The Master of Game: The Oldest English Book on Hunting

A remarkable window into medieval sport, this work stands as the earliest English treatise on the chase. Compiled by a 15th‑century duke while confined in a coastal castle, it weaves a faithful translation of a celebrated French hunting manual with five original chapters that reveal how English fields were beginning to differ from their continental counterparts. The author’s aristocratic perspective and personal anecdotes lend the text a vivid, yet practical, tone that makes the centuries‑old subject feel immediate.

Readers hear detailed guidance on arranging hounds, choosing weapons, and tracking a range of game—from agile foxes to stubborn boars. Interspersed with period illustrations, the commentary captures the language and customs of a world where hunting was both a noble art and a vital skill. Even without modern jargon, the book offers a clear‑cut glimpse into the rituals, techniques, and social stakes that defined the chase in medieval England.