FATAL RIVALRY

In this account of a pivotal battle in Scottish history, Goodwin (Fatal Colours: Towton 1461—England’s Most Brutal Battle, 2012, etc.) demonstrates that he understands that history is much more interesting in small bites.

This is the tale of two monarchs, brothers-in-law, one strong, one strong-headed, who were fated to clash. Henry VIII of England had entirely different views of war from those of his father. The elder looked to the joust and tournaments as a substitute for war, while Henry VIII, banned from jousting when he became Prince of Wales upon his brother’s death, craved the acclaim of battlefield success. James IV was king of Scots, father to all; the Scots looked to him for direction and impartial decisions while they unquestionably supported his call to arms. Goodwin provides a short background history while deftly describing James and Henry—with considerably less material available on James. The author is not especially friendly to Henry, portraying him more as a spoiled child than a princely leader. The real story is of the clash at Flodden a mere four years after Henry’s accession. Henry was actually off in France trying to emulate Henry V, and it was the Lord Howard, Earl of Surrey, who fought with his one-time friend James at Flodden in 1513. The author’s descriptions of the battle are excellent, without too many obscure details that usually just confuse the narrative. The importance of this battle cannot be overstated: It was the last medieval battle fought with pikes and the first modern one fought with artillery; it was also the beginning of the end of Scottish independence.

A swift, enjoyable treatment of one of the most significant battles of the period.