Enguerrand de Monstrelet (1400–1453)

I bought this in two separate volumes. The first volume I bought more recently from Forgotten Books reprints. The second volume I bought much earlier from Kissinger reprints. These chronicles continue the chronicles of Froissart from approximately 1400 to 1488 (the last part is not by Monstrelet). The main focus, as the subtitle says, is on the struggle in France between the Houses of Orleans and Burgundy, highlighted by the murders of Louis duke of Orleans on the order Duke John "the Fearless" of Burgundy and in turn of Duke John by adherents of the French royal claimant Charles VII who eventually won the Hundred Years War, though only after a long period in which the English had the support of Burgundy. This first volume includes the murder of Duke Louis, the French defeat at Agincourt, the murder of Duke John, the Treaty of Troyes by which the English King Henry V was recognized as heir to France (Instead of Charles) with Burgundian support, the career of Joan of Arc (whom Monstrelet regards dispassionately, noting that she benefited from aid from Charles' more professional military leaders), and ends just at calling of the Congress of Arras, which would end with Burgundy switching back to the French side.… (meer)

Volume one of the 1840 translation of the Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet. The translator was the same Thomas Johnes who did Froissart at about the same time. EM took up where Froissart stopped in 1399, with the fall of Richard II, and carries the story up to 1467, when a further writer runs it up to 1516. This edition I'm using, doesn't appear to be a reprint, but part of the original printing in 1840! I am handling a book 175 years old, whose well sewn binding and 3/16"cardboard covers are still original! It's got 1" margins and old etchings. But EM is not the writer that Froissart was, and the prose is relatively lifeless. On the other hand, EM does copy out peace treaties verbatim, and has the indictment of Joan d'Arc written out in full as well.

Volume one cuts off in 1435, and Volume two will be shorter than Volume one, by page count. Also, Johnes was a victim of fifteenth century spelling, and several of the characters have appeared with different names but similar homophones. It is distracting on occasion, especially when the people change sides, and spelling, at the same time.… (meer)