1356 - Large Print by Bernard Cornwell (Paperback)

About the Book

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.

Book Synopsis

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.

From the Back Cover

September 1356. Across France, towns are closing their gates. The crops are burning and the countryside stands alert to danger. The English army--led by the heir to the throne, the Black Prince--is set to invade. The French, along with their Scottish allies, are ready to hunt them down.

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 by battle and betrayal. As the outnumbered English army becomes trapped near Poitiers, Thomas, his fellow troops, his enemies, and the fate of the sword all converge in a maelstrom of violence, action, and heroism.

Rich in color and characters, in great adventure and thrilling conflict, 1356 is the magnificent tale of how the quest for a holy relic with the power to change history leads to an epic battle.

Review Quotes

"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

"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

"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

"Gripping. . . . Bernard Cornwell leads us into this world with the hypnotic skill of an old seer seated about an ancient campfire. . . . Mr. Cornwell paints a vivid, harrowing portrait of the ordeal of medieval warfare, with trebuchets, catapults, primitive cannon, vats of boiling oil and crossbow bolts. . . Mr. Cornwell does not over-adorn the splendor, opulence and high art of Europe at the beginning of the 15th century. But neither does he obscure its darker side." - Ronald F. Maxwell, Wall Street Journal

"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