"Edward III's capture of Calais, coming shortly after his victory at Crecy, carried his fame as a warrior to the farthest corners of Europe. The highly charged episode at the end of the siege, when the leading citizens were brought before him to plead for their lives and the town was spared, added further to Edward's reputation. Equally well known is Queen Mary's claim, following the loss of Calais to the French in 1558, that on her death the name of Calais would be found engraved on her heart." "This book explores the two hundred years between these two events, giving an understanding of the military and political importance of the town for the English, and its key role in the English economy. Utilising the richness of the personal sources surviving from the mid fifteenth century to the last years of English rule, it also provides a more intimate picture of the vibrant life of the town, with courtiers, soldiers and merchants enjoying and profiting from the opportunities offered by 'an English town in France'."--Jacket.