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From New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell, the first book in the Grail Series—the spellbinding tale of a young man, a fearless archer, who sets out wanting to avenge his family's honor and winds up on a quest for the Holy Grail.A brutal raid on the quiet coastal English village of Hookton in 1342 leaves but one survivor: a young archer named Thomas. On this terrible dawn, his purpose becomes clear—to recover a stolen sacred relic and pursue to the ends of the earth the show more murderous black-clad knight bearing a blue-and-yellow standard, a journey that leads him to the courageous rescue of a beautiful French woman, and sets him on his ultimate quest: the search for the Holy Grail.
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This is my first time reading Cornwell. I don't generally like so much telling in place of showing, but he moves his story more quickly this way and I'm impressed with the degree of historical detail. There's lots to learn about the 14th century in northern France, especially military history, in the context of a fast-paced adventure structured around historical incidents. I've gathered the primary reason to read Cornwell is for a boots-on-the-ground viewpoint during whatever battles he's covering. The Battle of Caen (1346), for example, is much more visceral here than reading dry Wikipedia facts.
It took me a while to warm up to Thomas of Hookton, since he's not exactly a standup guy. When his initial love interest gets kidnapped, our show more hero only feels relief that he need no longer worry about her pregnancy. Cornwell doesn't sugarcoat it when Thomas' band is roaming the French countryside, destroying lives and livlihoods; it's dirty work, not heroic thrills. As an English archer Thomas is feared and hated by his enemies, for killing from a distance and being heedless of chivalry. Character growth eventually kicks in, and he's aided by contrast with others in the story of similar rank. The plot is more impressive than Thomas. Considering it's "on rails" - forced to fit with actual historical events - Cornwell is surprisingly creative. It took a few turns that I didn't anticipate, and drew in a broader cross-section of society than just army ranks. This promises to be a good series for anyone welcoming (or who can abide) an extra dose of military in their historical fiction. show less
It took me a while to warm up to Thomas of Hookton, since he's not exactly a standup guy. When his initial love interest gets kidnapped, our show more hero only feels relief that he need no longer worry about her pregnancy. Cornwell doesn't sugarcoat it when Thomas' band is roaming the French countryside, destroying lives and livlihoods; it's dirty work, not heroic thrills. As an English archer Thomas is feared and hated by his enemies, for killing from a distance and being heedless of chivalry. Character growth eventually kicks in, and he's aided by contrast with others in the story of similar rank. The plot is more impressive than Thomas. Considering it's "on rails" - forced to fit with actual historical events - Cornwell is surprisingly creative. It took a few turns that I didn't anticipate, and drew in a broader cross-section of society than just army ranks. This promises to be a good series for anyone welcoming (or who can abide) an extra dose of military in their historical fiction. show less
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, as battle descriptions aren't usually something I love. But I've read his Warlord series and loved it, so I was cautiously optimistic. I did really enjoy it. I think the good characters and the mystery around Thomas' family background helped a lot and that battle descriptions didn't dominate to storytelling until later on in the book and I didn't mind them at all once I got there. I liked that Thomas wasn't a flat character. He's got the "I'm not like other men/archers" vibe a lot, but also times, like after battles he's very typical. He also has some personal reflection after seeing how destroyed Jeanette was after her rape and wondered how many women he and his fellow archers had left in show more this state. I found the relationship between Thomas and Jeanette more natural/less forced than that of Thomas and Eleanor. How in love, not lust, could he really be with a 15 year old? I can believe them together as a couple due to circumstances but not really "in love" that fast. It feels like that should have been more of a slow burn. I can't wait to read the next book though. Starting right after I finished this review. show less
Cornwell slammed this one out of the park. One might expect a historical fiction title involving a quest to find the Holy Grail would be hokey, but Cornwell's gift for writing, strong characterization and knowledge of source material seamlessly weaves the Grail Quest into the larger historical narrative. The story involves Thomas of Hookton, archer and priest's bastard, whose village is wiped out by mercenaries searchinfg for the Grail. Swearing revenge and anxious for answers, he joins the forces of Edward III as they rampage through Northern France and Brittany during the Hundred Year's War. It's a great look at an army on the move, the devastation inflicted upon communities in wartime, and how cruelty can run wild if given an show more opportunity with no oversight. War can make beasts of us all unless we rise above ourselves. The book ends with the Battle of Crecy, and Cornwell does well in all areas, from the leadup to the cat and mouse game between the English and French forces, to the battle itself and its aftermath. Highly, highly recommended. show less
Bernard Cornwell has a gift -- not just of story-telling, but of conveying "realness" in his books. The Archer's Tale was no exception. Historical vibrancy, not just accuracy. The characters in this book become real individuals, the more you read. You befriend them, loathe them, root for them, mourn for them... At one point, when things looked particularly bleak for Thomas, I took a breath, and realized that if he died at this point in the book, Cornwell would have had to have cajones of steel to have called the book The Archer's Tale. I do have a word or two to say about Cornwell's treatment of one of my favorite characters in the book near the end (no spoiler here) and am debating about reading more in the series to see the outcome, show more which I don't think can be grand.
