Bernard Cornwell, the "master of martial fiction" (Booklist), brings Thomas of Hookton from the popular Grail Quest series into a new adventure in 1356, a thrilling stand-alone novel. On September 19, 1356, a heavily outnumbered English army faced off against the French in the historic Battle of Poitiers. In 1356, Cornwell resurrects this dramatic and bloody struggle—one that would turn out to be the most decisive and improbable victory of the Hundred Years’ War, a clash where the underdog English not only the captured the strategic site of Poitiers, but the French King John II as well. In the vein of Cornwell’s bestselling Agincourt, 1356 is an action-packed story of danger and conquest, rich with military strategy and remarkable characters—both villainous and heroic—transporting readers to the front lines of war while painting a vivid picture of courage, treachery, and combat.
1356: A Novel
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“The first must-read of 2013 arrives….Bernard Cornwell is a master of combining a thumping good tale with a fascinating history lesson.” (Reader's Digest )
“In addition to carving out another action-packed martial adventure, Cornwell spotlights one of the most significant but often overlooked battles of the era.” (Booklist )
“No one picks a fight like Cornwell, who here does for the Battle of Poitiers what he did for the bloody fray that was Agincourt in the book of that name.” (Library Journal )
“A master of action-packed historical fiction…a vivid, exciting portrayal of medieval warfare….Nobody writes battle scenes like Cornwell, accurately conveying the utter savagery of close combat with sword, ax, and mace, and the gruesome aftermath.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )
“Bernard Cornwell does the best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present.” (George R.R. Martin )
“Nobody in the world does this stuff better than Cornwell - action set six hundred years ago is as fresh and vital as six days ago, with rough, tough men at war, proving once again that nothing changes... least of all great storytelling.” (Lee Child )
“The reigning king of historical fiction.” (USA Today )
“Bernard Cornwell is a gifted and prolific historical novelist who seems at home in virtually every era….A lively, accessible account of a remote moment in European history, a book in which Cornwell’s gifts as scholar and storyteller come together spectacularly.” (Bill Sheehan, Washington Post )
“Tired of waiting for another of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones books? Cornwell’s latest novel may be your best option.” (Billy Heller, New York Post )
“Cornwell is one of the best writers of historical fiction.” (McClatchy News )
“The legions of Cornwell’s fans…will need little encouragement to devour this latest installment in the Hundred Years Way sequence. Everything you expect of a Cornwell offering is here in abundance: interesting characters, rich historical detail, thrilling battles, war, violence, gore, heroism, wry humour….Highly recommended.” (Historical Novels Society )
“In addition to carving out another action-packed martial adventure, Cornwell spotlights one of the most significant but often overlooked battles of the era.” (Booklist )
“No one picks a fight like Cornwell, who here does for the Battle of Poitiers what he did for the bloody fray that was Agincourt in the book of that name.” (Library Journal )
“A master of action-packed historical fiction…a vivid, exciting portrayal of medieval warfare….Nobody writes battle scenes like Cornwell, accurately conveying the utter savagery of close combat with sword, ax, and mace, and the gruesome aftermath.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )
“Bernard Cornwell does the best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present.” (George R.R. Martin )
“Nobody in the world does this stuff better than Cornwell - action set six hundred years ago is as fresh and vital as six days ago, with rough, tough men at war, proving once again that nothing changes... least of all great storytelling.” (Lee Child )
“The reigning king of historical fiction.” (USA Today )
“Bernard Cornwell is a gifted and prolific historical novelist who seems at home in virtually every era….A lively, accessible account of a remote moment in European history, a book in which Cornwell’s gifts as scholar and storyteller come together spectacularly.” (Bill Sheehan, Washington Post )
“Tired of waiting for another of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones books? Cornwell’s latest novel may be your best option.” (Billy Heller, New York Post )
“Cornwell is one of the best writers of historical fiction.” (McClatchy News )
“The legions of Cornwell’s fans…will need little encouragement to devour this latest installment in the Hundred Years Way sequence. Everything you expect of a Cornwell offering is here in abundance: interesting characters, rich historical detail, thrilling battles, war, violence, gore, heroism, wry humour….Highly recommended.” (Historical Novels Society )
From the Back Cover
"The most prolific and successful historical novelist in the world today" (Wall Street Journal) has delivered another blockbuster with this thrilling tale of peril and conquest at the Battle of Poitiers.
September 1356. All over France, towns are closing their gates. Crops are burning, and through-out the countryside people are on the alert for danger. The English army—led by the heir to the throne, the Black Prince—is set to invade, while the French, along with their Scottish allies, are ready to hunt them down.
But what if there was a weapon that could decide the outcome of the imminent war?
Thomas of Hookton, known as le Batard, has orders to uncover the lost sword of Saint Peter, a blade with mystical powers said to grant certain victory to whoever possesses her. The French seek the weapon, too, and so Thomas's quest will be thwarted at every turn by battle and betrayal, by promises made and oaths broken. As the outnumbered English army becomes trapped near Poitiers, Thomas, his troop of archers and men-at-arms, his enemies, and the fate of the sword converge in a maelstrom of violence, action, and heroism.
