This book tells the story of the destruction of France by the madness of its king and the greed and violence of his family. . Paperback. Shipping: Rebellion in Ireland and trouble in the Scottish borders distracted from the push to re-conquer Aquitaine and Brittany. : Paperback. Web9780812216554 The Hundred Years War, Volume 1: Trial by Battle (Book #1 in the The Hundred Years War Series) by Jonathan Sumption See Customer Reviews Select Format Hardcover -- Paperback $38.68 Select Condition Like New Unavailable Very Good Unavailable Good Unavailable Acceptable Unavailable New $38.68 See All 5 Editions Condition: New. Download or read book The Hundred Years War, Volume 1 written by Jonathan Sumption and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. Paperback. ISBN13: 691 pages. For Henry and the English, this unlooked-for success turned out to be a poisoned chalice. In the second volume of his celebrated history of the Hundred Years War, Jonathan Sumption examines the middle years of the fourteenth century and the succession of crises that threatened French affairs of state, including defeat at Poitiers and the capture of the king. . This second volume on the Hundred Years War traces Edward III's increasing domination of France, from the fall of Calais in 1347 up to 1369. Try again. Seller Inventory # 9780571207374, Book Description Paperback. Despite its many peculiar and violent turns, Sumption tells us the story straight. Following on from Divided Houses (winner of the Wolfson History Prize and shortlisted for the Hessel-Tiltman), Cursed Kings is the magisterial new chapter in 'one of the great historical works of our time' (Allan Massie). . This book tells the story of the destruction of France by the madness of its king and the greed and violence of his family. The kings brother, Louis of Orlans, built up vast estates and acquired royal revenues which formed nine-tenths of his income; his greatest rival, their uncle Philip of Burgundy, used his ascendancy to siphon off more than a tenth of the crowns annual revenues into his own private purse. When the Parisians dared to complain, the Duke of Berry told them it was none of their business: We fight each other when we please and we make peace when we see fit. It was no wonder that many otherwise loyal Frenchmen reluctantly accepted Henry V in the hope that his strong leadership would restore the stable peace denied them by their own rulers. Only 1 a week after your trial. "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. We keenly await Sumption's fifth and concluding volume. The Hundred Years War, Volume 3. WebEntdecke The Hundred Years War, Volume 2: Trial by Fire (Middle by Sumption, Jonathan in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Cancel any time. Cursed Paperback. It had never happened before in the country's history - and it would not happen again until 1940. Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computerno Kindle device required. WebLas mejores ofertas para Trial by Battle: The Hundred Years War, Vol. but his political acumen is such that one very rarely questions his judgment. Language: English. , University of Pennsylvania Press (18 August 2011), Language He writes clearly and incisively, with many a pithy phrase. . WebHundred Years War Vol 2: Trial By Fire by Sumption, Jonathan at AbeBooks.co.uk - ISBN 10: 0571207375 - ISBN 13: Sumption, Jonathan. Condition: New. Condition: New. I think that Sumptuous history of the hundred years war is an excellent, well researched and readable account of the period. This book was released on 1999-09 This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. Condition: Brand New. This long-awaited third volume of Jonathan Sumption's monumental history of the war narrates the period from 1369 to 1393, a span marked by the slow decline of English fortunes and the subsequent rise of the French. . Yet time and again, because of the crowns failure of leadership, they found themselves terrorised and their property stolen or destroyed as a consequence of the war. He is the author of, Hundred Years War Vol 4: Cursed Kings (Paperback). Condition: New. He is joint head of Brick Court Chambers and was appointed to the UK Supreme Court in 2011. Condition: New. In the second volume of his celebrated history of the Hundred Years War, Jonathan Sumption examines the middle years of the fourteenth century and the succession of crises that threatened French affairs of state, including defeat at Poitiers and the capture of the king. The sheer banality of Charless remark, neatly juxtaposed with the solemnity of what was undoubtedly the most important diplomatic occasion of his reign, brings home the quandary facing the French throughout the period covered by this book (1399-1422). Heavy reading unless you have sufficient patience and interest. Delivery