LoveReading Says
Shortlisted for the Specsavers National Book Awards 'Popular Fiction of the Year' 2012.
With characteristically meticulous research Cornwell’s new historical blockbuster weaves a complex story, epic in scope, that has as its climax the battle of Poitiers, the second but less well known decisive battle in the Hundred Years War. English archer Thomas of Hookton is ordered to find the mythical, and lost, sword of St Peter said to grant victory to whoever possesses it. The quest however, leads to a confrontation that sparks a must bigger conflict. Medieval history brought to life by a master storyteller.
Sarah Broadhurst
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1356 Synopsis
Go with God and Fight Like the Devil. A fascinating hero and the pursuit of a sword with mythical power - this is the remarkable new novel by Britain's master storyteller, which culminates at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. Thomas of Hookton, a veteran of Crecy and many other battles, is the leader of a mercenary company of bowmen and men-at-arms who ravage the countryside east of Gascony. Edward, Prince of Wales, later to be known as the Black Prince, is assembling an army to fight the French once more but before Thomas can join, he must fulfil an urgent task. La Malice, a sword of mythical power guaranteeing victory to its owner, is thought to be concealed somewhere near Poitiers. With signs that a battle between the English and the French is looming others are seeking the treasure too, and some - French, Scots and even English - are pursuing their private agendas against Thomas. But all - Thomas of Hookton, his enemies and friends and the fate of La Malice - become swept up in the extraordinary confrontation that follows, as the large French army faces the heavily outnumbered English in battle.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780007331864 |
| Publication date: |
6th June 2013 |
| Author: |
Bernard Cornwell |
| Publisher: |
Harper an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
433 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Historical Fiction
|
| Recommendations: |
|
Bernard Cornwell Press Reviews
Praise for Bernard Cornwell:
'The best battle scenes of any writer I've ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.
George R.R. Martin
Praise for The Burning Land:
'Cornwell draws a fascinating picture of England as it might have been before anything like England existed
The Times Praise for AZINCOURT:
'This is a magnificent and gory work'
Daily Mail
'The historical blockbuster of the year'
Evening Standard
'A runaway success'
Observer Praise for Bernard Cornwell:
'The characterisation, as ever, is excellent...And one can only admire the little touches that bring the period to life. He can also claim to be a true poet of both the horror and the glory of war.' Sunday Telegraph
'This is typical Cornwell, meticulously researched, massive in scope, brilliant in execution'. News of the World
'He's called a master story-teller. Really he's cleverer than that.'
Telegraph
About Bernard Cornwell
Born in Essex in 1944 Bernard Cornwell was adopted at the age of six weeks by two members of a strict fundamentalist sect called the Peculiar People. He grew up in a household that forbade alcohol, cigarettes, dances, television, conventional medicine and toy guns. Not surprisingly, he developed a fascination for military adventure. As a teenager he devoured CS Forester’s Hornblower novels and tried to enlist three times. Poor eyesight put paid to his dream, instead he went to university to read theology. On graduating, he became a teacher, then joined BBC’s Nationwide, working his way up the ladder to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland, then editor of Thames News. In 1979, his life changed when he fell in love with an American.
"Judy couldn’t live here, so I gave up my job and moved to the US. I couldn’t get a green card, and for 18 months the only thing I could do was write novels." The result was his first book about 19th century hero, Richard Sharpe, Sharpe’s Eagle.
In addition to the hugely successful Sharpe novels, Bernard Cornwell is the author of the Starbuck Chronicles, the Warlord trilogy, the Grail Quest series, the Alfred series and standalone battle books Azincourt and The Fort.
Bernard Cornwell owns houses in Cape Cod and Florida and two boats. Every year he takes two months off from his writing and spends most of his time on his 24 foot Cornish crabber, Royalist.
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