Bernard Cornwell believes the battle of Poitiers,
1356, is one of England's most significant military
In it, Edward, Prince of Wales (the Black Prince), defeated
the armies of France with its Scottish allies, in a
hard-fought battle where his army including men from Gascony
were outnumbered, thirsty, hungry and travel-worn. The King
of France was taken back to London, to join King David of
Scotland as a royal prisoner.
Cornwell guides us to Poitiers through the activities of
Thomas of Hookton, known in France as le Bartard. Hookton,
(who many readers will have met in Cornwell's Grail Series)
is a descendant of one of the Dark Lords, who have hidden the
sword of St Peter, believed to have mystical powers that both
church and state would like to have on their side.
The challenging quest for this sword allows the treachery and
brutality of both sides to be portrayed. Hookton leads a band
of skilled and disciplined mercenary archers called the
Hellequins. Their code of behaviour is strict and they have
fierce loyalty to each other and to Hookton. This is the
background to the tale.
Cornwell talks of ''the battle's dance''. He writes a virtual
choreography for this dance. The reader is moved from grand
overview to detail, from hidden to open presences, from
action to complete inaction, from mob behaviour to individual
reflection or action.
There is never a moment that is not totally focused and
intentional. All this conspires to move your interest
forward. His chapter pattern is interesting. For the most
part a chapter will begin with a description of action, and
then there will be spaces. Each space is invariably followed
by a clear statement of what some character is feeling,
''Roland de Verrac felt his soul soar like a bird in a clear
sky''. Chapters frequently end with a terse statement that
tempts you into the next.
''And just then the first arrow flew''.
This is a book that will make a good Christmas present for a
family. I can imagine it going on holiday and giving pleasure
to many members in a multi-generational family. Some
sections, such as the description of how bows and arrows are
crafted, could be read aloud to children. It is a worthy
addition to Bernard Cornwell's impressive suite of historical
Willie Campbell is a Dunedin educator.