Guest Review: Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell

by John W Oliver published: May 22, 2010 No Comments

V is for Vagabond
Guest review by John W. Oliver, Writer.

This Book Is About

Vagabond is a follow-up to Harlequin (The Archer’s Tale in the U.S.) – and starts almost as soon as the earlier book ends, carrying on Thomas of Hookton’s story. He has been sent back to England to pursue his father’s mysterious legacy which hints that the Holy Grail might exist and gets tangled with the Scottish invasion of 1347. He survives that only to discover that various powerful folk in France are pursuing the same quest, a complication that takes Thomas back to Brittany and the brutal fighting about La Roche-Derrien.

Guest Reviewer John W. Oliver’s Thoughts On This Book

A good medieval historical novel doesn’t have to follow some king or queen you first heard of in some musty old book in grade school. It is not limited to court intrigues, nor the romance of knightly dalliances. I have found the best reflect the times–full of war and touched with the fervor of religion. A bit of adventure and mystery helps our modern sensibilities as well. Of course, it never hurts if it is headed up by a likable, smart and often lucky character, like Thomas of Hookton in Bernard Cornwell’s Vagabond.

Set in the mid-14th-century during the Hundred Years War, the story moves from battle to battle from Scotland through Normandy as Thomas searches for the secrets of the Holy Grail.

One of the facets of this story I enjoyed the most was how much I disliked the antagonists. No, they weren’t horribly written. Quite the opposite, they were written so well, I could not help but to despise them. Guy Vexille is Thomas’ French cousin who seeks to restore his family to their rightful place. Bernard de Tailebourg is a Dominican Inquisitor who commits some of the most despicable acts in the story, all in the pursuit of God’s glory. Sir Geoffrey Carr always has the ill-luck of setting himself against Thomas and failing. His anger with the man grows with each encounter. Each of these characters are colorful and memorable. Cornwell does a great job at making them so bad.

Another aspect of the story I liked was how quickly it carried me along. I do not read a lot of adventure stories, but it definitely had that feel. Events kept on moving, pulling me forward. It’s more than just an adventure story though. The characters and setting give the story a depth I thoroughly enjoyed.

Recently, my father-in-law finished one of Mr. Cornwell’s books and started to go through his reference citations. He was impressed. Vagabond, as well as any other book of Mr. Cornwell’s, is thoroughly researched. After my father-in-law had finished the novel, he spent the next few days following up the man’s notes, checking his sources and enjoying the sense of discovery.

When I sat down with Vagabond, I had to finish it, and anyone else I talk to has the same experience. With that in mind, I dare you pick one up . . . and start reading.