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Bernard Cornwell

Heretic (The Grail Quest, Book 3) Paperback – September 25, 2007

by Bernard Cornwell (Author)

3,060 ratings

Book 3 of 4: The Grail Quest

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From New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell, the sequel to The Archer’s Tale and Vagabond—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.

Already a seasoned veteran of King Edward's army, young Thomas of Hookton possesses the fearlessness of a born leader and an uncanny prowess with the longbow. Now, at the head of a small but able band of soldiers, he has been dispatched to capture the castle of Astarac. But more than duty to his liege has brought him to Gascony, home of his forebears and the hated black knight who brutally slew Thomas's father. It is also the last place where the Holy Grail was reported seen. Here, also, a beautiful and innocent, if not pious, woman is to be burned as a heretic. Saving the lady, Genevieve, from her dread fate will brand Thomas an infidel, forcing them to flee together across a landscape of blood and fire. And what looms ahead is a battle to the death that could ultimately shape the future of Christendom.

Print length

368 pages
Language

English
Publisher

HarperCollins
Publication date

September 25, 2007
Dimensions

5.31 x 0.83 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0060748281
ISBN-13

978-0060748289
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Cornwell is a master of the historical action novel, and he outdoes himself again.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Cornwell delivers intense and detailed battle action ....Highly recommended.” — Library Journal

From the Back Cover

Already a seasoned veteran of King Edward's army, young Thomas of Hookton possesses the fearlessness of a born leader and an uncanny prowess with the longbow. Now, at the head of a small but able band of soldiers, he has been dispatched to capture the castle of Astarac. But more than duty to his liege has brought him to Gascony, home of his forebears and the hated black knight who brutally slew Thomas's father. It is also the last place where the Holy Grail was reported seen. Here, also, a beautiful and innocent, if not pious, woman is to be burned as a heretic. Saving the lady, Genevieve, from her dread fate will brand Thomas an infidel, forcing them to flee together across a landscape of blood and fire. And what looms ahead is a battle to the death that could ultimately shape the future of Christendom.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (September 25, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060748281
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060748289
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.83 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #92,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #425 in Military Historical Fiction
- #978 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #1,274 in War Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
3,060 ratings

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Bernard Cornwell

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Bernard Cornwell was born in London and worked in television until he met his American wife and moved to the US. Denied a work permit, he wrote a novel and has been writing ever since.

A master storyteller with a passion for history, his current bestselling series, THE LAST KINGDOM, is centred around the creation of England. It is also a major TV series on Netflix, with Bernard playing a cameo role in season three. The fourth season is currently being filmed.

He is also the author of THE GRAIL QUEST series, set in the Hundred Years’ War, THE WARLORD chronicles, set in Arthurian Britain, a number of standalone novels, one non-fiction work on Waterloo and the series with which he began, the SHARPE series.

For exciting news, tour and publication details, and exclusive content from Bernard visit www.bernardcornwell.net and like his author page on Facebook/Bernard.Cornwell

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

3,060 global ratings

5 star		73%
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Gary Griffiths

"I Prepare a Table"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 24, 2007

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"Heretic" may not be the strongest installment of Bernard Cornwell's outstanding trilogy of Thomas of Hookton and his reluctant quest for the Holy Grail, but it is nonetheless a raucous, lively, and brutal portrayal of life in 14th century France. If there is a weakness in "Heretic", it is the absence of historical events to lend even more credibility to Cornwell's authoritative depiction of the culture, religion, politics and especially the warfare of the period. Where "The Archer's Tale" and "Vagabond" were based upon the famous battles the kicked off what was later known The Hundred Year's War, "Heretic" is mostly pure fiction, wrapping up Thomas' quests, both spiritual and personal.

In this final episode, the title refers to Genevieve, an innocent and beautiful young girl sentenced to be burned at the stake for heresy. If there is a central theme in the series, it is the virtually absolute power of the Church, and the influence the Church wielded over the masses, from the most powerful kings and barons to the lowliest of peasants. If Cornwell's treatment of the religious hierarchy is a bit heavy-handed, it is difficult to argue the well-recorded abuses of an institution that twisted the word of God to attain rewards that were anything but spiritual. From the barbarous tortures of the Inquisition delivered by the hands of pious priests to fraudulent relics and "absolution for sale", Cornwell skewers the corruption heaped upon an uneducated and superstitious populace - practices which would lay the foundation for the Reformation in the centuries to follow.

But setting religion aside, "Heretic" is at its core simply a terrific story of love, adventure, and war in a fascinating period of western civilization. As expected from Cornwell, battle scenes are as vivid and deep as the rivers of blood he cascades through battlefields of broken men and horses. Cornwell's primer on the impact and influence that the virtually impregnable English archer held in Medieval warfare was riveting - one wonders what course western history would have taken were it not for these humble bowmen who would strike terror in opponents far greater numbers, launching stream upon stream of goose-feathered ash missiles capable of penetrating the thickest shield and heaviest plate armor.

In short, a gripping tale of love, betrayal, trusts forged and trusts broken, and ultimately redemption compensate for what "Heretic" may be lacking in historical underpinnings. This and the two titles that proceed it are simultaneously the most educational and entertaining works of historical fiction I've ever read - I couldn't give Cornwell and the Grail series a higher recommendation.

