1356 (The Grail Quest Book 4) by Bernard Cornwell - Historical Fiction - Paperback - Hundred Years War

Details. Condition: Brand New. Format: Paperback. ISBN: 9780007331864. Publisher: HarperCollins. Age Range: Adult (16+). Overview. 1356 is the gripping fourth novel in Bernard Cornwell's bestselling Grail Quest series, plunging readers into the chaos and carnage of the Hundred Years War. As France braces for renewed English invasion, archer Thomas of Hookton is drawn into a desperate hunt for a legendary sword and an even more legendary battle. Fast-paced, meticulously researched and brutally vivid, this is historical fiction at its finest from one of Britain's most celebrated storytellers, culminating in the epic Battle of Poitiers.. About the Book. France, 1356. The countryside stands alert to danger as the English army, fresh from its bloody victory at Crécy, marches once more under the command of Edward, the Black Prince. The French, determined to avenge past humiliations, are hunting the invaders across the scorched land. Somewhere in this unfolding catastrophe is Thomas of Hookton, known as le Bâtard, a battle-hardened archer and leader of a mercenary company. Thomas has orders to find the lost sword of Saint Peter, a blade rumoured to guarantee victory to whoever wields it in battle. As armies converge near the town of Poitiers, Thomas finds himself and his outnumbered comrades trapped between two vast forces, with the fate of the war itself hanging in the balance. What follows is one of the most ferocious and consequential confrontations of the entire Hundred Years War, brought to life with Cornwell's trademark eye for gritty, visceral detail and non-stop tension. Blending real history with a thrilling fictional quest, 1356 delivers politics, treachery, faith and unforgettable battle sequences in equal measure. Fans of the Grail Quest series will relish seeing Thomas's story reach this dramatic climax, while newcomers will find it a thoroughly satisfying standalone adventure steeped in authentic medieval atmosphere.. Fourth thrilling instalment in Bernard Co