cost, delivery date and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. Paperback. . WebAmazon.co.uk: jonathan sumption hundred years war volume 5 1-16 of 17 results for "jonathan sumption hundred years war volume 5" RESULTS Hundred Years War Paperback. In Stock. Into the void left by this domestic catastrophe, strode one of the most remarkable rulers of the age, Henry V of England, the victor of Agincourt, who conquered much of northern France before dying at the age of thirty-six, just two months before he would have become King of France. Sumption describes in vivid but measured prose the schism and discord across Europe. For instance, after King John II had been captured at Poitiers, the French were forced into a humiliating treaty which handed over much of France to King Edward. The breadth and depth of his scholarship ranges across national boundaries, turning complex and contradictory sources into a coherent and compelling narrative in a way that, quite simply, has never been surpassed. As with the first volume, Sumption writes with engaging simplicity, making sense of the apparently pointless and bringing together a cast of thousands into a homogenous digestible whole. Get help and learn more about the design. WebJonathan Sumption is a former History Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and a practising QC. WebA former history fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, Jonathan Sumption is the author of The Hundred Years War, Volume 2: Trial by Fire, The Hundred Years War, Volume 3: Divided Houses, and The Hundred Years War, Volume 4: Cursed Kings, all available from the University of Pennsylvania Press. Oh, its you, he said eventually to Henry V. Well, since you are here, welcome!, One of the great delights of this magnificent fourth volume of Jonathan Sumptions The Hundred Years War is the authors ability to pick just the right quotation to illustrate his narrative. 2nd edition. The English could not afford to conquer and hold France and the French had found better things to spend their money on than conquering or holding England. Language: English. WebThe Hundred Years War Vol 5 book. By 1399, it was England that had most obviously hit the skids. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. , ISBN-10 US$ 2.64 . Subscribe to leave a comment. Condition: New. Such is the intimidating length and fine detail of Jonathan Sumption QCs history of the Hundred Years War. Its the sort of commercial nightmare that no mainstream publisher except for Faber would consider. DOWNLOAD EBOOK . 1 by Jonathan Sumption | 23 Aug 1999 149 Paperback -29%177125.00 Get it Tuesday, Aug 16 FREE Delivery by Amazon More buying choices 5.39 (15 used & new offers) Kindle Edition -59%101925.00 Available instantly When Charles VI of France went mad in 1392, his powerful uncles the dukes of Burgundy and Berry began fighting among themselves and destabilised their own Crown. This book tells the story of the destruction of France by the madness of its king and the greed and violence of his family. This book tells the story of the destruction of France by the madness of its king and the greed and violence of his family. The pursuit of war passed into the hands of professional soldiers and the routiers freelance companies such as that commanded by the famous Englishman Sir John Hawkwood. Main. It is now out of print, though you can buy it on Amazon and eBay. In the early fifteenth century, France had gone from being the strongest and most populous nation state of medieval Europe to suffering a complete internal collapse and a partial conquest by a foreign power. . Main. Seller Inventory # 9780571207374-GDR, Book Description Paperback. The eagerly anticipated fourth volume of Jonathan Sumption's prize-winning history of the Hundred Years War. is one of the great historical undertakings of our age, and Cursed Kings might be its best volume yet. The battles of Crcy and Poitiers gave the English a powerful toehold on the continent; they even captured the French king, Philip, occasioning a peace treaty in 1360. The action shifts seamlessly from the Scottish marches to the plains of Navarre and the papal states and captures the experience of ceaseless, vicious war at every level of society. Authors: Jonathan Sumption. 9.29x6.10x2.05 inches. