Fortune made his sword
Henry V, "the first real English king," had a short but remarkable life. At 14 he was "already a dangerous seducer and fighter." At 28 he had won his great victory at Agincourt. At 35 he was dead, worn out by his own ambition. Here in a grand historical novel, is the story of his life, "a splendid full-scale portrait of a mighty man." - "A book one hates to put down...the people live." -Granville Hicks, *New York Times Book Review* - "Martha Rofheart has used her historical knowledge and her creative imagination to give us a splendid full-scale portrait of a mighty man." -Gilbert Highet, *The Book of the Month Club News*, Feb. 1971 - "One of the year's best historical novels." -*Boston Herald Traveler* - "Marvelous feeling and flavor...remarkable...a marvelous story." -*Providence Journal* - "Dazzling...a sort of literary son et lumiere". -Mollie Panter-Downes **Fortune Made His Sword** is spellbinding reading, and the picture Martha Rofheart paints of the hero-king, Henry V, is totally hypnotic in it's appeal. The book brings Henry magically to life in a multifaceted novel filled with turmoil, violence and romance, and it marks the debut of a major new talent in the arena of historical fiction. This is an entertaining and skillful recreation of the life and times of a man whose charm and military genius -- and concern for his subjects -- made him one of the most popular kings in English history. The story brings to life not only the man, but one of the most fantastic periods in the fifteenth century. Among the last of the great medieval rulers and the first of the ardent nation builders, Henry V is seen from several perspectives: his queen; his beautiful Welsh mistress, Morgan; his court jester, the fool; a comrade-in-arms; and his own point of view as both boy and man. As actors in this immense drama, they illuminate the many sides of Henry V's personality -- the devil-may-care prince portrayed by Shakespeare, the bold hero of Agincourt, the husband of Katherine of Valois, and the warrior-peacemaker who welded England, Wales and France into a single kingdom. **FORTUNE MADE HIS SWORD** will prove a compelling reading experience for everyone who enjoys a good story told with felicity and a fine regard for historical accuracy.
Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Fiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What the reading experience may hold
A fuller profile for choosing with more confidence—not just another copy of the preview.
Fiction
Use these as starting points rather than limits; the most memorable books often stretch beyond their catalog labels.
Catalog signals suggest warfare and conflict, violence, death, or criminal harm. These notes may not be complete; consult a publisher or reader-supplied guide when detailed warnings matter.
These notes are inferred from available catalog information and may not be complete. Check a publisher or reader-supplied guide if you need comprehensive warnings.
Dark tone · Measured pace
Best when you want to settle into a longer reading experience.
A good fit if…
Readers who want a thoughtful experience and enjoy noticing the connections beneath a book’s surface story.
This book's DNA
A visual estimate based on this edition's categories, description, and length. Select a star to explore the signals.
This signal is descriptive, not a rating. It helps compare the kind of reading experience this edition may offer.
Spoiler-Free Emotional Arc
A broad estimate of the book’s emotional rhythm, shown without story events or outcomes.
This visualization is an interpretive estimate based on catalog description, categories, tone, pace, and content signals. It does not describe specific scenes.
A quick reading snapshot
Edition facts and catalog signals to help you decide whether this book fits what you want to read next.
- ISBN-13
- 978-0-3991-0316-2
- Language
- English
- Edition record
- OL4770957M
A more thoughtful way into this book
This guide uses the edition details and category signals above to help you choose deliberately. It does not replace the author's work or a full review.
Best when you want to settle into a longer reading experience.
Begin with its place in Fiction, then notice where the book resists that label.
Read for connection, not completion.
Mark one passage that sharpens the book's central concern and one that complicates it. That tension often reveals more than a quick summary.
Three questions to carry with you
- What does the central character want, and what do they misunderstand about that desire?
- Which detail or relationship changes how you interpret the story?
- What feeling or question does the book leave with you after the plot moves on?
Editorial framework by Wesley Bryan, BookenDeX Founder and Editor.
More Fiction books
These matches combine shared categories with author, publication-era, and reading-length signals.
The Breaking Point (Dodo Press)
by Mary Roberts Rinehart
Why it fits: shares Fiction, a similar reading length.
