughout the book, over 150 illustrations, paintings and photographs (25 of which appear in full color) reveal much of what we can learn from the iconography of archery in medieval England and the vibrancy of the sport today. From the famous portrait of master bowman King Henry VIII pulling a heavy war bow to full draw, to an actual Mary Rose bow being drawn on a tillering tree to reveal its perfect crescent, the images are a meaningful connection to the past.

Stylistically, Longbow reads with a lyrical quality one might expect from a Shakespearian actor like Hardy, but the author also deserves credit for his scholarship and evenhanded treatment of various archery cultures. His fascination for history and love for the bow and arrow are truly contagious. With its natural prose, gripping narratives, and collection of fine images, Robert Hardy’s Longbow is an essential part of every primitive archer’s library.

YOUTH BOOKS

Soun Tetoken
– Nez Perce Boy Tames a Stallion
Author: Kenneth Thomasma
Reviewed by Susannah Price

I found this book to be very exciting and full of adventure. It is the story of Soun, who is a Nez Perce boy who was orphaned and then adopted by Chief Joseph’s son. When he was one year old a wild fire killed his parents. He survived the fire because his mother protected him from the heat with her own body. After that, he never uttered a sound , therefore he was named Soun Tetoken , "silent one". As the story continues,Soun befriends many animals such as Sunburst, his stallion, and Dusty ,a coyote pup, both trained to obey Soun’s hand motions and touch. Trouble starts when settlers start moving onto the Nez Perce land, and before you know it, they’re on the run. The U.S.A. government tries to move all of the Nez Perce tribes onto one reservation. At first the Indians move onto the reservation, but then decide to escape to Montana or Canada. I strongly encourage you to read this book to not only learn all about Soun’s life [ages 6-13] but also about the Nez Perce war.

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