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). But theres no getting away from the fact that this volume alone is a 1,006-page account of a mere 30-year interim between more exciting episodes in a distant war. This book tells the story of the destruction of France by the madness of its king and the greed and violence of his family. Condition: New. WebThe Hundred Years War was not a single war, nor did it last for 100 years. In the second volume of his celebrated history of the Hundred Years War, Jonathan Sumption examines the middle years of the fourteenth century and the succession of crises that threatened French affairs of state, including defeat at Poitiers and the capture of the king. Following on from Divided Houses (winner of the Wolfson History Prize and shortlisted for the Hessel-Tiltman), Cursed Kings is the magisterial new chapter in 'one of the great historical works of our time' (Allan Massie). At a time when all secular power and authority was vested in the monarch, what do you do when he is unfit to rule?, For 30 years, ever since his first episode in 1392, Charles had suffered from intermittent and increasingly lengthy periods of mental illness that left him, in Sumptions own arresting phrase, a mannequin of authority, at once indispensable and useless. WebEntdecke The Hundred Years War, Volume 2: Trial by Fire (Middle by Sumption, Jonathan in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Rather it was a long and wearisome period of mutual hostility and violence between England and France, which lasted from the 1330s until the 1450s. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Charless mental absences created a void at the heart of government, which his greedy relatives fought each other to fill.. That, however, is for another volume. They already held the South of France, through Eleanor of Aquitaine's dowry, and were allied with the Flemish in the north. I wish I had found it when first published. Paperback. WebJonathan Sumption Trial By Battle: the Hundred Years War V Hardcover 3 May 1991 by Jonathan Sumption (Author) 5.0 out of 5 stars 1 rating See all formats and editions Paperback from $153.42 1 New from $153.42 The first of a two-volume history of the Hundred Years War which began in the 1330s and lasted until the middle of the 15th This book takes up the story in 1369 and ends in 1399. "The Telegraph, "This is Game of Thrones history, with plenty of crazed kings, martial heroes, dastardly betrayals, silky clerical types and prisoners rotting in foul dungeons. Condition: new. In the late 1370s England was destabilised by the deaths of Edward III and his most competent son, Edward the Black Prince. Then again, that may not be a bad thing. An exhausted peace had been struck, but English possessions had dwindled to small coastal strips around Calais and Bordeaux. The Hundred He has served as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Chancery Division, and a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Jersey and the Guerns Free shipping for many products! During these years France recovered from the ignominious defeats of the 1340s and 1350s, booted the English out of most of their continental territories and won the battle for superiority in war finance. Seen like this, Edward's decision to add the French coat of arms to the English looks more like an empty gesture than an expression of all-conquering might. Language: ENG. BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. . Brand new Book. BIC Classification: 1DDF; 3H; HBJD; HBLC. Read reviews from worlds largest community for readers. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 1 by Sumption, Jonathan Paperback estn en eBay Compara precios y caractersticas de productos Condition: New. The Hundred Years War, Volume 3: Divided Houses: 03, magazine as an Outstanding Academic Title. Their personal quarrel dragged the kingdom into the abyss of a civil war that, even by the standards of the day, was extraordinarily brutal, with the defeated executed as traitors by their fellow countrymen. Weight in Grams: 904. . This book was released on 2012-10-04 with total page 1024 pages. Seller Inventory # AA99780571207374, Book Description paperback. Seller Inventory # 9780571274567, Book Description Paperback. . Why is the Ministry of Defence publishing apocalyptic stories? Language: English. Gibbon, he replies, succinctly. He is the author of Pilgrimage and The Albigensian Crusade, as well as Yet France had problems of her own. In the early fifteenth century, France had gone from being the strongest and most populous nation state of medieval Europe to suffering a complete internal collapse and a partial conquest by a foreign power. It had never happened before in the country's history - and it would not happen again until 1940.Into the void left by this domestic catastrophe, strode one of the most remarkable rulers of the age, Henry V of England, the victor of Agincourt, who conquered much of northern France before dying at the age of thirty-six, just two months before he would have become King of France.Following on from Divided Houses (winner of the Wolfson History Prize and shortlisted for the Hessel-Tiltman), Cursed Kings is the magisterial new chapter in 'one of the great historical works of our time' (Allan Massie). The papacy split between Avignon and Rome in 1378. Paperback / softback. : , ISBN-13 Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hundred Years War Vol 4: Cursed Kings by Sumption, Jonathan at the best online prices at Dimension: 158 x 235 x 43. Hundred Years War Vol 2: Trial By Fire. No commitment. