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    1356: A Novel
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    1356: A Novel
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    1356: A Novel
    Ebook480 pages8 hours

    1356: A Novel

    By Bernard Cornwell

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJan 8, 2013
    ISBN9780062198976
    Author

    Bernard Cornwell

    Bernard Cornwell was born in London, raised in Essex and worked for the BBC for eleven years before meeting Judy, his American wife. Denied an American work permit he wrote a novel instead and has been writing ever since. He and Judy divide their time between Cape Cod and Charleston, South Carolina.

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    Reviews for 1356

    4/5

    238 ratings18 reviews

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    • 3/5
      "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.
    • 4/5
      4th in the Thomas of Hookton series, set during the Hundred Years War. Thomas is a great character, a British longbowman who's risen to lead his own mercenary band. In previous books we've met Thomas at the historical Battle of Crecy (1346) and later battles as he searched for the holy grail. In 1356, 10 years later, we find Thomas older, gruffer, harder, and yet more determined lead his men in "honorable" war, rather than rape and pillage as was common. The (again, historical) Battle of Poitiers is looming. Thomas is following Edward, the Black Prince, and seeking La Malice, the legendary sword Peter used to defend Christ at Gethsemane. Caught between French soldiers on one side and a malevolent, ambitious Cardinal on the other. Thomas must find a way to survive both.Cornwell's writing is always "easy on the eyes" and I found 1356 to be a fast, engaging read, filled with history but not beating you over the head with it. I love the Thomas character, and am looking forward to another book in the series.
    • 4/5
      "This is going to hurt you...so very much." Hilarious! I loved this old lady. Look out for her!Bernard Cornwell, like a macro photographer, focuses on amazing details of life during that period. I devoured this book with relish. I loved Bernard Cornwell's rich portrayal of that life; the use of titles, the food they ate, weapons used, how arrows were made, the differences in arrows, the use of crushed bones in the making of steel and and and... Yet at no time are you aware of him telling these details because they are finely threaded into an awesome story. Without the details the plot would be meaningless.The brutality of those days has no comparison to anything we know today. It is jarring. How was it possible to live? I can't think of any man that would not want to be more like Le Batard. I wanted to know more of the ladies; beyond them being beautiful.I highly recommend this book for those that love historical fiction, for those that would love to reside with a traveling band of raw warriors
    • 5/5
      Bernard Cornwell is the best historical fiction writer I've ever read, and 1356 tops all of the previous novels of his that I have read. Set in the Hundred Years War between England and France, the main character is Thomas of Hookton. While doing mercenary work with his unruly band of men, his lord instructs him to retrieve the sword of St. Peter, which is supposed to have magical powers. The sword is also being sought by Cardinal Besiers. To complicate matters, Thomas's wife and child are abducted and he has to free them. This culminates in a bloody battle between the British and the French.I enjoyed everything about this novel. Not only is Thomas of Hookton a great character, but the novel is chocked full of great characters. Cornwell does a great job of coming up with believable characters with motivations that are easy to relate to. The action is well done. The novel moves at a quick pace. The prose is top notch. There is adventure, intrigue, and suspense in abundance. I would love to find something to criticize but I can't. This is an excellent novel that I highly recommend.Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
    • 3/5
      Set in France in the 14th century, this is fantasy about knights and battles and high politics. Not to be taken seriously. Light on the romance and heavy on the blood and gore, but I can understand how the author has written so many novels. They are action packed and fast paced.
    • 3/5
      The main problem here is that this story was effectively wrapped up in 'Heretic.' As always, Cornwell's descriptions of battle are interesting - this time the Battle of Poitiers. Entertaining, but I hope that Cornwell doesn't continue to add to this series to mimic a medieval version of his Sharpe series, as I think there isn't much more to add here. I almost feel that this would have been better covered as an independent novel like his 'Azincourt'.
    • 4/5
      It's a little counter intuitive to say you loved a book that is mostly battle and brutal fighting between two armies in that long ago year of 1356, but it's the truth. Bernard Cornwell has the ability to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind, and to map out the happenings of long ago battles. He brings to life both actual historic characters and the characters that come to life through his writing skill.If I'd had Bernard Cornwell on my bookshelf in college, I would have aced those essay questions about what happened in the different wars that were taught in Western Civ.Having said that, I read the first in The Grail Quest series back in 2010, and have now picked back up with this audio book. It was great fun to stumble upon old friends and find what's gone on with them in the interim. It's very obvious that Cornwell speaks his writing aloud as part of the process (and , indeed, if you've ever gone down the street where he lives part-time here in Charleston, you can hear him, sounding like a man possessed, speaking his characters' lines.The tour guides love it when he gets going full steam.) The dialog is real, funny, moving, and very, very authentic. Another delight was the introduction of a character named Keane, who, I strongly suspect, got his name from a mutual friend, also here in Charleston.Even if Keane is not based on Keane, he's a great character, and I'm glad he made it out of this book alive.Will go back and find the interim books, also hopefully on audio, to fill in the gap.
