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Available
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Description
The rascally Thomas of Hookton, aka Le Batard, and his band of not-so-merry mercenaries are bidden by the Earl of Northhampton to unearth the lost sword of Saint Peter in this recreation of the Battle of the Poitiers in 1356 wherein a severely outnumbered English army defeats the French and captures the Poitiers and French King John II.
User reviews
LibraryThing member thegeneral
I had assumed that having finished 'Heretic' that this was a conclusion to the adventures of Thomas of Hookton. So it was a bit of a surprise to see him make a re-appearance after some hiatus. The 100 Years War offers plenty of material for other books and the book was a decent story involving
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another religious relic set against the backdrop of the conflict in France. There was good characterisation and an attempt to define female figures. However, given that the Uthred series is continuing and that Sharpe has been on hiatus for some time I reiterate my previous belief that Starbuck deserves a return as a continuation of Uthred and Thomas are too similar at this time. Show Less
LibraryThing member JeffV
Sir Thomas of Hookton, a fictional archer from a fictional English village, stars in the 4th episode of the "Grail Quest" series. Leading a mercenary band of archers and men-at-arms through chaotic France during the 100 Years War, this novel follows our hero through events up to and including the
Sir Thomas has developed a sort of hobby finding revered religious relics and disposing of them for the presumed good of mankind. A descendent of a Cathar heretic, Thomas really doesn't believe these objects are what they are made out to be: the spear of St. George, the Holy Grail, and, in this book, the sword of St. Peter (for purposes of the book named "la Malice." Raised to be a cleric, Thomas isn't necessarily an impious person, although he was excommunicated from the Church and declared an outlaw. Also in search of la Malice is the Pope's right-hand thug, a Cardinal Bessiers, and a priest with bird called a "callade" that is an alleged truth-sayer, in that it pecks out the eyeballs of a victim that is presumably lying. Starving the bird so that it is always hungry for eyeballs is a bit disingenuous, and when Thomas' wife is maimed and partially blinded by the bird, you know the Church is going to take a beating.
The climax of the book, the Battle of Poiters, is lavishly described, just as the Battle of Crecy was in an earlier book in the series. At the end of the last book, Heretic, the initial trilogy seemed complete, yet the door left open for was is this novel. The next major battle, the Battle of Agincourt, is far off...not only was it the subject of a stand-alone novel by Cornwell, but also is beyond the useful career of the Sir Thomas of Hookton character. Perhaps he will again pursue a powerful relic in another medieval adventure, but it would be a new story from whole cloth as virtually all of Thomas' antagonists have been put to rest.
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stunning English victory at Poiters, where Edward the Black Prince (as he would someday be known) defeated a French army nearly twice the size and took captive the presumed King of France (presumed because the English insisted that Edward III was the rightful king).Sir Thomas has developed a sort of hobby finding revered religious relics and disposing of them for the presumed good of mankind. A descendent of a Cathar heretic, Thomas really doesn't believe these objects are what they are made out to be: the spear of St. George, the Holy Grail, and, in this book, the sword of St. Peter (for purposes of the book named "la Malice." Raised to be a cleric, Thomas isn't necessarily an impious person, although he was excommunicated from the Church and declared an outlaw. Also in search of la Malice is the Pope's right-hand thug, a Cardinal Bessiers, and a priest with bird called a "callade" that is an alleged truth-sayer, in that it pecks out the eyeballs of a victim that is presumably lying. Starving the bird so that it is always hungry for eyeballs is a bit disingenuous, and when Thomas' wife is maimed and partially blinded by the bird, you know the Church is going to take a beating.
The climax of the book, the Battle of Poiters, is lavishly described, just as the Battle of Crecy was in an earlier book in the series. At the end of the last book, Heretic, the initial trilogy seemed complete, yet the door left open for was is this novel. The next major battle, the Battle of Agincourt, is far off...not only was it the subject of a stand-alone novel by Cornwell, but also is beyond the useful career of the Sir Thomas of Hookton character. Perhaps he will again pursue a powerful relic in another medieval adventure, but it would be a new story from whole cloth as virtually all of Thomas' antagonists have been put to rest.