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Language: ENG. Beneath the surface splendor the French government sat poised at the edge of bankruptcy and the population subsisted in fear and insecurity. Publisher BIC Classification: 1DDF; 3H; HBJD; HBLC. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Henry seized the opportunity to raise his price: he now had nothing less than the crown of France in his sights and, thanks to the murder of John, that was a price the Burgundians were willing to pay.. 5 (light novel). Condition: New. As the contemporary chronicler Adam of Usk put it, in another of those apposite quotations for which Sumption has such an eye: I fear, alas, that the manpower and money of the realm will be miserably wasted on this enterprise. He was right. The English were condemned to see the conquests of the previous thirty years overrun by the armies of the king of France in less than ten. Hardcover, Book Description Condition: New. Search for all books with this author and title. Hundred Years War Vol 2: Trial By Volume I appeared in 1990. Paperback. In the early fifteenth century, France had gone from being the strongest and most populous nation state of medieval Europe to suffering a complete internal collapse and a partial conquest by a foreign power. Both the English and the French camps were made up of a series of uneasy and shifting alliances. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 691 pages. WebJonathan Sumption is a former History Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and a practising QC. Main. Please try again. Seller Inventory # 6959-GRD-9780571207374, Book Description Paperback. Seller Inventory # V9780571274567, Book Description Paperback / softback. WebDownload or read book The Hundred Years War, Volume 1 written by Jonathan Sumption and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. Paperback / softback. The new king Richard II turned out to be a weak child and a bullying, paranoid adult who fell out with his family and isolated the Crown from the political nation. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. By the end of the 14th century, the reality of relations between England and France had dawned. The European context lacking in many studies of this period is at the heart of his work. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Hundred Years War, Volume 1 Vol. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. WebJonathan Sumption is a former History Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and a practising QC. . BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. This second volume on the Hundred Years War traces Edward III's increasing domination of France, from the fall of Calais in 1347 up to 1369. Seller Inventory # __0571207375, Book Description Paperback / softback. This specific ISBN edition is currently not available. In England, it brought intense effort and suffering, He has a busy day-job, but at this rate we wont see his brilliant story completed until some time in the 2030s. In its breadth, political acumen and adherence to the art of simple storytelling, this is History with a capital H. Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, Sumption would have been in good company. 9780812247992 WebDownload or read book Divided Houses written by Jonathan Sumption and published by . WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hundred Years War Vol 1: Trial by Battle by Jonathan Sumption (Paperback, 1999) at the best online prices at eBay! Unable to add item to Wish List. An apocryphal housemaster is asked, on the occasion of his retirement, how he intends to fill his days. 5 editions Cursed Kings tells the story of the destruction of Want to Read Rate it: Book 5 Triumph He is the author of PilgrimageandThe Albigensian Crusade, as well as the first three volumes in his celebrated history of the Hundred Years War - Trial by Battle,Trial by Fireand Divided Houses. WebDownload or read book The Hundred Years War, Volume 1 written by Jonathan Sumption and published by University of Pennsylvania Press. Volume II came out in 1997. . , the third volume of his history of the Hundred years War, Jonathan Sumption marches on magisterially as the French and English (nothing 'British' about them) slog it out for the European heavyweight crown in one of the longest contests of all time.-- "Frederic Raphael. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Hundred Years War, Volume 1 Vol. