The Archer's Tale

Thomas, a young Englishman, joins King Edward III's army in 1343 to invade France after his village is massacred by French raiders. The object of their attack is a lance kept in the village's church. His vow for revenge begins a journey into manhood and toward a final confrontation with French forces. Tim Piggott-Smith reads the narrative crisply, his voice shifting tone with each action and thought, from the tension of the battle scenes to Thomas's joy for archery. Most characters have rough, harsh voices thick with old English accents, but are easily understood. The often violent story portrays a rough age with all its blemishes yet retains the romantic aura added by the modern imagination. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

August 6, 2001
The young archer Thomas of Hookton joins the forces of King Edward III to fight against France in Cornwell's latest, which takes place in the mid-14th century at the beginning of the Hundred Years War. Thomas, a brilliant, handsome warrior who combines physical strength and skill with the bow, survives the pillaging of his village to become an archer and then rescues a female counterpart known as the Blackbird after she's nearly raped by Sir Simon Jekyll during one of the troop's raids in France. The nobleman becomes Thomas's chief rival as Jekyll continues to pursue the Blackbird, and Thomas is finally cast out of his unit after failing to kill Jekyll in an ill-conceived assassination attempt. He recovers to join and couple with the Blackbird, making his way through France and parlaying his skills into a royal pardon even as his opportunistic partner leaves him for the libidinous Prince of Wales. The three members of Cornwell's romantic triangle eventually meet during a huge climactic battle at Crécy, where Thomas must face up to a demanding family legacy involving a quest for a special lance. Cornwell has been down this path many times before, and he's a consummate pro when it comes to plying the tried-and-true combination of heroic characters; a fast-moving, action-packed plot; and enough twists and turns to keep the narrative from lapsing into formula. He uses his historical expertise judiciously as well. This book mark the beginning of a promising new series that brings an intriguing period to life. (Oct. 9)Forecast:Cornwell, the author of the Richard Sharpe series, set during the Napoleonic Wars, has a strong and growing U.S. fan base.
The Archer's Tale, already a bestseller in Britain, should strengthen his hold on the Patrick O'Brian crowd.

Reminiscent of, but by no means as rich as, Charles Reade's THE CLOISTER AND THE HEARTH, this sweeping novel takes place during the medieval One Hundred Years Wars. After making a promise of vengeance to his dying father, the title bowman fights the French, rapes, pillages, rescues damsels, makes a powerful enemy, suffers pangs of conscience, discovers his true identity, and falls in love. The usual stuff. In narrative sections, reader Colin McPhillamy is merely serviceable. In dialogue sections he excels indeed--imbuing the characters with more personality than has the author. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

June 15, 2001
Cornwell temporarily abandons Richard Sharpe for a new hero: Thomas of Hookton, a young archer in King Edward III's army who undertakes a quest for the Holy Grail.

Copyright 2001 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.