Vagabond: A Novel
Written by Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by Andrew Cullum
4/5
()
About this audiobook
From New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell, the sequel to The Archer's Tale—the spellbinding tale of a young man, a fearless archer, who sets out wanting to avenge his family's honor and winds up on a quest for the Holy Grail.
In 1347, a year of conflict and unrest, Thomas of Hookton returns to England to pursue the Holy Grail. Among the flames of the Hundred Years War, a sinister enemy awaits the fabled archer and mercenary soldier: a bloodthirsty Dominican Inquisitor who also seeks Christendom's most holy relic. But neither the horrors of the battlefield nor sadistic torture at the Inquisitor's hands can turn Thomas from his sworn mission. And his thirst for vengeance will never be quenched while the villainous black rider who destroyed everything he loved still lives.
""Cornwell writes the best battle scenes of any writer I've read past or present.""—George R.R. Martin
Bernard Cornwell
BERNARD CORNWELL is the author of over fifty novels, including the acclaimed New York Times bestselling Saxon Tales, which serve as the basis for the hit Netflix series The Last Kingdom. He lives with his wife on Cape Cod and in Charleston, South Carolina.
More audiobooks from Bernard Cornwell
Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/51356: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gallows Thief: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gallows Thief Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Agincourt: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heretic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fools and Mortals: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Horseman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stonehenge: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fallen Angels: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Harlequin Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uhtred's Feast: Inside the World of The Last Kingdom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Crowning Mercy: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to Vagabond
Related audiobooks
The Archer's Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Burning Land: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Fallen Angels: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Crowning Mercy: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Winter King Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sharpe's Fury: The Battle of Barrosa, March 1811 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Kings and Pawns: A Novel of Viking Age England Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lords of the Wind Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Heretic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Harlequin Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stonehenge: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Vagabond Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sword Song: The Battle for London Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lords of the North Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excalibur Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Warriors of the Storm: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Horseman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fools and Mortals: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Death of Kings: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Enemy of God Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sword of Kings: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Horseman Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stonehenge: 2000 B.C. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War Lord: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Flame Bearer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War of the Wolf: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Pagan Lord: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sword Song Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Kingdom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Historical Fiction For You
Tom Lake: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Weyward: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Song of Achilles: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rose Code: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5And Then There Were None Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outlander Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lost Apothecary: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Reformatory: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hang the Moon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alice Network: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5That Bonesetter Woman: the new feelgood novel from the author of The Smallest Man Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Book of Lost Names Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Yellow Wife: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dragon Teeth: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Schindler's List Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5West with Giraffes: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Red Tent - 20th Anniversary Edition: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Neon Gods Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Quiet on the Western Front Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Golem and the Jinni: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5News of the World: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The River We Remember: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nineteen Steps: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Clan of the Cave Bear Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rules of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Vagabond
479 ratings19 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Another solid book by Cornwell. This is Cornwell's classic style of good guys who do bad things (but it doesn't bother you), fall in love with the pretty girls, and bad guys who are really bad and who are easy to hate. What prevented this book from the four stars for me was that I felt it dragged big time in the middle. Also, as this is the Grail Quest Series, I would expect a bit more of the focus to truly be on the Grail. It is talked about quite a bit, but never in a way that, for me at least, it could truly be a magical item. It is always just understood that it is a chase for something that couldn't possibly be the miracle everyone wants or hopes it to be. Anyway - will read the third and final installment in the series at some point.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I didn't like this one as much as I liked the Warlord Chronicles, and I never really got to care for the characters, but it was an enjoyable, quick summer read. The historical details were interesting, and although the actual location of the grail and what it was like weren't surprising to me, it was an interesting idea. I don't remember much about this middle book at all.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Greatly enjoyable audiobook. I loved the sections featuring Robbie the Scotsman. The story ALWAYS got better when he appeared. Does he appear in Part 3, I wonder? BTW De Taillebourg deserved his out come. EVERY TINY PIECE OF IT.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My favourite book of the series. More background is given to the various protagonists who seek the grail and their motives setting up for the ultimate clash in book 3.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Set in the aftermath of Crecy, Vagabond looks further into the chaos and destruction of the Hundred Years War. Thomas of Hookton now also has to deal with the Inquisition, the Scots, and personal difficulties in the English Army, turning the plot darker and more desperate.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5“Vagabond” did not appeal to me as much as the first book in the Grail series. Certain episodes did draw me in, though, and this author is in my opinion second only to Robert E. Howard when it comes to depicting battle scenes.I do like the main character – Thomas – and also his Jewish friend who has a passion for checking the colour of people’s urine. Jeanette is also an appealing character. Unfortunately she isn’t in this tale as much as the first one.I would’ve rated this novel four stars but, like all the Bernard Cornwell books that I’ve read to date, I’ve deducted a star because they are all let down by substandard elements of style. Long-winded sentences are plentiful. The needless dialogue attribution drives me to distraction whilst the overuse of the word “then” is surprising for such a seasoned author.The long-winded sentences are often kept going by numerous “ands” plus a “then” or two, like with the quote below:>David's sheltron had forced the central English battle back across a pasture, they hadstretched it thin and they were closing on the Archbishop's great banner, and then the arrows began to bite and after the arrows came the men-at-arms from the English right wing, the retainers of Lord Percy and of Lord Neville, and some were already mounted on their big horses that were trained to bite, rear and kick with their iron-shod hooves.And then, from where the Scots waited on the higher ground, the drums began to beat.The drums began to beat from where the Scots waited on the higher ground.'Charge now, sir,' he suggested, 'before they can make a battleline.''When this day's done, uncle,' Robbie Douglas said, 'you'll let me go after that priest.''What would happen, Thomas, if you found the Grail?' He did not wait for an answer. 'Do you think,' he went on instead, 'that the world will become a better place?
