The author Stephen Clarke emphasizes the frustration of the French regarding the mispronunciation and misspelling of their historical battle names. He illustrates this annoyance by providing examples such as the English pronunciation of Crécy, which should be said as 'Cray-see,' and Waterloo, pronounced 'Watt-air-loh.' Clarke points out that even Agincourt suffers from mispronunciation, revealing the broader issues of cultural and linguistic misunderstanding.

This critique highlights how these inaccuracies can irritate national pride among the French. Clarke's observations suggest that what may seem trivial to some, like the pronunciation of names, can hold significant cultural weight and add to the broader annoyance felt by the French towards outsiders who misinterpret their heritage.