An Evening with Dan Jones on War, Plague and Lion Hearts (Part One)

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• Dan Jones transitioned from non-fiction to fiction writing, initially fearing it would expose a lack of understanding of human nature, but found the process required a challenging surrender to the story, unlike his architect-like approach to non-fiction.  Copied to clipboard!
• The medieval period remains compelling for Jones because it exists in a liminal space between the strange and the familiar, offering insights into both the foundations of the modern world and utterly alien modes of thought.  Copied to clipboard!
• The final book in the *Essex Dogs* trilogy, *Lion Hearts*, focuses on the aftermath of the Black Death in England, exploring themes of post-pandemic societal shifts, labor laws, and culminates in the naval Battle of Winchelsea.  Copied to clipboard!

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Sponsor Read: Indeed Hiring

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(00:00:00)

• Key Takeaway: Indeed sponsored jobs yield 45% more applications than non-sponsored jobs, and 23 hires are made globally every minute on the platform.
• Summary: Indeed is promoted as a fast hiring solution, emphasizing that sponsored jobs increase visibility and application rates significantly. Listeners can receive a $75 sponsored job credit by visiting the specific URL provided. The platform claims that hiring decisions are made rapidly, with 23 hires occurring worldwide during the time of the ad read.

Introduction to Dan Jones

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(00:01:59)

• Key Takeaway: The episode features historian Dan Jones discussing his Essex Dogs trilogy, which focuses on the Hundred Years’ War through the eyes of a fictional platoon.
• Summary: Producer Mia Sorrenti introduces the live event with Dan Jones, focusing on his work covering the Hundred Years’ War. The conflict between England and France spanned over a century and transformed European warfare. Jones retells this history via his fictional platoon, the Essex Dogs, as his trilogy reaches its climax.

Transition to Fiction Writing

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(00:04:27)

• Key Takeaway: Jones moved to fiction writing after his tenth non-fiction book, inspired by George R.R. Martin’s ability to transform history into a living, breathing fictional world.
• Summary: Jones previously resisted writing fiction, fearing failure would expose a lack of understanding of humanity, unlike factual errors in non-fiction. Approaching age 40, an interview with George R.R. Martin inspired him to attempt the genre, leading to the pitch for the Essex Dogs trilogy.

Architect vs. Gardener Writing Styles

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(00:07:40)

• Key Takeaway: Jones, traditionally an ‘architect’ writer who plans structure meticulously, found fiction required him to become a ‘gardener,’ surrendering to the story and letting characters develop independently.
• Summary: Drawing on George R.R. Martin’s analogy, Jones identified himself as an architect in non-fiction, relying on premeditated grids. Writing fiction forced him to surrender control, leading to the challenging but rewarding experience where characters begin acting autonomously. This shift has led to significant growth as a writer over the last four years.

Bridging Fiction and Non-Fiction

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(00:14:05)

• Key Takeaway: Jones bridges his fiction and non-fiction work in the Essex Dogs novels by beginning each chapter with a quote from a chronicle source, playing in the gaps of historical records.
• Summary: Jones views fiction as another medium for historical storytelling, similar to his journalism and broadcasting work. He acknowledges publishing’s need to categorize books but aims for connective tissue between his genres. This bridge is explicitly built by grounding the fictional narrative in real historical sources and commentary.

Essex Dogs Trilogy Overview

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(00:15:25)

• Key Takeaway: The first book covered the 1346 Crécy Campaign (a ‘medieval D-Day’), and the second, Wolves of Winter, depicted the bitter 11-month siege of Calais (a ‘medieval Stalingrad’).
• Summary: The trilogy follows the Essex Dogs platoon through key Hundred Years’ War events. Book one focused on the initial Normandy landing and the march to Crécy over six weeks in 1346. Book two detailed the subsequent siege of Calais during the winter of 1346-47, ending just after the famous scene involving the burghers.

Lion Hearts and the Black Death

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(00:17:43)

• Key Takeaway: Book three, Lion Hearts, focuses on the aftermath of the Black Death (1348), deliberately choosing to explore the post-pandemic societal rebuilding rather than the pandemic itself.
• Summary: The story picks up after the plague’s arrival in Western Europe, which wiped out 60% of the population. Jones includes a prologue set in Bordeaux during the plague’s grip while escorting Princess Joan to marry the heir of Castile. The main narrative then jumps to the survivors piecing their lives back together post-pandemic.

Character Arcs and Historical Context

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(00:33:15)

• Key Takeaway: Loveday attempts a peaceful retirement in England, struggling with post-plague labor laws suppressing wages, while Romford navigates the edgy royal court surrounding Edward III.
• Summary: The final book brings the characters home to England, exploring the impact of the 1349/1351 labor legislation designed to suppress wages following the labor scarcity caused by the plague. Romford is placed within the royal court as Edward III rebuilds Windsor Castle and prepares for naval warfare against the Castilians, leading up to the Battle of Winchelsea.

Why the Middle Ages Persist

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(00:23:58)

• Key Takeaway: Jones is drawn to the Middle Ages because it is a period simultaneously strange and familiar, containing elements that forged the modern world alongside utterly bizarre contemporary behaviors.
• Summary: Jones became a medievalist accidentally after ticking the box on a Cambridge application form in 1999, guided by academic Helen Castor. He is fascinated by the era’s liminal space, where one can see the origins of modern politics (like Magna Carta) or universities, only to encounter baffling social norms immediately after. This tension between the familiar and the alien keeps him engaged.