Vagabond: The Grail Quest, Book 2

Book Two of Bernard Cornwell’s Grail Quest trilogy finds these significant biblical quotes and others appearing with their translations, while protagonist Thomas of Hookton – an archer in service of King Edward III – begins his search for clues to the location of the Holy Grail. The Grail (the cup from which Jesus served the Last Supper to his disciples, and the vessel in which the Roman Centurion on Golgotha caught Jesus’s blood following when Jesus was speared by the soldier) had been supposedly once been possessed by a heretic French family, the Vexilles, whose dishonored, possibly mad, eldest son Ralph, a priest in England and Thomas’s father, had absconded either actually with the Grail itself, or with documents that gave clues to where the relic was hidden. This installment of Cornwell’s story involves Thomas, a captured Scottish nobleman Robbie Douglas, Will Skeat, Sir Guillaume, the physician Mordecai, Eleanor, and Jeannette Countess of Armorica on one side, with a Dominican Friar and Inquisitor Bernard de Taillebourg, Guy Vexille Count of Astarac,, the French Lord of Roncelets, who holds Jeannette’s son, Charles of Belois, English Sir Geoffrey - the Scarecrow, lawyer Belas, are significant actors and all are vividly realized characters in the tale. The usual plots, betrayals, and wonderful battles (of Durham, England, LaRoche-Derrien, France), the kind of scenes we associate with Cornwell – mesh with Cornwell’s careful research into the Hundred Years War and legends and lore of the Holy Grail. History comes to life here!

Whether or not you're a history buff it's likely you'll enjoy Cornwell's novels. I love fiction. I love a great story. I love historical fiction and it is such a treat to find authors that are good at it but when you find one that's great at it, like Cornwell, I consume their work as quickly as I can. The Grail Quest is superior storytelling by a superior writer. Vagabond has internal and external conflict combined with unexpected twists and turns that are interwoven into a fine tapestry of historical reality. Cornwell manages to blend fiction and history so convincingly that it is difficult to tell which characters were real and which are fictional. The protagonist, Thomas of Hookton, (as well as all the other characters) is well developed, believable and complex. The plot follows history but does very well in it's intricacies and could stand alone without the historical context. It also is quite complex, unpredictable and it kept me turning pages. I enjoy this series as much as I enjoyed Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series. I highly recommend Vagabond and the entire Grail Quest series and would suggest you begin with "The Archer's Tale" (U.S. title) and read all the way through. Vagabond is hours of inexpensive entertainment.

First of all I must confess that when I see that a book was authored by Bernard Cornwell I’m already favorably disposed! Vagabond did not disappoint; he accurately places me in the appropriate time and I believe I’m an interested observer and feel the surroundings. His descriptions of the surroundings the attitude of the people, climate and mood of the times is a perfect escape. And he is probable the best in describing medieval battle scenarios of any I’ve read before!You won’t be disappointed!

The Hundred Years wars continue with English archers again and again delivering just enough to decide critical battles and offset the overwhelming numbers of knights, men at arms, crossbow mercenaries, and other ranks fielded by the French. The Inquisition raises its ugly head as Dominican priests do all but draw blood from their victims and the search for the Holy Grail continues. A fantastic look into events as they might have occurred in a setting true to historic events. Beautifully written and well worth the time.

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Cornwell's second installment in the Grail Quest trilogy does not disappoint. The fabric of the story telling is, if anything, richer and delves more deeply into some of the most stunning historical battles of Franco/English history. I encourage you to read the entire series if you have any interest in the power struggle for leadership of two of Europe's most powerful countries of the middle ages.

Great read. I learned a lot about the Hundred Years. This sequel to Book 1 is a real page turner. I couldn't put it down. Most of the unresolved issues came to fruition. I'm a bit partial to Bernard Cromwell because of the 13 books I read on Richard Sharp and the Napoleonic wars. This story takes you back to 1346 and the 1st of 3 major English triumphs in the Hundred Years War. I'm looking forward to the Agincourt battle but the protagonist of the Novel will be in his 90's, double his life expectancy.

The continuation of an awesome story executed along side the early large battles of the 100 years war. Cornwell can tell a story like no other. Hookton is great, Robbie is awesome, and the other characters round out the story beautifully.

Read this book in 2005, and its the 2nd part of the "Thomas of Hookton" series.In this book Thomas is sent back to England to find to Holy Grail.During his hunt he will become involved with many enemies specialized in the art of sword fights, and he only being an archer, while his greatest fear will come at the Battle of Neville's Cross, where he will learn that a lot more people are in search for the Holy Grail and wanting him dead.The only option fot Thomas will be to escape England and head to France, and there to rescue his old commander, Will Skeat, but even there they are not safe from enemies who will try to hunt them down.What is follow is a gripping and action-packed tale about the Hundred Years War, and especially how to be an archer of England and feel king of the battlefields.Very much recommended, for this is another terrific tale that will take us back to the war between England and France, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Glorious Thomas Of Hookton Sequel"!

A review of Harlequin and VagabondOk look Bernard can write a mean plot, there's no let up, the bad guys are numerous and as mean as they get. The hero is not heroic but he is very resilient and sometimes foolish, always brave and has generally good intentions, but a saint he certainly isn't. Similar to Uhtred of the Last Kingdom. And there you have the only flaw with these books, the formulae is well proven but re-worked for different scenarios. You know the main character is going to have to endure a relentless series of misfortunes, betrayal, torture, battles, love and lust, revenge and glory. You know the evil characters are so vile it makes you want to shout with joy when they eventually get what's coming to them. Mr Cornwell is a fantastic story teller, of that there is no doubt. I can't give it 5 stars as I didn't buy the last book in this series. Why? I am 98% sure I know what happens but I can't endure the roller coaster ride to get there. At least not now, I need a break, something a but quieter and perhaps more unpredictable but no doubt I will go back for more later.

I like Bernard Cornwell and have read other works of his. This is my favourite time period, the black prince and Edward the third. Its brilliant, famousbattles start of the 100 years war, all put together in a tale of murder, plunder and heroes. I like the character Thomas. Why. Because I also shoot an English Longbow, and I can almost see myself on the front line with Will Skeet, Thomas and the other archers doing battle with the pesky French.Like any well written story it draws you in. Brilliant.

I chose this rating as "Harlequin" "Azincourt" and1356"are the best of Bernard Cornwell's War Bow novels nevertheless he has produced another thoroughly good novel. It enriched with vivid descriptive settings in such accurate historical contexts making this work of fiction a "must read" for any student of mediaeval warfare or and the Hundred Years War. Having shared a holiday home near Mael Carhaix with my late wife for over 20 years, I have a natural fondness for the Cote d'Armor region of Brittany particularly south and east of Guingamp. Descriptions are also so detailed that, as an amateur bowman, I have managed to manufacture several "period" emulated variants of arrows loosed from English war bows. However, the novel is a thundering good read and difficult to put down. .It is as good as and perhaps better than any of the Sharpe series. I would recommend it to anyone who I am sure many will become fans of the author's Grail Quest books.

This is the second of the grail series and once you have read this, you will be searching for number three. Historically accurate, excellently researched and written.