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LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
Bernard Cornwell is the best historical fiction writer I've ever read, and 1356 tops all of the previous novels of his that I have read. Set in the Hundred Years War between England and France, the main character is Thomas of Hookton. While doing mercenary work with his unruly band of men, his lord
I enjoyed everything about this novel. Not only is Thomas of Hookton a great character, but the novel is chocked full of great characters. Cornwell does a great job of coming up with believable characters with motivations that are easy to relate to. The action is well done. The novel moves at a quick pace. The prose is top notch. There is adventure, intrigue, and suspense in abundance. I would love to find something to criticize but I can't. This is an excellent novel that I highly recommend.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
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instructs him to retrieve the sword of St. Peter, which is supposed to have magical powers. The sword is also being sought by Cardinal Besiers. To complicate matters, Thomas's wife and child are abducted and he has to free them. This culminates in a bloody battle between the British and the French.I enjoyed everything about this novel. Not only is Thomas of Hookton a great character, but the novel is chocked full of great characters. Cornwell does a great job of coming up with believable characters with motivations that are easy to relate to. The action is well done. The novel moves at a quick pace. The prose is top notch. There is adventure, intrigue, and suspense in abundance. I would love to find something to criticize but I can't. This is an excellent novel that I highly recommend.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
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LibraryThing member DannyPretorius
"This is going to hurt you...so very much." Hilarious! I loved this old lady. Look out for her!
Bernard Cornwell, like a macro photographer, focuses on amazing details of life during that period.
I devoured this book with relish. I loved Bernard Cornwell's rich portrayal of that life; the use of
The brutality of those days has no comparison to anything we know today. It is jarring. How was it possible to live?
I can't think of any man that would not want to be more like Le Batard. I wanted to know more of the ladies; beyond them being beautiful.
I highly recommend this book for those that love historical fiction, for those that would love to reside with a traveling band of raw warriors
Bernard Cornwell, like a macro photographer, focuses on amazing details of life during that period.
I devoured this book with relish. I loved Bernard Cornwell's rich portrayal of that life; the use of
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titles, the food they ate, weapons used, how arrows were made, the differences in arrows, the use of crushed bones in the making of steel and and and... Yet at no time are you aware of him telling these details because they are finely threaded into an awesome story. Without the details the plot would be meaningless.The brutality of those days has no comparison to anything we know today. It is jarring. How was it possible to live?
I can't think of any man that would not want to be more like Le Batard. I wanted to know more of the ladies; beyond them being beautiful.
I highly recommend this book for those that love historical fiction, for those that would love to reside with a traveling band of raw warriors
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LibraryThing member mysterymax
Excellent story about the time, politics, and people leading up to the Battle at Poitiers. The Battle, between the English and the French was an outstanding battle in English history. The English were badly outnumbered, weary, short of water and food. Yet they fought a long battle and emerged
The story's main character is Thomas, leader of a group of select warriors for the English. It is a story you can't put down and even though the book seems like one bloody battle after another, all vividly described, it is a story that pulls you in and takes you along for the ride.
I didn't know that it was part of one of Cornwell's series, but now I will try to get the others as I would like to read more about Thomas. Cornwell is expert at writing historical novels.
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clearly victorious.The story's main character is Thomas, leader of a group of select warriors for the English. It is a story you can't put down and even though the book seems like one bloody battle after another, all vividly described, it is a story that pulls you in and takes you along for the ride.
I didn't know that it was part of one of Cornwell's series, but now I will try to get the others as I would like to read more about Thomas. Cornwell is expert at writing historical novels.
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LibraryThing member viking2917
4th in the Thomas of Hookton series, set during the Hundred Years War. Thomas is a great character, a British longbowman who's risen to lead his own mercenary band. In previous books we've met Thomas at the historical Battle of Crecy (1346) and later battles as he searched for the holy grail. In
Cornwell's writing is always "easy on the eyes" and I found 1356 to be a fast, engaging read, filled with history but not beating you over the head with it. I love the Thomas character, and am looking forward to another book in the series.