    • 3/5
      I didn't realize this was a sequel to the Grail trilogy when I picked it up. It read fine, but there was obviously a lot of backstory I wasn't familiar with.
    • 5/5
      A well paced, well informed and gripping 'techno' thriller for the 1300's! Absolutely loved it. I'm trying to get my son to read it - if you've a child (teenager realistically) who doesn't get excited by history get them to read Cornwell's books; I read this as a stand alone and would be a great introduction to his work.
    • 5/5
      Sir Thomas of Hookton, a fictional archer from a fictional English village, stars in the 4th episode of the "Grail Quest" series. Leading a mercenary band of archers and men-at-arms through chaotic France during the 100 Years War, this novel follows our hero through events up to and including the stunning English victory at Poiters, where Edward the Black Prince (as he would someday be known) defeated a French army nearly twice the size and took captive the presumed King of France (presumed because the English insisted that Edward III was the rightful king).Sir Thomas has developed a sort of hobby finding revered religious relics and disposing of them for the presumed good of mankind. A descendent of a Cathar heretic, Thomas really doesn't believe these objects are what they are made out to be: the spear of St. George, the Holy Grail, and, in this book, the sword of St. Peter (for purposes of the book named "la Malice." Raised to be a cleric, Thomas isn't necessarily an impious person, although he was excommunicated from the Church and declared an outlaw. Also in search of la Malice is the Pope's right-hand thug, a Cardinal Bessiers, and a priest with bird called a "callade" that is an alleged truth-sayer, in that it pecks out the eyeballs of a victim that is presumably lying. Starving the bird so that it is always hungry for eyeballs is a bit disingenuous, and when Thomas' wife is maimed and partially blinded by the bird, you know the Church is going to take a beating.The climax of the book, the Battle of Poiters, is lavishly described, just as the Battle of Crecy was in an earlier book in the series. At the end of the last book, Heretic, the initial trilogy seemed complete, yet the door left open for was is this novel. The next major battle, the Battle of Agincourt, is far off...not only was it the subject of a stand-alone novel by Cornwell, but also is beyond the useful career of the Sir Thomas of Hookton character. Perhaps he will again pursue a powerful relic in another medieval adventure, but it would be a new story from whole cloth as virtually all of Thomas' antagonists have been put to rest.
    • 4/5
      Set around the battle of Poitiers in the Hundred Years War, the hero is Thomas Hookton, from the Grail Quest trilogy of Harlequin, Vagabond, and Heretic, back to seek another holy relic. Wrapping up the search for St Peter's sword in a single novel made the quest too simple for my taste but there is enough other plot to have held my interest all day.
    • 4/5
      I had assumed that having finished 'Heretic' that this was a conclusion to the adventures of Thomas of Hookton. So it was a bit of a surprise to see him make a re-appearance after some hiatus. The 100 Years War offers plenty of material for other books and the book was a decent story involving another religious relic set against the backdrop of the conflict in France. There was good characterisation and an attempt to define female figures. However, given that the Uthred series is continuing and that Sharpe has been on hiatus for some time I reiterate my previous belief that Starbuck deserves a return as a continuation of Uthred and Thomas are too similar at this time.
    • 5/5
      A great read that brings history to life. a must read if you wish to larn ofth eblsck Prince.
    • 4/5
      Good book. Big fan. Unfortunately I've read all his books. Patiently waiting for the next.
    • 4/5
      Excellent story about the time, politics, and people leading up to the Battle at Poitiers. The Battle, between the English and the French was an outstanding battle in English history. The English were badly outnumbered, weary, short of water and food. Yet they fought a long battle and emerged clearly victorious.The story's main character is Thomas, leader of a group of select warriors for the English. It is a story you can't put down and even though the book seems like one bloody battle after another, all vividly described, it is a story that pulls you in and takes you along for the ride.I didn't know that it was part of one of Cornwell's series, but now I will try to get the others as I would like to read more about Thomas. Cornwell is expert at writing historical novels.
    • 3/5
      Thomas Hookton, gets to the battle of Poitiers. The battle is the best part of the book, which is otherwise not really very well done.
    • 4/5
      Good read as always
    • 4/5
      so much archer strength