Rich with colorful characters, great adventure, and thrilling conflict, 1356 is a magnificent tale of how the quest for a holy relic with the power to change history may culminate in an epic struggle.
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More About the Author
Bernard Cornwell was born in London in 1944 - a 'warbaby' - whose father was a Canadian airman and mother in Britain's Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted by a family in Essex who belonged to a religious sect called the Peculiar People (and they were), but escaped to London University and, after a stint as a teacher, he joined BBC Television where he worked for the next 10 years. He began as a researcher on the Nationwide programme and ended as Head of Current Affairs Television for the BBC in Northern Ireland. It was while working in Belfast that he met Judy, a visiting American, and fell in love. Judy was unable to move to Britain for family reasons so Bernard went to the States where he was refused a Green Card. He decided to earn a living by writing, a job that did not need a permit from the US government - and for some years he had been wanting to write the adventures of a British soldier in the Napoleonic wars - and so the Sharpe series was born. Bernard and Judy married in 1980, are still married, still live in the States and he is still writing Sharpe.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
"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 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.
"1356" is a good, solid, testosterone-laden action adventure set in late middle ages France, amidst the ongoing 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.
59 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I purposefully did not read the title summary for Harper's release, 1356, before reading the story. And until this book, I have never stopped to read any title by Bernard Cornwell. What I discovered was a dawning realization that this was an incredibly well-written, highly detailed historical fiction finding its zenith with the Battle of Poitiers in the year 1356. It's expansive. It's vast. The characters work. It's a walking adventure with great depth of detail and imagery.
This is how historical fiction should be written. The characters are written with strength. By the time of the final battle, I was so engaged in the story that I simply could not stop. That's not just a way to make a review sound good! I was honestly, extraordinarily hooked. I could "see" the battle taking place. I am now committed to reading the author's other titles as soon as I can.
I have a deep respect for the level of authorship this story reflects. I could see, hear and smell the din of battle in a way that only Martin (or Tolkien, for that matter) has enabled me in the past. I am in awe of this degree of rich, sweeping story telling. I hesitate to say that I was entertained. It's more like I was transfixed against my will.
The highly detailed narrative was a struggle for me at first. The first chapter's character is slowly woven into the fabric of the rest of the story, and although it turns out to be pivotal, I was lost in trying to grasp the significance.
Ultimately, though, I wasn't expecting to immerse myself so deeply in a story with such depth of range. It is not cookie-cutter fiction, folks. This is a serious novel, with amazingly detailed imagery and themes. And I enjoyed myself immensely.
I would recommend this book to anyone who found themselves bowled away by George R. R. Martin grand battle mechanics or with Tolkien's worldwide scope. The author, Bernard Cornwell, is an incredibly skilled writer worthy of all accolades heaped at his pen. Without a doubt, this author is at the top of the literary game.
This is how historical fiction should be written. The characters are written with strength. By the time of the final battle, I was so engaged in the story that I simply could not stop. That's not just a way to make a review sound good! I was honestly, extraordinarily hooked. I could "see" the battle taking place. I am now committed to reading the author's other titles as soon as I can.
I have a deep respect for the level of authorship this story reflects. I could see, hear and smell the din of battle in a way that only Martin (or Tolkien, for that matter) has enabled me in the past. I am in awe of this degree of rich, sweeping story telling. I hesitate to say that I was entertained. It's more like I was transfixed against my will.
The highly detailed narrative was a struggle for me at first. The first chapter's character is slowly woven into the fabric of the rest of the story, and although it turns out to be pivotal, I was lost in trying to grasp the significance.
Ultimately, though, I wasn't expecting to immerse myself so deeply in a story with such depth of range. It is not cookie-cutter fiction, folks. This is a serious novel, with amazingly detailed imagery and themes. And I enjoyed myself immensely.
I would recommend this book to anyone who found themselves bowled away by George R. R. Martin grand battle mechanics or with Tolkien's worldwide scope. The author, Bernard Cornwell, is an incredibly skilled writer worthy of all accolades heaped at his pen. Without a doubt, this author is at the top of the literary game.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Allow me to start with some incredibly unfair (and no longer applicable) criticism of Bernard Cornwell - he gives the English warrior Uthred a seemingly-limitless series (the "Saxon Stories") but he stopped the magnificent Grail Quest series ("The Archer's Tale," "Vagabond" and "Heretic") at a mere trilogy. I would submit that the Grail Quest's protagonist, Thomas of Hookton, archer extraordinaire, is just a fascinating character as Uthred, and the archer from the Hundred Years War is more important to Britain historically than a sword-swinging Dane.
With "1356," this criticism is now moot, as we now have another Thomas story. "1356" starts in typical Cornwell fashion - with a noble priest stealing a religious artifact and trying to stay one step ahead of murderous church minions. All the usual tropes from Cornwell books are here - rich clergy are usually villains, heroes are courageous and funny, and villains are (generally) craven and boorish. In "1356" we have a villain who is all too comfortable using a hawk as an interrogation technique (the bird is trained to pluck out your eyes - which I would find persuasive).