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1356, 10 years later, we find Thomas older, gruffer, harder, and yet more determined lead his men in "honorable" war, rather than rape and pillage as was common. The (again, historical) Battle of Poitiers is looming. Thomas is following Edward, the Black Prince, and seeking La Malice, the legendary sword Peter used to defend Christ at Gethsemane. Caught between French soldiers on one side and a malevolent, ambitious Cardinal on the other. Thomas must find a way to survive both.Cornwell's writing is always "easy on the eyes" and I found 1356 to be a fast, engaging read, filled with history but not beating you over the head with it. I love the Thomas character, and am looking forward to another book in the series.
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Another outstanding book from an author who excels at taking an historic event and turning it into a rousing and hard to put down story. Filled with interesting heroes and really bad villains, the story leads into and concludes with the Battle of Poitiers where once more the flower of French
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Chivalry falls to British and Gascon knights, men at arms and archers. Cornwell's MacGuffin, the sword of St. Peter, places the story nicely into the author's Grail Quest series. Hopefully other quests and battles, which Cornwell does better than just about everyone, lie in our future. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
Set around the battle of Poitiers in the Hundred Years War, the hero is Thomas Hookton, from the Grail Quest trilogy of Harlequin, Vagabond, and Heretic, back to seek another holy relic. Wrapping up the search for St Peter's sword in a single novel made the quest too simple for my taste but there
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is enough other plot to have held my interest all day. Show Less
LibraryThing member mnorfolk49
A well paced, well informed and gripping 'techno' thriller for the 1300's! Absolutely loved it. I'm trying to get my son to read it - if you've a child (teenager realistically) who doesn't get excited by history get them to read Cornwell's books; I read this as a stand alone and would be a great
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introduction to his work. Show Less
LibraryThing member Philip100
Bernard Cornwell can really describe a battle you can almost hear the crash of Armour and smell the blood. I was glad he let Thomas of Hookton live and take his family home. This is a good book to read I thoroughly enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member MikeRhode
I didn't realize this was a sequel to the Grail trilogy when I picked it up. It read fine, but there was obviously a lot of backstory I wasn't familiar with.
LibraryThing member bdtrump
The main problem here is that this story was effectively wrapped up in 'Heretic.' As always, Cornwell's descriptions of battle are interesting - this time the Battle of Poitiers. Entertaining, but I hope that Cornwell doesn't continue to add to this series to mimic a medieval version of his Sharpe
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series, as I think there isn't much more to add here. I almost feel that this would have been better covered as an independent novel like his 'Azincourt'. Show Less
LibraryThing member daleaz
Not one of his best books, a bit of a slow read...
LibraryThing member joeydag
Set in France in the 14th century, this is fantasy about knights and battles and high politics. Not to be taken seriously. Light on the romance and heavy on the blood and gore, but I can understand how the author has written so many novels. They are action packed and fast paced.
LibraryThing member MJWebb
I have to admit to finding Mr Cornwell somewhat inconsistent (purely my own opinion mind). He's usually a hit or miss affair for me. But, when he is on top form, as here in this sumptuous epic, it is story-telling at it's very best. Right up there with Historical Fiction royalty like Conn Iggulden.
Highly rec'd.
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Highly rec'd.
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
It's a little counter intuitive to say you loved a book that is mostly battle and brutal fighting between two armies in that long ago year of 1356, but it's the truth. Bernard Cornwell has the ability to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind, and to map out the happenings of long ago battles.
Having said that, I read the first in The Grail Quest series back in 2010, and have now picked back up with this audio book. It was great fun to stumble upon old friends and find what's gone on with them in the interim. It's very obvious that Cornwell speaks his writing aloud as part of the process (and , indeed, if you've ever gone down the street where he lives part-time here in Charleston, you can hear him, sounding like a man possessed, speaking his characters' lines.The tour guides love it when he gets going full steam.) The dialog is real, funny, moving, and very, very authentic. Another delight was the introduction of a character named Keane, who, I strongly suspect, got his name from a mutual friend, also here in Charleston.Even if Keane is not based on Keane, he's a great character, and I'm glad he made it out of this book alive.
Will go back and find the interim books, also hopefully on audio, to fill in the gap.
