The White Company

By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by: Nick Rawlinson

Length: 15 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

The White Company is a motley group of English mercenaries, fighting under the leadership of Sir Nigel Loring. Bound by an unquestioning respect for social order, patriotism, and a lust for adventure, the company makes its way to France to fight in the local wars. Encountering pirate ships and other dramas during their crossing, they finally land at Bordeaux and become involved with the fighting at the siege of Chateau of Villefranch du Perigord and in the Spanish Pyrenees.

With assiduous attention to historical detail, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle paints a convincing picture of the chivalric life and manners of the 14th century. With a fresh, concise style, this is a robust and stirring tale of adventure with the spirit and humorous touch of a Chaucerian raconteur.

(P)2004 Isis Publishing Ltd

No wonder this was Doyle's favorite

This is a terrific adventure. The accuracy of the battle depictions and the superb research involved in all aspects of the tale make this story shine. Chivalry, courage, honor and the violence of battle are all intertwined (as they were in this period) in this tale of knightly adventure. Without being the least trite, the author conveys to us the best and worst of knightly behavior. In addition to the fictional main characters, Edward the Black Prince, Sir John Chandos and the great French beau-sabreur Bertrand du Guesclin all figure prominently. The battle scene in the beseiged castle is one of the best and most breathtaking I have read.
The reader is superb. his characterizations are perfect and stick with me weeks after finishing the book.
Conan Coyle can write!!

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

History both entertaining & real

I don't understand why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wasted so much time writing Sherlock Holms stories if he could write books like this. This book is for people who enjoy a fine story made up of history, adventure, and humor with believable characters and a little romance. It is set in the time of the Black Prince, when King Edward III was trying to add the rest of France to his kingdom. Go along with the adventures of a new squire, an untried bowman and a war wise older archer as they go off to follow their commander Sir Nigel Loring, a most unlikely champion of chivalry and honor.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Great, WOW!!!

The White Company (Unabridged)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the author; he is one of the best and brings into the minds eye the medieval period as if he had been there himself. Worth having to listen to over and over again.

Excellent reader/actor Nick Rawlinson the characters come to life.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

enjoyable

By Saint Paul, I liked this book. It has likeable characters with good development. It flowed well, from one adventure to another, never bogged down.

At first I wasn't sure about the reader, but he won me over before the first hour was up. He has the ability to have different voices for different characters, always a plus. His accents never got in the way of me understanding what he is saying.

For a book set in England/France in the sixteenth century and dealing with honor, war and love, this book is much better than listening to Ken Follets "world without end" for 70 hrs.

I gave gave this book five stars because there was nothing that I didn't like about it. It is not the most indepth or thought provoking book, just a fun and enjoyable listen.

Give it a try you won't be sorry.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A Good Tale

The White Company depicts the last gasps of Chivalry and feudalism in favor of more modern ideas (bowman winning wars and the rise of the merchant class) in a comical fashion. The characters are fun yet one becomes attached to them. I love this narrator - he has a nuanced voice for the various dialects and other vocal oddities (Sir Nigel's famous lisp).
As a confirmed Homes fan, I highly recommend this book and reading.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Cracking good story

Great stuff, Conan Doyle and his best but now in the 14th century. Entertaining and informative

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Great Story of Chivalry

What a wonderful story!

At first I was somewhat nervous in purchasing this book, but should have known better, with Doyle being one of my favorite authors.

The story flows well in the classic sense. And the characters were well developed.

The narrator did an excellent job in making all of the characters 'come alive.'

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys great classics.

Mark

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Sherlock Holmes it ain't

I expected more from A. Conan Doyle. This story is full of medieval cliches and stereotypes. The plot was disjointed and there were too many characters. We have enjoyed this particular reader in the past, but there were so many characters that his talents were stretched rather thin. The whining lisp of Sir Nigel Loring was especially irritating. I didn't like Nigel's character either. He was very Quixotic and made the story confusing; is it a satire, serious, or just meant for a juvenile audience? The plot was like a comic book, going from one heroic action/adventure to another, ad infinitum. Having said all this, my boys ages 10, 12, 14 and 16 did enjoy it, so I gave it three stars.

7 of 13 people found this review helpful

Another masterpiece by Sir Arthur Conan

I rode into battle with Alain, John and Aylwud always seeking honor for my Shield and Master Sir Nile Lauring. The way the tale was told was as if a misterious recorder had personally observed those deeds of valor.

Good Book, But a Little Bit Trite

The plot is good, and the characters are (for the most part) delightful. I love the reader's accents and the uniqueness of each voice. Sir Nigel's lisp and effeminate speech are over the top, but otherwise this is an excellent narration. The book seems a little outdated and the chivalry seems overdone and trite in some sections.
Still, I would recommend this book if you have read World Without End and A Distant Mirror about the same topics in the same century and want to explore those times further.

2 of 4 people found this review helpful