It's unfortunate that "The White Company" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is overlooked by so many readers. It was my fortune to read this gem on my Kindle. The Kindle gave me easy access to the archaic language that Doyle used to set the time of the novel. Why be "cozened or bejaped"? This book is a great way to build your vocabulary in a humorous and enjoyable manner.
Doyle also gives a good incite of the Hundred Years War. I knew nothing of this period in European history until being introduced to the history, geography, and real people both southern England, Brittany, and a bit of Spain. To march on with the novel's main characters Alleyne Edrickson, the squire hero; Sir Nigel Loring, the knight errant; Samkin Aylward, the master archer; and Hordle John, the rough and ready dreadnought, is a natural part of the reader.
The fun of it all was reading this novel, using my Kindle's internet access to Wikipedia, other historical bits of information concerning the activities as they arose. Google Earth also played an important part in searching out the areas mentioned. How else would I have found out where the Abbey of Beaulieu, Pitt's Deep, Villefranche, or Pampeluna were?
Unfortunately today, few readers know Sir Arthur Conan Doyle beyond the realm of the myopic media. We are all endeared, in one way or another, the exciting exploits of Sherlock Holmes. I think the rise of the movie industry played an important role of limiting the author's stories. We have much more accessibility today. The Kindle is a great example of one of those resources at hand. I encourage all to exceed the bounds of traditional media. By doing so, they will reap the benefits of the past, and direct others to do so.
Hopefully, my review here will encourage others to search out great books like "The White Company". I'm presently reading the prequel "Sir Nigel". Looks like another enjoyable lesson.
Ah! If H.G. Wells only had a Kindle when he wrote "The Time Machine"...or did he?