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He brings to life both actual historic characters and the characters that come to life through his writing skill.If I'd had Bernard Cornwell on my bookshelf in college, I would have aced those essay questions about what happened in the different wars that were taught in Western Civ.Having said that, I read the first in The Grail Quest series back in 2010, and have now picked back up with this audio book. It was great fun to stumble upon old friends and find what's gone on with them in the interim. It's very obvious that Cornwell speaks his writing aloud as part of the process (and , indeed, if you've ever gone down the street where he lives part-time here in Charleston, you can hear him, sounding like a man possessed, speaking his characters' lines.The tour guides love it when he gets going full steam.) The dialog is real, funny, moving, and very, very authentic. Another delight was the introduction of a character named Keane, who, I strongly suspect, got his name from a mutual friend, also here in Charleston.Even if Keane is not based on Keane, he's a great character, and I'm glad he made it out of this book alive.
Will go back and find the interim books, also hopefully on audio, to fill in the gap.
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LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
Thomas Hookton, gets to the battle of Poitiers. The battle is the best part of the book, which is otherwise not really very well done.
LibraryThing member john257hopper
This Bernard Cornwell novel is set during the run up to, and course of the Battle of Poitiers, a famous English victory during the conflict with France later known as the Hundred Years War. Slightly annoyingly when coming across Thomas of Hookton, I realised that this is a sequel to the author's
fills in usefully on subsequent events
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Grail Quest trilogy, of which I read the first volume Harlequin nearly 20 years ago but never felt inclined to read the rest. This doesn't matter too much in terms of following the plot though, which centres around the quest for La Malice, an ancient sword supposedly used by the apostle Peter when defending Jesus in the Garden of Gesthemane. Like nearly all Cornwell novels, this is full of set piece battle scenes with graphic descriptions of violence and bloodshed. The novel ends with the massive English victory against the odds, and the capture of the French King John and his younger son Philippe (the Dauphin Charles was sent away from the battlefield earlier). A slightly abrupt end, perhaps, though the author's customary historical notefills in usefully on subsequent events
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LibraryThing member Vitaly1
so much archer strength
LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Another outstanding book from an author who excels at taking a historic event and turning it into a rousing and hard to put down story. Filled with interesting heroes and really bad villains, the story leads into and concludes with the Battle of Poitiers where once more the flower of French
Show More
Chivalry falls to British and Gascon knights, men at arms and archers. Cornwell's MacGuffin, the sword of St. Peter, places the story nicely into the author's Grail Quest series. Hopefully, other quests and battles, which Cornwell does better than just about everyone, lie in our future. Read again this time on an audio Book with excellent narration. Show Less
LibraryThing member JGolomb
"They were mercenaries and they called themselves the Hellequin, the devil's beloved, and they boasted that they could not be defeated because their souls had already been sent to hell."
"1356" is a good, solid, testosterone-laden action adventure set in late middle ages France, amidst the ongoing
"1356" picks up the story of Thomas of Hookton, star of Cornwell's "Grail Quest" series. The book is positioned as a stand-alone novel set within the world and characters of "Archer's Tale", "Vagabond" and "Heretic", most recently published in 2003. Cornwell provides plenty of explanation and backstory to provide the historical context for the characters and their relationships, but what the story doesn't have, and what made "The Last Kingdom" so amazing, for example, is its epic scale and breadth. I'm not referring strictly to time-scale, but rather a story that’s as bold and unique as its many battle scenes. “Last Kingdom” is major motion picture-worthy. The story behind "1356" would make a fine TV movie.
The plot revolves around a quest for a sword of historic and religious significance; supposedly, the holder of 'La Malice' will be the supreme ruler. Once that stage is set, the story is propelled by the different organizations chasing after this weapon of great power: Hookton, known as La Batard, is seeking the object for the English. A rather nefarious Cardinal who carries some serious Hookton baggage from the previous novels, is out for its power to propel him to the Papal throne.
Surrounding this core story are the subplots of kidnapped heroines, conniving Lords, and a reasonably well-developed cast of secondary characters that provide a platform for Cornwell's terrific skills in writing dialogue.
Unfortunately, where the entirety of "1356" feels itself like a subplot of the larger "Grail" suite, the actual subplots of this novel feel even less significant.
As a fun battle-adventure in middle ages Europe, I strongly recommend this book. While it doesn't go much beyond that, I got a strong enough sniff of Cornwells' Hookton mythology that I plan on digging into "Archer's Tale", the first in the series, very soon.
