The White Company
by Arthur Conan Doyle
The story takes place in England, France and Spain, during the Hundred Years' War (1366/67), against the background of the campaign of the Black Prince Edward to restore Peter of Castile to the throne of the Kingdom of Castile. The climax of the book takes place before the Battle of Nager. Doyle was inspired to write a novel after attending a conference on the Middle Ages. Although the novel was very popular during World War II, it is relatively unknown today. In fact, Doyle himself saw this and his other historical novels more than the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, for whom he is mostly remembered. The white company of the title is a company of free archers, led by one of the main characters. The name is taken from a true 14th-century Italian mercenary company led by John Hawkewood.