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. This second volume on the Hundred Years War traces Edward III's increasing domination of France, from the fall of Calais in 1347 up to 1369. Cursed Kings tells the story of the destruction of France by the madness of its king and the greed and violence of his family. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2020. Real-life housemasters might now answer Sumption. It had never happened before in the country's history - and it would not happen again until 1940. , Paperback Coherent exposition of a complex subject which will appeal to the non expert interested reader. Condition: new. Paperback. In the great assembly at Troyes, flanked by his daughter who had been granted as a bride to the conqueror, and the councillors gathered nervously around the throne on which he had for so long been posed like a doll, Charles VI of France struggled to find something to say. The breadth and depth of his scholarship ranges across, national boundaries, turning complex and contradictory sources into a coherent and compelling narrative in a way that, quite simply, has never been surpassed. The English developed the tactic of the chevauche: a mounted campaign of terror through the French countryside, which took a greater toll on the ordinary folk, slaughtered and left destitute, than it did on the heart of enemy government. The war also brought turmoil and ruin to neighboring Scotland, Germany, Italy, and Spain. In the second volume of his celebrated history of the Hundred Years War, Jonathan Sumption examines the middle years of the fourteenth century and the succession of crises that threatened French affairs of state, including defeat at Poitiers and the capture of the king. : . (Castle Donington, DERBY, United Kingdom). Dont forget your child should come to school in costume as their favourite character tomorrow Its the email every parent dreads receiving. Final part of an exceptionally detailed trilogy. Edward III was succeeded by a vulnerable child, destined to grow into a neurotic and unstable adult presiding over a divided nation. Twenty five years later, published to coincide with the 600th anniversary of Agincourt this October, this fourth volume is an astonishing achievement. In the early fifteenth century, France had gone from being the strongest and most populous nation state of medieval Europe to suffering a complete internal collapse and a partial conquest by a foreign power. In Stock. Sumption is too shrewd an observer to tell such a one-sided history and he is at pains to point out that however impressive the English victories may have seemed, the scale of them was largely illusory and short-lived. Sumption joined Brick Court Chambers in 1975, where he remained for the entirety of his commercial legal career as a barrister. 2016. WebLas mejores ofertas para Trial by Battle: The Hundred Years War, Vol. Explore range of Books, DVDs, Toys & Collectibles while supplies last. 2nd edition. The French built up their naval strength and harrassed the English coastline and shipping. -- John Crace. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Product details ASIN Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app. . Learn more. City sieges and raiding tactics came to the fore. Num Pages: 928 pages. WebIt formed the nation's institutions, creating the germ of the absolute state of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It was in every sense a bloody mess. The world order is changing in his favour, The sinister rise of drag shows for children, Theresa May is the true villain in this latest Tory Brexit war. It tells the story of the collapse of the English dream In the early fifteenth century, France had gone from being the strongest and most populous nation state of medieval Europe to suffering a complete internal collapse and a partial conquest by a foreign power. It's almost as if the nine years that have passed since the publication of, Hundred Years War Vol 2: Trial By Fire (Paperback). Money ruled all. Forget fiction, this is the real deal and better written, too., Juliet Barkers Agincourt, revised and with a new introduction by Bernard Cornwell, is published by Little, Brown, The Hundred Years War IV: Cursed Kings by Jonathan Sumption, 928pp, Faber, 40, ebook 10.19. Additional, [{"displayPrice":"$78.36","priceAmount":78.36,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"78","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"36","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"mc%2FidXX19hbh4TGxiE3BYBCEChJF6vadBWHCJyD8zr4Mv9DPlKQjxtFIPkHZGTOnElfmO%2FaEizG%2BU%2FWWuQ8GAPvcByNAm%2BudJWFmS8vuy6Mhxd8JhLtaWN75IMbwKtwSl7XZCzCxI3xrmBUprXHn07xPUKgyNTgDolsxWZj6%2Fs4fjIeUJ6ZRSwj0H2OnqiUU","locale":"en-AU","buyingOptionType":"NEW"}]. His seizure of the important port of Harfleur and his stunning victory at Agincourt in 1415 compounded Frances problems by removing many of her major players, including