For one thing, only two or three of the "Dogs" really stick out or are characterized with any humanity or depth. The similarities between the story and 2016's Suicide Squad are weirdly abundant. When I was describing this novel to a friend I jokingly called it "Ye Olde Suicide Squad" and the further I got into the story the more apt and prescient that description became. While the historical setting, action, and characterization of one or two of the "Dogs" can be compelling, exciting, and engrossing, on the whole "Essex Dogs" is unfortunately a bit of a missed opportunity. Yet I found "Essex Dogs" to be something of a mixed bag. His passion for history and gift for elucidating and illuminating the past cannot be denied, neither can his willingness to do the homework and legwork that archaeology often requires. I've been a fan of Dan Jones for quite some time. If you are interested in British history, this is definitely one to check out. Nevertheless, this was a very-very-good book. Especially after the fights at Caen and Blanchetaque, which were described beautifully (if that is even a word that can be used to describe a battle).
But it could have-no, should have-been so much more. Medieval combat would have been highly confusing and disorienting and this is portrayed well enough at Crécy with Romford. This should have been the book’s best moment but instead it feels rushed and incomplete. We see nothing of Loveday or the other characters in this most pivotal sequence. Moreover, we only see the battle through Romford in a scene reminiscent of the Battle of Agincourt from the film The King. This was a significant battle and deserved more than just a part of a chapter. I mean the Battle of Crécy is over in the blink of an eye. If this is so then they have done Jones a real disservice. Either Jones got bored/ ran out of steam or, as I suspect, an over zealous editor butchered the original manuscript. Lastly, as much as I enjoyed this book, the final act left me feeling a bit cheated. But I’m not nearly the expert on medieval history that Dan Jones is, so it’s very possible he simply knows something that I don’t. Think King Joffrey and less England’s warrior prince. Another oddity is Jones’s portrayal of the prince himself. While I accept it's a way of bringing the story together, I would also question whether or not simple yeoman archers and footsoldiers would have come into close proximity with the knights of the realm, let alone formed any sort of bond with them.
Unfortunately, cocaine in the middle ages only came in the form of theriac treacle-exceedingly expensive and pretty disgusting stuff!-with the powdered form not being introduced to Europe for another hundred years. That said, there are numerous mentions of "white powder" which is unquestionably cocaine. Particularly impressive was the fact that this was Jones’s first attempt at writing historical fiction.
Dan Jones could write a book about paint drying and I would read it.
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