4 people found this helpful

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Fred Camfield

3rd book in the series

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 23, 2004

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Set in 14th century France, where the peasants trying to survive were beset by greedy barons exacting rent and taxes, invading armies that pillaged and burned villages, a corrupt church, bands of unemployed soldiers who occupied areas for their own profit, gangs of bandits who preyed on everyone else, and the plague which appeared and decimated entire towns. Thomas of Hookton returns to France during the last stages of the seige of Calais. He reports to the Earl of Northampton, and leaves on a search for the Holy Grail.
It is an interesting tale, and does raise a question. How would you recognize the Grail if you happened to find it? It was a cup, but there were hundreds of thousands of cups lying about. The quest is joined by various people who have their own interests in finding the Grail, some for personal profit, and some for power. Friendships are uncertain, and people sometimes form unlikely alliances (an enemy of my enemy is my friend). The main criteria for being a hero seems to be the ability to survive, and Thomas survives unusual perils while people around him perish.
The novel has an interesting epilogue about the Grail. Readers are referred to Mercedes Lackey's short story "Once and Future" about a man who wakes up one morning to find himself in possession of Excalibur (it is found in her collection, "Fiddler Fair"). Possibly of interest is the fact that Thomas finds a woman companion who also survives. The author has a habit of disposing of women in his novels, although Sharpe also eventually settled down with a woman who seems to survive.
I originally became interested in the series because the Earl of Northampton was a distant ancestor. The author has done extensive research into the history of time period, and his novels seem a good depiction of conditions.

4 people found this helpful

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John A Lee III

Finding the Holy Grail is a Tough Business

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 29, 2005

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Bernard Cornwell is a great writer of historical fiction, particularly when it involves armed conflict at the personal level. Indeed, some of his works send readers running to the dictionary to look up obscure terms for armor, arms and tactics. Some may find that tedious but I find it fascinating. This book is no different in that respect. It is also a good story.

The action takes place in France during the Hundred Years War. The protagonist is an English archer charged with leading a group of men to take over a small town that was one the possession of an English noble. The real reason is that the noble suspects that there will be found information leading to the recovery of the Holy Grail. It seems that many others have the same idea and the situation is ready for medieval conflict: bloody, brutal and harsh.

One of the things that makes this an interesting book is the characterizations. Often, the "good guys" are found doing bad things for bad reasons. The "bad guys" occasionally have very laudable reasons for their actions. Things don't seem so simple when viewed through a medieval lens.

The title refers to the love interest of the protagonist. She is a girl falsely accused of heresy and condemned to burn. Instead of burning herself, she is rescued and inflames the libidos of various characters thus causing even more chaos and conflict. That much at least has not chanced since the Hundred Years War.

It is a good story and Cornwell does a good job of making the reader feel at home in times long past.

6 people found this helpful

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Mean Kitty

brilliant

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 17, 2022

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The stories are vivid and full of adventure along with some well placed humor. Cant wait to see what happens next.

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Mark

Excellent ending to a great adventure.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 25, 2021

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As usual Bernard Cornwell’s story does not fail to please. Thomas, the son of a mad priest and battle hardened archer, completes his quest and honors the wishes of a good man in a violent world. Cornwell brings the middle age to life with his vivid descriptions of battle and the people, combatants and civilians, affected.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 24, 2022

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The best of the 25 of Cromwell’s books I have read. Thomas is an enigma, expanding on the archetype heroes like Richard Sharpe.

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Clemens A. Schoonderwoert

A Great Heretic Grail!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 26, 2021

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Read this book in 2005, and its the 3rd part of the archer "Thomas of Hookton" series.

This book is set in the Middle Ages during the Hundred Years War, in the year AD 1347, England has cpatured Calais and a truce with france is secured, but once again Thomas of Hookton and his companions on the hunt for the Holy Grail.

While travelling to Gascony to engineer a confrontation with his deadliest enemy, Guy Vexille, his campaign is destroyed by the church and he will become the hunted with only a condemned Heretic girl as company, and so he must play hide and seek against an overwhelming enemy.

When at last Thomas meets his enemy, Guy Vexille, face to face, a deadly plague will introduce itself to lay a deadly waste to land and people, and so his search for the grail must be put on hold for the time being.

A marvellous action-packed tale about the Hundred Years War and the plague of AD 1347, in which Thomas of Hookton must try to survive to keep his hunt for the Grail alive, and that's why I like to call this book: "A Great Heretic Grail"!

One person found this helpful

Dogbite Dave

A GOOD PAGE TURNING READ

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 1, 2016

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I have no qualms in giving an honest review which includes the good the bad and the ugly where appropriate. This is one of four linked books in the series. Set in the 1400's. The story as a whole starts with a young archer, follows him through generations and the fantastic might of the archer to the English army and the way such a simple weapon dominated war for 200 years. Battle descriptions, locations, the actual leaders involved. Using fictionalised storylines, incorporates real battles, tactics, locations. A real good read and starting with the first of the set continues with the same characters. A great way to learn history as day, date, people involved and place. A great read, start and read the books in order. You will read them again in a few years time and enjoy them just as much

6 people found this helpful

emmmajay

A fantastic book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 12, 2022

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This is the third installment of the grail quest series. And it had me hooked just like the other two before this. Thomas of hookton is by far one of my favourite characters. Of Bernard cornwells. I came across this series after reading the warlord chronicals. And I do not regret buying and reading this series. I would recommend this book and the rest of the series.

Pat

Heretic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 29, 2021

Verified Purchase

Fantastic. I would expect nothing less from Bernard Cornwell. It has got everything. History, adventure, blood, Gore and love. Superb!

One person found this helpful

Donus

Thomas of .Hookton, a man on a mission

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 12, 2014

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Bernard Cornwell is, in my opinion [for whatever that is worth] the best historical author currently working in the world of narrative fiction; based upon real-life historical events. He pulls no punches in respect to the often extremely violent reality of life during the wide ranging periods of human history he has covered. The net result is an authentic and often contemporary feel, featuring a cast of flawed characters that the modern day reader can identify with [in some cases], and entertained by until it becomes quite addictive.

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