The Life and Campaigns of the Black Prince: from contemporary letters, diaries and chronicles, including Chandos Herald's Life of the Black Prince

At 16, Edward 'the Black Prince' played a leading part in the battle of Crecy; at 26 he captured the king of France at Poitiers; and eleven years later he restored Pedro of Castile to his throne at the battle of Najera. Such a heroic career has an air of unreality about it, heightened by the chivalric attitudes of contemporary writers. This selection aims to correct the traditional view of Edward as far as the materials allow, by using reports sent home by the prince's companions-in-arms, and by looking at the semi-official campaign diaries.Richard Barber is the author of 'The Life and Campaigns of the Black Prince: from contemporary letters, diaries and chronicles, including Chandos Herald's Life of the Black Prince', published 1997 under ISBN 9780851154350 and ISBN 0851154352.