Wolves of Winter - (Essex Dogs Trilogy) by Dan Jones

Book Synopsis

"Superb historical fiction, as fresh, vivid and vital as this morning's headlines ... proves once again that nothing really changes, be it a soldier's life - or great storytelling."--Lee Child

AN ENDLESS WAR.
A BLOOD-SOAKED BATTLEFIELD.
A BAND OF BROTHERS.

The epic sequel to Essex Dogs, continuing the New York Times bestselling historian's trilogy of novels following the fortunes of ten ordinary soldiers during the Hundred Years War.

1347. Bruised and bloodied by an epic battle at Crécy, six soldiers known as the Essex Dogs pick through the wreckage of the fighting--and their own lives.

Now a new siege is beginning, and the Dogs are sent to attack the soaring walls of Calais. King Edward has vowed no Englishman will leave France 'til this city falls. To get home, they must survive a merciless winter in a lawless camp deadlier than any battlefield.

Obsessed with tracking down the vanished Captain, Loveday struggles to control his own men. Romford is haunted by the reappearance of a horrific figure from his past. And Scotsman is spiraling into a pit of drink, violence, and self-pity.

The Dogs are being torn apart--but this war is far from over. It won't be long before they lose more of their own.

From a vast siege camp built outside Calais' walls, to the pirate ships patrolling the harbor, and into the dark corners of oligarchs' houses, where the deals that shape--and end--lives are made, this captivating and darkly comic story brings the fourteenth century vividly to life.

Review Quotes

Praise for Wolves of Winter

"Recalls Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels with its masterly control, period details, and understated humor...Jones' entertaining second installment in a trilogy more than whets the appetite for the conclusion."--Kirkus *starred review*

"Rousing and atmospheric...Jones skillfully weaves together these and other strands as he juxtaposes scenes of incredible action with moments of black comedy and pathos. Readers will be panting for the Dogs' next adventure."--Publishers Weekly

"Brilliant, brutal and bloody . . . It's a grim and grisly tale vividly told, as Jones deftly unravels the cynical reasons for the continuation of the endless conflict, and the miseries it brings to the ordinary medieval soldier."--Daily Mail (UK)

"Dan Jones brings us his Essex Dogs in a new campaign--the siege of Calais in 1347-- where their grim courage and innate violence are thrown against the high walls and deep moats of Calais. A convincing picture of hard men in a hard time, Dan Jones's fiction rings with the authority of his scholarly history."--Philippa Gregory, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Other Boleyn Girl

"Falstaff meets Saving Private Ryan in this rollicking story of men at war in Europe in the turbulent 1300s. The rich mix of accurate history, fascinating characters, and fine storytelling will captivate readers. Wonderful historical fiction at the level of Bernard Cornwell or Patrick O'Brian!"--Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO and bestselling author of 2054: A Novel

"Absolutely fabulous. A raucous, swaggering charge through the medieval underworld. I had such a good time reading it that I never wanted it to stop."--Antonia Fraser, New York Times bestselling author of The Wives of Henry VIII and Marie Antoinette

"An enthralling, captivating, and thrilling chronicle of fourteenth century warfare. Truly wonderful and truly fascinating!"--General David Petraeus, former commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and US/NATO Forces in Afghanistan; former Director of the CIA

"Finding hints of light amid the darkness of war, Wolves of Winter captures the humanity at the heart of our history."--Michael Livingston, PhD, Distinguished Professor, The Citadel, and Secretary-General of the United States Commission for Military History

"Another brilliant book by Dan Jones."--Charles Spencer, author of The White Ship and Killers of the King

"Nobody but Dan Jones could write this story. I could not put it down. It captures the grime, blood, sweat, and friendship of medieval war brilliantly."--Gareth Russell, author of The Palace and Young and Damned and Fair

"A simply stunning read."--Duff McKagan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of It's So Easy and founding member of Guns N' Roses

About the Author

Dan Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of many non-fiction books, including Powers and Thrones, The Templars, and The Plantagenets. His debut novel, Essex Dogs, is the first in a series following the fortunes of ordinary soldiers in the Hundred Years' War. Jones is the host of the podcast This is History: A Dynasty to Die For and has produced, written, and presented dozens of TV shows, including the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles.