Dan Jones gives readers two ways into the medieval world: broad histories and novels lived through the people caught in its wars. His Oxford appearance in 2026 belonged to the fiction side of that career. For an Essex Dogs fan, it was a chance to hear the storyteller behind the soldiers.
Quick facts
Best known for
The Plantagenets and the Essex Dogs trilogy
Genre or subject
Medieval history and historical fiction
Latest book
Castles: A Fortified History of the World (2026), Apollo
Jones is a historian, novelist, television presenter and journalist. His histories have reached more than a million readers, and his professional work includes writing and presenting television history and the podcast This is History. His subjects range across rulers, institutions and the wider medieval world.
His Essex Dogs trilogy follows the Hundred Years War through ordinary soldiers and ends with Lion Hearts. Moving between history and fiction lets a reader approach the period at different scales: the sweep of a kingdom in one book, a person’s fear or loyalty in another. The choice need not be permanent; the novels and histories can be enjoyed alongside each other.
Castles: A Fortified History of the World was published by Apollo in October 2026. It explores fortifications across places and periods, connecting their construction with power and survival. If buildings first drew you towards history, this is the part of his current writing to explore after the novel-led spring conversation.
Where to start with their books
The Plantagenets
This history is a starting point for readers drawn to medieval rulers and the dynastic story of England. Choose it if you would like a broad historical frame before turning to Jones’s fictional soldiers and the pressures of their smaller world.
Essex Dogs
Ten archers and men-at-arms arrive in Normandy as the fight for France begins. The first novel introduces a company facing a war from the ground, making it the natural entry for readers who want to follow the trilogy’s characters from the beginning.
Wolves of Winter
The surviving soldiers are sent into the siege of Calais, where a harsh winter and the dangers of the camp put their bonds under strain. Read it after the opening novel if the group’s loyalties and losses have become as compelling as the campaign.
Festival appearances
For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.
At Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre on 25 March, Jones joined Jo Harkin for Lion Hearts and The Pretender, chaired by Suzi Feay. The conversation brought two historical novelists together around their fiction. Readers could listen for how the past becomes a lived world on the page, from the demands of a historical setting to the decisions characters make within it.
Where to see them next
No 2027 appearances announced yet. Check the festival guides for programme dates.
Plan your trip
Before a Jones outing, decide whether you want a novel-led conversation or a talk about a historical subject. Take that preference into your festival search, especially if a companion knows him mainly through broadcasting and you follow the fiction.
Keep a short note of the writer and book you have chosen when planning the day. Another Dan Jones wrote The Green Man; this page concerns the medieval historian. Once you have found the right session, use Oxford’s guide for the venue, your route and a place to stay.
Oxford Literary Festival hosted his historical-fiction conversation. The event table gives the official page, date and venue. It is a good starting point for readers of the novels who would like another opportunity to hear him speak.
Does this page cover the author of The Green Man?
No. This is the medieval historian and Essex Dogs novelist. There is another writer with the same name. Including a book title when you search a festival programme will help you reach the writer you intend to see.
Should I read the novels or histories before going?
Choose whichever has made you curious. A fiction conversation may be most enjoyable with one of the novels in mind; a historical talk may send you towards the non-fiction. You can also attend with questions sparked by his television or podcast work.
Where should I buy tickets?
Follow the official festival event link and book through its box office. If you are considering a pass, read which sessions need separate reservations. For a specific seat or access requirement, contact the festival before finalising the journey.
Can I enjoy a conversation without knowing the whole period?
Yes. You can begin with the people or subject that interests you and let the conversation open further reading. A favourite scene, a decision by a character or a question about a place can give your listening a focus without requiring extensive preparation.
