The White Company

The Hundred Years' War, which raged in Europe from 1337 to 1453, attracted the attention of many poets, writers, and playwrights. In Victorian England, the first to address this theme was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the literary father of Sherlock Holmes, who considered his novel The White Company to be his best work. At the center of the narrative is the Iberian campaign of Edward the Black Prince. The 14th century marks the twilight of the knightly era, as the advent of gunpowder makes armor unnecessary and obsolete; nonetheless, the laws of chivalry still hold sway. The novel features detailed descriptions of heraldry and tournaments, accounts of naval and land battles, and a tale of passionate and faithful love—all of which not only earned it a warm reception and popularity among readers but also enthusiastic praise from historians. We present to readers the complete unadapted text of the novel, accompanied by commentary and a glossary.