This quest for the artifact is motivated by the fact that the Black Prince of England is raiding and pillaging across France, burning crops and effectively denying France its vital revenue streams. King Jean of France, unfortunately, is too afraid of English archers to face them in battle. (After watching Thomas and his Hellequin destroy a French town, you understand Jean's reticence.) But Jean has a new ally, a Scottish general, who claims to know how to beat the English archers. Has Thomas of Hookton finally met his match?
Ultimately the novel builds to the titanic Battle of Poitiers, a battle that Cornwell argues should stand shoulder to shoulder with Crecy or Agincourt, but has been consigned to the junior varsity list.
As George R. R. Martin blurbs, Cornwell writes the best battle scenes in the business, and "1356" is full of them. Indeed, for the first 95% of the novel, I thought "1356" was among Cornwell's best books ever (which is high praise). But I must admit that a couple of storylines are truncated at the end and certain characters don't get the send-off that they deserve. If Cornwell gives us a "1356" sequel that fleshes out some of these storylines then I reserve the right to amend this to a five-star review, but so far "1356" is billed as a stand-alone novel.
As with all Cornwell books, this is highly recommended. While a "stand-alone" book, the reader should start with the Grail Quest trilogy - not only are those excellent books, they provide essential backstory to understand who these characters are.
With "1356," this criticism is now moot, as we now have another Thomas story. "1356" starts in typical Cornwell fashion - with a noble priest stealing a religious artifact and trying to stay one step ahead of murderous church minions. All the usual tropes from Cornwell books are here - rich clergy are usually villains, heroes are courageous and funny, and villains are (generally) craven and boorish. In "1356" we have a villain who is all too comfortable using a hawk as an interrogation technique (the bird is trained to pluck out your eyes - which I would find persuasive).
This quest for the artifact is motivated by the fact that the Black Prince of England is raiding and pillaging across France, burning crops and effectively denying France its vital revenue streams. King Jean of France, unfortunately, is too afraid of English archers to face them in battle. (After watching Thomas and his Hellequin destroy a French town, you understand Jean's reticence.) But Jean has a new ally, a Scottish general, who claims to know how to beat the English archers. Has Thomas of Hookton finally met his match?
Ultimately the novel builds to the titanic Battle of Poitiers, a battle that Cornwell argues should stand shoulder to shoulder with Crecy or Agincourt, but has been consigned to the junior varsity list.
As George R. R. Martin blurbs, Cornwell writes the best battle scenes in the business, and "1356" is full of them. Indeed, for the first 95% of the novel, I thought "1356" was among Cornwell's best books ever (which is high praise). But I must admit that a couple of storylines are truncated at the end and certain characters don't get the send-off that they deserve. If Cornwell gives us a "1356" sequel that fleshes out some of these storylines then I reserve the right to amend this to a five-star review, but so far "1356" is billed as a stand-alone novel.
As with all Cornwell books, this is highly recommended. While a "stand-alone" book, the reader should start with the Grail Quest trilogy - not only are those excellent books, they provide essential backstory to understand who these characters are.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Could not put it down!
Excellent plot and great characters.
A ripping yarn with that fascinating historical detail that the author specialises in.
Bring on the next one.
A ripping yarn with that fascinating historical detail that the author specialises in.
Bring on the next one.
Published 3 hours ago by kevin brooking
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another outstanding historical novel
Another 'can't put it down' story from Cornwell - I've read all of his books and am waiting for the next..
Published 5 hours ago by James C Schaaf Jr
2.0 out of 5 stars
A long wait for disappointment
Cornwell simply plopped a few characters from a previous and great series into a story unrelated to them at all. This is far from being a 4th book in the series. Read more
Published 12 hours ago by jason
4.0 out of 5 stars
Historical fiction
Mr. Cornwell is the best current author of histrorical fiction. His battle scenes are unmatched by anyone I have read in the last several years.
Published 1 day ago by P. Darby
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bernard Cornwell - the best
Mr. Cornwell hasn't disappointed me in anything that he has written. I love history and he supplies me with the stories I enjoy so much. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Stephanie Reynolds
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cornwell keeps the Saga Interesting
I have read every book in this series and loved them all. The English are pillaging France. Edward the Second is out to earn a reputation. The Battle Scenes are thrilling.
Published 5 days ago by W. Mumford
4.0 out of 5 stars
Page turner that could be concluded better
A good historical novel, moves well and cares for historicity. The end is a bit rushed and it resolves issues but raises questions about what next.
Published 7 days ago by Reader7
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read
Like all of Cornwell's books this is a terrific read, with amazing period color. Normally I would rate any of his books five star, and only rated this one four, as it did not seem... Read more
Published 7 days ago by M. Browne
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not his best, but good
I love Cornwell books, except for "Stonehenge." This one is a good read, but hot his best. x x x
Published 11 days ago by carrollk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed this book
I have read all of Bernard Cornwell's books. This is a good addition to his collection of writings. Recommend reading it.
Published 12 days ago by W. Torgersen