Cornwell also has a knack of writing battle scenes that are probably the most accurate and descriptive ones I have read. You can understand the battle as it plays out across the field, or ford or town walls, whatever, and you can also feel the bloodlust awakened in the participants. I did have a lot of trouble with one spot, describing a head wound, that was just a little too close to home for my comfort. (As I was listening to this on audio, I just drove down Calhoun Street saying "lalalala I can't hear you" and cringing/waving my hands to wave the images away when the words got through. )
This is the first book in the Grail Quest books, and I probably will read others in the series when I stumble upon them. As for Cornwell, he's on my favorite authors list. If you ever have a chance to go hear him speak, do so. Highly entertaining and informative (and lives part of the year here in Charleston.) show less
Cornwell also has a knack of writing battle scenes that are probably the most accurate and descriptive ones I have read. You can understand the battle as it plays out across the field, or ford or town walls, whatever, and you can also feel the bloodlust awakened in the participants. I did have a lot of trouble with one spot, describing a head wound, that was just a little too close to home for my comfort. (As I was listening to this on audio, I just drove down Calhoun Street saying "lalalala I can't hear you" and cringing/waving my hands to wave the images away when the words got through. )
This is the first book in the Grail Quest books, and I probably will read others in the series when I stumble upon them. As for Cornwell, he's on my favorite authors list. If you ever have a chance to go hear him speak, do so. Highly entertaining and informative (and lives part of the year here in Charleston.) show less
This was the first Cornwell book I ever read and I really wanted to like it, but it just didn't happen for me. I didn't find any of the characters particularly relatable, or even likeable for that matter. The plot seemed thin, and consisted mostly of a series of battle and bloodshed, culminating in a huge battle at the end. To his credit, Cornwell writes battle scenes very well, and I really felt like I was on there. However, a 14th century battlefield is not somewhere I want to be, and I didn't find it enjoyable. This book would probably appeal more to those who are seeking lots of action, historical accuracy, but little character development. Not a bad book, but definitely not my cup of tea.
Cornwell has a bit of a formula, and you recognize bits from Sharpe and Last kingdom, and one-offs like Azincourt. Which isn't to say it's bad, it's a very good formula. But this book feels less inspired than his others and is very clearly just part one of a trilogy rather than a self contained story in a larger series.
Review for the Trilogy as a whole.
