Men of Iron is an English medieval history classic. The book is very visual and builds strong scenes of the medieval era, the characters, their thoughts and societal norms are also very medieval. Even the language used is 15 th century English. The story is about a young squire whose innocent father lost his honor and office by giving refuge to a man who conspired against the King and plotted his murder. The boy undergoes harsh training to become a knight and takes part in the tournaments to reclaim the lost honor of his family and his father’s name. The story is very virtuous and contains elements of honor, loyalty, friendship, courage and love.
Later on in his life Myles Falworth would recollect
the terrifying and confusing events in his early
childhood which changed his life forever. He would
remember the seven years of hard physical as well
as mental work he performed as a monk at St. Mary’s
Priory to fulfill his father’s high expectation.
Myles learned French and the arts of war. Myles
fought men older than himself at the fairs in
Crosbey-Dale and quickly grew in fame and recognition.
When Myles was sixteen years old he left home for Devlentown to become an esquire at the Devlen Castle. Myles entered the services of the Earl of Mackworth by presenting a letter from his father. Myles met Gascoyne an esquire at the castle and the two became life long friends when miles bought an expensive sword for his new friend. The esquires were under the governance of Sir James Lee who took special interest in Myles military training. At the castle Myles developed the reputation of an independent and brave lad who is brave enough to question authority. Myles became the leader of the Secret Order of the Twenty Knights of the Rose and plotted against the bureaucracy of the senior esquires. Myles fought a bloody fight with the head esquire and triumphed and because of his victory the young esquires no longer had to perform menial tasks for the bachelors.
Myles gained knighthood when King Henry IV himself knighted him as the Knight of the Bath. When Myles father was brought to trial accused of treason, Myles step forward as his father’s champion and the Kings court decided that the matter should be settled by battle with the Earl of Ablam who accused Myles father of treason. In the last great battle of his life Myles fought the Earl of Ablam. Myles was stabed and hurt in the fight that ensued but managed to slay his father’s enemy. Myles lived a life of comfort and love after his trial was over.
This story is about the courage and honesty of a boy who would fight for honor and love with every breath in him. It is about the challenges of boyhood and early manhood in the tough medieval time when true justice was rare. |