The Grail Quest
''The Grail Quest'' is a historical fiction novel series written by Bernard Cornwell dealing with a 14th-century search for the Holy Grail, around the time of the Hundred Years' War. The stories follow the adventures of the fictional Thomas o ...
'' series by English author
Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell (born 23 February 1944) is an English-American author of historical novels and a history of the Waterloo Campaign. He is best known for his novels about Napoleonic Wars rifleman Richard Sharpe. He has also written ''The Saxon ...
, first published in 2002. Set during the first stage of the
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French throne between the English House of Plantagen ...
, it follows Thomas of Hookton's quest to find the
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail (french: Saint Graal, br, Graal Santel, cy, Greal Sanctaidd, kw, Gral) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Various traditions describe the Holy Grail as a cup, dish, or stone with miracul ...
, a relic which will grant decisive victory to the possessor.
Plot summary
Arrows On The Hill
Thomas, Eleanor and Father Hobbe journey to the north of England to speak with the old Monk Brother Collimore, who knows of the Holy Grail, in city of
Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
. Unknown to them, the corrupt French Cardinal, Cardinal Bessières, has dispatched his own companion, The Dominican Friar, Bernard de Taillebourg to find the Holy Grail for France. He is accompanied by the murderer of Father Ralph, Guy Vexille, Comte d'Astarac. During their journey to Durham Thomas is caught up in the Scottish invasion. Thomas participates in the
Battle of Neville's Cross
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place during the Second War of Scottish Independence on 17 October 1346, half a mile (800 m) to the west of Durham, England. An invading Scottish army of 12,000 led by King David II was defeated with heavy los ...
against the Scottish. We learn that Eleanor is pregnant with Thomas's baby. Thomas is not ready to be a father. Eleanor is frustrated by Thomas' willingness to fight and goes on to the monastery with Father Hobbe. There Eleanor and Father Hobbe come across the old monk they seek who is talking with a Dominican and Vexille. Both Eleanor and Father Hobbe are killed by Vexille. Meanwhile, the Scots lose the battle and David II is captured. Thomas is devastated when he finds out the fate of Eleanor and again vows to kill Guy Vexille. He continues back to Hookton with Robbie Douglas, a captured Scottish noble.
The Winter Siege
Thomas and Robbie travel to Hookton and find that the Dominican has also been to Hookton. Thomas meets with his old friend Sir Giles Marriott who gives him a book that his father wrote about the Grail. Thomas also receives a message from Sir Guillaume that he has been outlawed by France and his castle is under siege.
Thomas and Robbie go to Sir Guillaume's aid, but cannot do much for there are only two of them. Thomas uses his cunning by preying on small French parties and blowing up the
gunpowder
Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). T ...
for French
cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
s. The two then rescue Sir Guillaume and travel back to La Roche-Derrien where he rediscovers Jeanette.
Jeanette convinces Thomas to retrieve her son and Thomas agrees. Thomas then leads a small raiding party to where little Charles is being held. However, he is betrayed and ends up in the Dominican's captivity. Thomas is questioned and tortured by the Dominicans. Eventually Thomas is let go and rehabilitated by his friends.
The King's Cupbearer
Meanwhile, a large Breton/French army marches on
La Roche-Derrien
La Roche-Derrien (; br, Ar Roc'h-Derrien) is a former commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in northwestern France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune La Roche-Jaudy.a long battle which results in English victory, de Taillebourg is slain by Thomas. The victory comes with a terrible cost to Thomas for his commander and friend, the crippled Sir William Skeat is murdered by Sir Geoffrey Carr. Carr is an enemy Thomas makes during his time in Durham, who is in turn killed by Thomas and Robbie.
Thomas decides to continue searching for the Grail and kill Guy Vexille on the way.
Characters
* Thomas of Hookton - protagonist, illegitimate son of a priest, archer in the English army.
* Robbie Douglas - Captured Scottish noble, Thomas's companion.
* Sir Will Skeat - Thomas's friend & former captain in the service of the Earl of Northampton until he was crippled at Crécy.
* Guy Vexille, Comte d'Astarac - Thomas's cousin, his father's murderer and the main antagonist.
* Sir Guillaume d'Evecque - French knight who fights for the English.
* Jeanette - Daughter of a rich Breton merchant, widow of the Count of Armorica, lover of Thomas.
* Sir Geoffrey Carr - An English knight and enemy of Thomas.
* Sir William Douglas - Uncle of Robbie Douglas, is captured at the Battle of Neville's Cross by Lord Outhwaite.
* Bernard de Taillebourg - Antagonist; Dominican Friar.
* Mordecai - Jewish doctor & surgeon
* Lord Outhwaite - English Aristocrat, commander at the Battle of Neville's Cross.
* Sir Thomas Dagworth - English military leader in Brittany.
* Cardinal Bessières - Corrupt French Cardinal who aspires to become Pope.
* Charles of Blois, Duke of Brittany - Kidnapper of Jeannette's son.
*
King David II
David II (5 March 1324 – 22 February 1371) was King of Scots from 1329 until his death in 1371. Upon the death of his father, Robert the Bruce, David succeeded to the throne at the age of five, and was crowned at Scone in November 1331, becom ...