Changes

|title=1356

|author=Bernard Cornwell

|borrow=Yes

|isbn=978-0007331840

|pages=400

|publisher=HarperCollins

|date=September 2012

|website=http://www.bernardcornwell.net

|summary=Sir Thomas Hookton is back, starring in a rollicking adventure across France, leading to the Battle of Poitiers. Heroes, villains, a race to a relic, an edge-of-the-seat battle… Who'd say no to that?

}}

Sir Thomas Hookton, aka Le Batard (a French word that's very similar in English, if you see what I mean) roams France with his band of mercenaries, acquiring plundered riches and selling their services in the war against the French. However, Thomas' liege, Lord William Bohun, Earl of Northampton, disrupts the combative equilibrium when demands a diversion. Monks are spreading stories about 'La Malice', (the sword with which St Peter defended Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane) and with it the power to bless or curse the owner, depending who you listen to. So Lord 'Billy' wants it and La Batard must find it. Meanwhile Sir Thomas has competition as unsavoury elements in the church create a special order of knights. They mean to find it first, by foul means or even fouler.

''1356'' is a self-contained, stand-alone novel which is good and bad. Good in that you read it without having read of Sir Thomas' previous exploits (but bet you will afterwards) and bad as there doesn't seem to be an opening for a 'Holy Sword Quest' trilogy either. But there's still mileage (and a lot of fight) in Sir Thomas et al yet so can we look forward to girding our loins for another Le Batard adventure in the future? I hope so. Nothing has been said, but perhaps if we all ask nicely…?

If you've enjoyed this and are ready for another historic adventure, we can suggest [[Hawk Quest by Robert Lyndon]].

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