those who might have been able to effect a reconciliation between the warring factions., There is perhaps no more potent example of the disastrous consequences of the subsequent hardening of attitudes than the fact that when Henry invaded Normandy for a second time in 1417, the only French army in the field (which had just conquered Rouen from the Burgundians) was sent off to defend Paris against John of Burgundy rather than being deployed to resist the English. Condition: New. Condition: Brand New. The Hundred Years War was not a single war, nor did it last for 100 years. BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Into this maelstrom strode the formidable figure of Henry V, who, unlike his French counterpart, had all his wits about him. Brand new Book. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Seller Inventory # EYGVJETPI9, Jonathan Sumption is a former History Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and a practising QC. he has produced the third volume of his definitive history of the Hundred Years War, an enthralling account of English decay and French resurgence, which should be essential reading for Eurosceptics-and saner people, too.-- "David Cannadine. The period is dominated by a succession of crises in French affairs of state; crises that brought it to the verge of ruin. Cursed Kings tells the story of the destruction of France by the madness of its king and the greed and violence of his family. Triumph and Illusion is the final volume of Jonathan Sumption's epic history of the Hundred Years War. However, France too paid a heavy price for her success. Condition: New. In the early fifteenth century, France had gone from being the strongest and most populous nation state of medieval Europe to suffering a complete internal collapse and a partial conquest by a foreign power. "The Guardian, "Sumption's huge, masterly, and utterly complete history of the Hundred Years War . Condition: New. Paperback. In the second volume of his celebrated history of the Hundred Years War, Jonathan Sumption examines the middle years of the fourteenth century and the succession of crises that threatened French affairs of state, including defeat at Poitiers and the capture of the king. The catastrophic defeat at Poitiers - at the hands of England's Black Prince - followed by the capture of the King, revolutions in Paris and the countryside, and a humiliating treaty of partition, all contributed to bring a rich and powerful nation to its knees. "About this title" may belong to another edition of this title. WebJonathan Sumption Trial by Battle by Jonathan Sumption is an enthrallingly detailed account of the background and first years of the Hundred Years War. , Dimensions Then just 1 a week for full website and app access. It formed the nation's institutions, creating the germ of the absolute state of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Sumption produced the first part of his planned five-volume history of the Hundred Years War in 1990. He writes clearly and incisively, with many a pithy phrase. WebThe Hundred Years War Vol 5: Triumph and Illusion (Hardback) Jonathan Sumption (author) Sign in to write a review 40.00 Hardback 1006 Pages Published: 31/08/2023 Hundred Years War Vol 2: Trial By Fire: Trial by Fire v. 2, Hundred Years War Vol 2: Trial by Fire v. 2. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. It had never happened before in the country's history - and it would not happen again until 1940.Into the void left by this domestic catastrophe, strode one of the most remarkable rulers of the age, Henry V of England, the victor of Agincourt, who conquered much of northern France before dying at the age of thirty-six, just two months before he would have become King of France.Following on from Divided Houses (winner of the Wolfson History Prize and shortlisted for the Hessel-Tiltman), Cursed Kings is the magisterial new chapter in 'one of the great historical works of our time' (Allan Massie). It is one of the most remarkable Historical Accounts Ive read: as it only covers the years 1400-22 but, with a narrative of 717 pages, it must be the most detailed. It is difficult to see that anyone could do this type of history better than Sumption. Shipping: Language: ENG. : Language: ENG. After the brilliant naval battle of Sluys, the English had control of both the English Channel and the North Sea. He has written numerous books on history and is a governor of the Royal Academy of Music. Something went wrong. In Divided Houses, the third volume of his history of the Hundred years War, Jonathan Sumption marches on magisterially as the French and English (nothing 'British' about them) slog it out for the European heavyweight crown in one of the longest contests of all time.-- "Frederic Raphael, TLS " Jonathan Sumption is not only one of