The Real Falstaff

This historical study examines the life and military accomplishments of the medieval knight who inspired one of Shakespeare’s most beloved characters. One of the most famous English knights of the Hundred Years War, Sir John Fastolf is widely thought to be a model for Shakespeare’s immortal character, Sir John Falstaff. In The Real Falstaff , historian Stephen Cooper examines the link in full, shedding light on his story as well as the declining English fortunes during the last phase of the Hund