This volume picks up the thread right after the brutal Battle of Roosebeke, where the French king's forces smashed the Flemish rebels. But victory doesn't bring peace. Instead, it sets off a chain reaction. We follow the political earthquakes as they shake England, France, and the Low Countries.

The Story

The story moves between two young kings: Richard II in England and Charles VI in France. Both are surrounded by older, ambitious relatives hungry for power. In England, we see Richard grappling with the aftermath of the Peasants' Revolt, trying to assert his authority against his uncles, especially the powerful John of Gaunt. The political tension is thick. Meanwhile, in France, Charles's court is divided, with different factions pulling him in every direction. The narrative weaves through failed diplomatic marriages, like the planned union between Charles and a daughter of the Duke of Bavaria that falls apart, and constant military posturing, like the English-backed campaign in Portugal. It's a whirlwind of alliances made and broken, where personal ambition often trumps the good of the realm.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this so compelling is Froissart's style. He's not a dry historian; he's a storyteller who collected these accounts from knights, nobles, and diplomats. You feel like you're getting the gossip from inside the castle walls. The history feels immediate. You understand the frustration of a king who can't control his own council, and the calculated risks of a lord deciding whether to rebel. It removes the dusty, distant feeling of history and shows it as a living, breathing, and often brutal game of survival. You see how fragile royal power really was.

Final Verdict

This is perfect for anyone who loves character-driven historical drama like The Accursed Kings or Game of Thrones, but wants the real deal. It's for readers who find the messy politics and human flaws behind major events more fascinating than just the dates and battle outcomes. Be warned, it's dense with names and titles, but if you let yourself get swept into the narrative, it's an incredibly vivid journey into the hearts and minds of the people who shaped this turbulent era.