Soar: The Crooked Stick

A history of the longbow.

Although the longbow is best known for its deployment during the Hundred Years’ War, its origins lie with ancient Saxon seafighters and Welsh craftsmen, while today the bow is a vibrant part of the traditional archery scene.
Through a remarkable command of primary sources and a judicious use of material evidence—including his own important collection of rare longbows—Hugh Soar establishes the deep connections of this bow to England, Scotland, and Wales and chronicles its use in warfare. In addition to the illustrated text, the book contains appendices detailing the history and design of bracers, tabs and tips, quivers, and arrowheads associated with the longbow.

Hugh D.H. Soar is a leading specialist on traditional archery, including the history, design, and use of the longbow. He is author of Straight and True, Secrets of the English War Bow and The Romance of Archer.