I loved these. I read them in 3 days - a book a night. Cornwell's changing periods again. This time he's gone to England and France in the 1340s at the start of the Hundred Years War. His hero is an English archer rather than a knight which allows some interesting reflections on the feudal system. I'd got a bit tired of Sharpe (yes I know, heresy) but even here, I notice similarities of theme. I know, for example that however hot Cornwell's heroes may be, (and this one's pretty hot) I would prefer not to be the girlfriend of any of them. They seem to have a habit of ending up dead or raped or both. Here it's no different, and our hero has to battle the forces of evil in the shape of some very show more unpleasant knights, Dominican inquisitors ambitious and unscrupulous cardinals and assorted bandits, brigands and peasantry as he chases the chimera of the Grail across France and England, a quest he barely believes in himself. Cornwell's solution to the mystery of the Grail is believable, without going into all the mysteries of the sacred feminine hogwash that Dan Brown dug up on Google. Purists will be relieved to hear there is no mention of the Priory of Sion. show less
I loved these. I read them in 3 days - a book a night. Cornwell's changing periods again. This time he's gone to England and France in the 1340s at the start of the Hundred Years War. His hero is an English archer rather than a knight which allows some interesting reflections on the feudal system. I'd got a bit tired of Sharpe (yes I know, heresy) but even here, I notice similarities of theme. I know, for example that however hot Cornwell's heroes may be, (and this one's pretty hot) I would prefer not to be the girlfriend of any of them. They seem to have a habit of ending up dead or raped or both. Here it's no different, and our hero has to battle the forces of evil in the shape of some very show more unpleasant knights, Dominican inquisitors ambitious and unscrupulous cardinals and assorted bandits, brigands and peasantry as he chases the chimera of the Grail across France and England, a quest he barely believes in himself. Cornwell's solution to the mystery of the Grail is believable, without going into all the mysteries of the sacred feminine hogwash that Dan Brown dug up on Google. Purists will be relieved to hear there is no mention of the Priory of Sion. show less
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Author Information
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Bernard Cornwell was born in London, England, on February 23, 1944, and came to the United States in 1980. He received a B.A. from the University of London in 1967. Cornwell served as producer of the British Broadcasting Corporation from 1969-1976. After this he was head of current affairs for BBC-TV in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1979 he became show more editor of television news for Thames Television of London. Since 1980 he has been a freelance writer. he lives with his wife on Cape Cod. Cornwell's Sharpe series, adventure stories about a British soldier set in the Peninsula War of 1808-1814, are built on the author's interest in the Duke of Wellington's army. Titles include Sharpe's Rifles, Sharpe's Revenge, Sharpe's Siege, Sharpe's Regiment, and Sharpe's Waterloo. The Last Kingdom series has ten books. Book ten, The Flame Bearer is on the bestsellers list. He has also written other works including Wildtrack, Killer's Wake, Sea Lord, Stormchild, Rebel, Copperhead, and Battle Flag. His title Death of Kings made The New York Times Best Seller List in 2012 and In 2014 his title The Pagan Lord made the list again. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- The Archer's Tale
- Original title
- Harlequin
- Original publication date
- 2000-10-16
- People/Characters
- Thomas of Hookton; Guy Vexille; Father Hobbe; Will Skeat; Jeanette, Countess of Amorica; Sir Guillaume d'Evecque (show all 10); Eleanor; Sir Simon Jekyll; Edward, the Black Prince (of Woodstock, Prince of Wales and Aquitaine); Robbie
- Important places
- La Roche-Derrien, Brittany, France; Caen, Calvados, Normandy, France; Crécy-en-Ponthieu, Hauts-de-France, France (a.k.a. Crécy or Cressy); York, Yorkshire, England; Hookton, Dorset, England, UK (fictional)
- Important events
- Hundred Years' War (1337 | 1453); Battle of Crécy (1346-08-26)
- Epigraph
- "... many deadly battles have been fought, people slaughtered, churches robbed, souls destroyed, young women and virgins deflowered, respectable wives and widows dishonoured; towns, manors and building burned, and robberies, ... (show all)cruelties and ambushes committed on the highways. Justice has failed because of these things. The Christian faith has withered and commerce has perished and so many other wickednesses and horrid things have followed from these wars that they cannot be spoken, numbered or written down." - Jean II, King of France, 1360
- Dedication
- HARLEQUIN is for Richard and Julie Rutherford-Moore
- First words
- The treasure of Hookton was stolen on Easter morning 1342.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And that Hookton was avenged.
- Original language
- English UK
- Disambiguation notice
- Was published as The Archer's Tale in the US.
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