The White Company


Read by Clive Catterall

(4.8 stars; 648 reviews)

Set during the Hundred Years' War with France, The White Company tells the story of a young Saxon man who is learning what it is to be a knight. Raised by Cistercian Monks and rejected by a violent elder brother, Alleyn Edricson takes service with one of the foremost knights in the country. When Alleyn falls in love with the knight's daughter, he must prove himself to be a courageous and honourable knight before he can win her hand. Alleyn and his friends set forth with the other men-at-arms to join Prince Edward in Bordeaux, from where they will take part in the Prince's campaign into Spain. It is in Spain that Alleyn and others must prove themselves to be very valiant and hardy cavaliers. (Summary by Clive Catterall) (14 hr 43 min)

Chapters

How the Black Sheep Came forth from the Fold 21:41 Read by Clive Catterall
How Alleyne Edricson came out into the World 13:09 Read by Clive Catterall
How Hordle John Cozened the Fuller of Lymington 12:55 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Bailiff of Southampton Slew the Two Masterless Men 27:36 Read by Clive Catterall
How a Strange Company Gathered at the "Pied Merlin" 27:27 Read by Clive Catterall
How Samkin Aylward Wagered his Feather-bed 26:02 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Three Comrades Journeyed through the Woodlands 24:33 Read by Clive Catterall
The Three Friends 21:53 Read by Clive Catterall
How Strange Things Befell in Minstead Wood 40:38 Read by Clive Catterall
How Hordle John Found a Man Whom He Might Follow 44:16 Read by Clive Catterall
How a Young Shepherd had a Perilous Flock 30:31 Read by Clive Catterall
How Alleyne Learned More than he could Teach 23:03 Read by Clive Catterall
How the White Company set forth to the Wars 16:17 Read by Clive Catterall
How Sir Nigel sought for a Wayside Venture 23:18 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Yellow Cog sailed forth from Lepe 27:50 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Yellow Cog fought the Two Rover Galleys 18:00 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Yellow Cog crossed the Bar of Gironde 16:35 Read by Clive Catterall
How Sir Nigel Loring put a Patch upon his Eye 23:08 Read by Clive Catterall
How there was Stir at the Abbey of St. Andrew's 24:20 Read by Clive Catterall
How Alleyne Won his Place in an Honorable Guild 20:23 Read by Clive Catterall
How Agostino Pisano Risked his Head 21:56 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Bowmen held Wassail at the "Rose de Guienne" 16:06 Read by Clive Catterall
How England held the Lists at Bordeaux 21:45 Read by Clive Catterall
How a Champion came forth from the East 20:40 Read by Clive Catterall
How Sir Nigel wrote to Twynham Castle 13:30 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Three Comrades Gained a Mighty Treasure 29:26 Read by Clive Catterall
How Roger Club-foot was Passed into Paradise 21:14 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Comrades came over the Marches of France 27:59 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Blessed Hour of Sight Came to the Lady Tiphaine 25:05 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Brushwood Men came to the Chateau of Villefranche 19:51 Read by Clive Catterall
How Five Men held the Keep of Villefranche 23:02 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Company took Counsel Round the Fallen Tree 16:42 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Army made the Passage of Roncesvalles 19:03 Read by Clive Catterall
How the Company Made Sport in the Vale of Pampeluna 22:22 Read by Clive Catterall
How Sir Nigel Hawked at an Eagle 29:09 Read by Clive Catterall
How Sir Nigel Took the Patch from his Eye 31:06 Read by Clive Catterall
How the White Company came to be Disbanded 21:11 Read by Clive Catterall
Of the Home-coming to Hampshire 20:10 Read by Clive Catterall

Reviews

incredible story and reader


(5 stars)

I have listened to many books on librivox but the reader of this story was the best I have heard. His ability to use different voices for different characters was awesome. After listening to this book I purchased a hard copy of the book and will read it, or listen to it, again very soon. Well done reader and thank you for giving us listeners and incredible experience.

Knights, squires, archers and adventure


(5 stars)

I had always associated Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock Holmes - so it was a pleasure to learn that he wrote historical fiction as well. This is a wonderful story - with adventures galore, sword fights, honor, cultural commentary, and plenty of humor sprinkled in. By my ten finger bones, but Clive Catterall does an excellent job reading the characters!

Carol


(5 stars)

This is one of the most exciting stories I've ever read. No wonder Doyle hated Sherlock. The research, time, and passionate energy he put into wring this was great, yet he wasn't appreciated for it like he was loved for writing the Sherlock Holms series.

WAR AND GLORY


(4.5 stars)

A rousing tale of knightly doings. This was not only a fun story, but Doyle gives us many vignettes of common everyday life in rural England where brigands and shysters abounded. The reading was great.

Full marks for The White Company


(5 stars)

Beautifully, nobly done. The narrator does full justice to the author and his text. Would that more writers and readers would aspire to these literary heights in our day.

white company


(5 stars)

thrillingly fabulously well told ENGLISH tale of honour and chivalry...


(5 stars)

An unexpected treasure from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, written in a richly evocative style, set in the historical era of Edward the Black Prince and his war campaigns in France and Spain. The White Company is a military company under leadership of Sir Nigel Loring, the embodiment of the ideals of chivalry, in some ways to the point of folly. Around him are his squires Alleyn and John, and a company of knights and foot soldiers on a campaign against French and Spanish forces. The portrayal of the English bowman is depicted with particular admiration by Doyle, as a deeply embedded cultural touchstone of English heritage. The book is narrated beautifully by Clive Catterall.

By My Hilt!


(5 stars)

Great medieval tale! Excellent and intriguing characters. I loved the running thread of Sir Nigel's obsession with 'gaining honor'. The ending was so satisfying (albeit perhaps a little less grim of one than would be realistic...) But that last line of Sir Nigel's just hit the spot :)