'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 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. ( )

so much archer strength ( )

Thomas de Hookton, arquero inglés veterano de Crécy y otras batallas, es el líder de una compañía de mercenarios que saquea las tierras del sur de Francia. Eduardo, príncipe de Gales, que pasará a la Historia como el Príncipe Negro, está reuniendo un ejército para luchar contra los franceses una vez más. Pero antes de que Thomas y sus hombres puedan unirse al mismo, el conde de Northampton le ordena una misión urgente: encontrar la Malice antes de que lo hagan los franceses, una espada de poder mítico de la que se dice que conduce a la victoria a quien la posee, y que se halla en algún lugar cercano a Poitiers. Pero todos —el grupo de Thomas, sus enemigos y la Malice— serán engullidos por la extraordinaria confrontación que se prepara entre el poderoso ejército francés del rey Juan y el más reducido contingente inglés, con sus temidos arqueros.

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. ( )

The novel 1356 is a continuation of Bernard Cornwell's Grail Quest series. It continues the story of the fictional English archer Thomas Hookton during the 100 Years War. Bernard Cornwell writes stories that hold interest for hundreds of pages. Had to keep reading because there was always something else about to happen. In the previous book, Heretic, Hookton was looking for the Holy Grail though he was quite sure it did not really exist. In this book a sword that was believed to be the one St. Peter carried in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was believed that this sword would convey great power. Hookton hoped to find it and put it where it would never be found and fought over again. Does he succeed? ( )