Henry V's invasion of France in August 1415 was a huge gamble. As heir to the throne, he failed, finding himself politically isolated amid rumors that he was planning to overthrow his father. Despite the complete change in the king's character - the founding of monasteries, the persecution of heretics and the extreme application of the law - little has improved since then. He was unsure of his kingdom and his reputation was low. On the eve of his departure to France, he uncovered a conspiracy by some of his associates to remove him from power. Agincourt was a battle that Henry should not have won, but he won it and went down in history. Over the next five years, he became heir to the throne of France. Anne Curry explores how Henry's persistent attempts to overcome past failures and the crisis he experienced that threatened to destroy everything he had worked so hard to achieve shaped his reign, and how his astonishing success at Agincourt changed his position in the eyes of his contemporaries and all subsequent generations.