The camera of historical fiction almost always looks over the shoulder of those who themselves stood on the shoulders of giants. The protagonists are often kings and queens, lords and ladies and knights. Occasionally, if we are very lucky, we get to see historical fiction that follows the little people: the peasants, the freemen, the villeins and serfs. Bernard Cornwell is one author who does this well (see Azincourt as one, perhaps not even particularly…