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The non-battle scenes were very enjoyable, but the author is too enamored with the gory details of medieval battle. I don't need to know that someone's intestines were hanging out or that someone's head was split open by an ax.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I've enjoyed reading the whole series of the Grail Quest. This 2nd book carries on the story but, if need be, could be read independently.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The machinery is noticeably creaky in this second volume of the adventures of Thomas of Hookton...BC has not produced one of my favourite series in this fourteenth century excursion.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Love the time period, really liked the hero, but the Perils of Pauline arch villains cast touch of silliness over the whole book. Not as interesting in any way as book 1 of the series, but I will plod on because I will put up with mediocrity to read the historical trivia laden story about an archer.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the second in the Grail Quest series. I read the first some time ago but had trouble finding this book. Even though there was a gap between the books they flowed together nicely. This is a enjoyable read about knights, archers and men at arms battling to the death and seeking fortune during the 100 Years War between England and France that focuses on an archer who is on a quest to find the grail that is part of his family's history.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Just like all of B. Cornwell's books Vagabond was thoroughly enjoyable. It makes reading about The Hundred Year War more interesting. But I have always wondered why he always has his hero's beat to within a inch of their lives. Every one should read the Grail Quest books.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Though there's not much to the plot of this story (the Grail is more a plot device than a central theme in this tale), my attention never flagged because I was having so much fun getting to know the colorful characters, thrilling at the battle scenes, and appreciating the amazingly detailed and accurate historical detail on every page of this great read.But that's not the main reason that I enjoyed this book.Anyone who has studied the middle ages has probably struggled to understand the frankly foreign morals and attitudes of the time. It was a time when superstition was rife, attitudes were fatalistic, the church sold forgiveness and tortured people into acquiring faith, intellect/logic was regarded with suspicion, women were property, revenge was a sacred duty, loyalties were fleeting, and yet men willingly gave their lives for "honor" or "glory".This is the first book about the period I've ever read that not only got all this right, but actually made the idiocyncracies of period seem real and credible. If I could travel back in time to the year 1347, it would look - and feel - like this.This is the second book of a trilogy but you don't need to read the first - or last - to appreciate the experience. Having said that, I'm now going to run out and acquire both since book #2 was so much fun!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I took a long time to finish the trilogy. Was slow in places, and frustratingly, it seemed to end when I was just getting engaged by the character. Learning that not every era in human history is my cup of tea. The bow-crafting and shooting information was fascinating, even if the details of each staged battle were not as gripping.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Vagabond is book 2 of the Grail Quest series following the exploits of British archer Thomas of Hookton. King Edward III is sieging Calais, while Thomas is sent to Northumberland to talk to a priest who knew his late father, whom people suspect possessed or knew of the whereabouts of the Grail. Thomas gains another nemesis in the person of an Inquisitor, and also adds another poor British lord to his enemies list. Meanwhile, Thomas gains an unlikely companion in Robbie, the son of Scottish noble assigned to accompany him while waiting for a ransom to be raised.Appropriate to the medieval time period, death is everywhere, and several main characters from the first volume do not survive the end of this book. The French remain inept and unable to win any battle in spite of crushing odds. The main story arc established early in the first book is still alive and well going into the third (and last) volume.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5With this second book in the series, I'm finding more and more to enjoy and savor. Thomas faces new enemies (Father Bernard, and Sir Geoffrey the "Scarecrow") and makes a new friend, Robbie Douglas, a hot-headed Scot. Mordecai, a very interesting and likeable secondary character from book one, that I really like, makes an appearance in this book and continues to add to the overall enjoyment.The story opens with the battle of Neville's Cross in northern England when a small English force defeats a much larger force of Scots under King David II, again because of the presence of English archers. The story ends back at Le Roche-Derrien in France where Thomas has once again encountered Jeannette, and helps defeat the French/Breton forces. The scene involving Thomas' torture by a Dominican inquistitor is hard to endure, but later the Dominican gets his comeuppance and that is most satisfactory.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The second book in the Grail Quest series. not as strong as the first or last in my opinion, a bit meandering at times, but still wll worth reading. The torture of Thomas was surprising, i kept expecting him to manage to get out of it somehow, so it was more true to reality when he didn't.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Another excellent read from Cornwel. This is my second foray into his work and I must say I am very impressed. Picked up the third book right after finishing this one.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The story of Thomas of Hookton continues with his involvement of the historical battles of Neville's Cross and the siege of La Roche-Derrien. Thomas also finds out more about his family's secret past, and has a nasty run-in with the torturers of the Dominican Inquistion. Nasty stuff, but fun overall.