I received this book as part of the Amazon Vine program.
"1356" is a good, solid, testosterone-laden action adventure set in late middle ages France, amidst the ongoing
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feuds, battles and wars between the French and English. Bernard Cornwell is known for his meticulously detailed historical fiction, and his incredibly vivid and life like battle-realism. This book has all of that and more, but it's missing something that drives the success of his other stories: a robustly solid plot."1356" picks up the story of Thomas of Hookton, star of Cornwell's "Grail Quest" series. The book is positioned as a stand-alone novel set within the world and characters of "Archer's Tale", "Vagabond" and "Heretic", most recently published in 2003. Cornwell provides plenty of explanation and backstory to provide the historical context for the characters and their relationships, but what the story doesn't have, and what made "The Last Kingdom" so amazing, for example, is its epic scale and breadth. I'm not referring strictly to time-scale, but rather a story that’s as bold and unique as its many battle scenes. “Last Kingdom” is major motion picture-worthy. The story behind "1356" would make a fine TV movie.
The plot revolves around a quest for a sword of historic and religious significance; supposedly, the holder of 'La Malice' will be the supreme ruler. Once that stage is set, the story is propelled by the different organizations chasing after this weapon of great power: Hookton, known as La Batard, is seeking the object for the English. A rather nefarious Cardinal who carries some serious Hookton baggage from the previous novels, is out for its power to propel him to the Papal throne.
Surrounding this core story are the subplots of kidnapped heroines, conniving Lords, and a reasonably well-developed cast of secondary characters that provide a platform for Cornwell's terrific skills in writing dialogue.
Unfortunately, where the entirety of "1356" feels itself like a subplot of the larger "Grail" suite, the actual subplots of this novel feel even less significant.
As a fun battle-adventure in middle ages Europe, I strongly recommend this book. While it doesn't go much beyond that, I got a strong enough sniff of Cornwells' Hookton mythology that I plan on digging into "Archer's Tale", the first in the series, very soon.
I received this book as part of the Amazon Vine program.
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LibraryThing member PilgrimJess
'1356' is the fourth book in Cornwell’s Grail Quest series all set during The Hundred Years’ War, a fact that I hadn't realised before starting it. The series’ protagonist, Thomas of Hookton, is now known throughout France as 'le Bâtard', the commander of a fierce band of mercenary English
Cornwell isn't particularly great at character development but one of the best things about his books are his villains, and this novel is no different with a colourful cast of adversaries opposing Thomas’ quest. These include a malevolent priest called Father Calade and an ambitious Cardinal (Bessières), who believes that finding 'la Malice' will help him become the next pope.
The Battle of Poitiers, the main battle in the year 1356 after which the book is named, is the setting for the novel’s climax. I am a fan of historical novels and one of Cornwell's strengths is writing gripping medieval battle scenes. Once again the battle at Poitiers is masterfully written, but the conflict between Thomas and the cardinal over la Malice dominates this story. Personally I would have quite happily foregone this section of the story but overall 1356 is a worthy addition to Cornwell's catalogue which I believe can easily be read as a stand alone (as I did) or as it was intended as a continuation to this series.
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longbowmen called the Hellequin. As with the other books in the series Thomas is given a quest to find a religious artifact, this time a sword called 'la Malice' – the sword that Saint Peter used in the Garden of Gethsemane.Cornwell isn't particularly great at character development but one of the best things about his books are his villains, and this novel is no different with a colourful cast of adversaries opposing Thomas’ quest. These include a malevolent priest called Father Calade and an ambitious Cardinal (Bessières), who believes that finding 'la Malice' will help him become the next pope.
The Battle of Poitiers, the main battle in the year 1356 after which the book is named, is the setting for the novel’s climax. I am a fan of historical novels and one of Cornwell's strengths is writing gripping medieval battle scenes. Once again the battle at Poitiers is masterfully written, but the conflict between Thomas and the cardinal over la Malice dominates this story. Personally I would have quite happily foregone this section of the story but overall 1356 is a worthy addition to Cornwell's catalogue which I believe can easily be read as a stand alone (as I did) or as it was intended as a continuation to this series.
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Awards
British Book Award (Shortlist — Popular Fiction — 2012)