The trilogy · 1343 to 1346

The Archer's Tale

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A young English archer leaves his village for revenge and ends up in the Hundred Years' War, from Brittany to Crécy. Adult historical fiction, with battles, heavy violence and sexual violence

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Yes. It's in the Main story, the list of only what moves the plot forward to the end of the saga.

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Main story1 of 3
Everything1 of 4

AfterVagabond

Spoilers for this title

Quick recap

Thomas is the bastard son of Hookton's priest, in Dorset, and secretly trains with the bow. On Easter 1343, Norman raiders led by the mysterious Harlequin sack the village and steal the lance of Saint George. Thomas's father dies, revealing that his son comes from the Vexilles, French nobles. Three years later, Thomas is one of Will Skeat's archers in Brittany. He takes La Roche-Derrien, protects the widowed countess Jeanette and survives a hanging in Caen thanks to Eleanor. He learns the Harlequin is his cousin Guy Vexille and that the family may guard the Grail. At Crécy, Thomas turns the lance on Guy, who flees after wounding Skeat in the head. The English win, and the unresponsive Skeat is taken away for treatment.

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4 trivia

Trivia

Behind the scenesA retitled book
In the UK the book is called Harlequin. The US publisher changed it to The Archer's Tale to avoid confusion with Harlequin Romances. Cornwell said he hates it when publishers do that.
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Behind the scenesAfter Arthur
In Brazil, Record launched the book in 2003 as the author's new series after his Arthur books, which already had a fan base there.
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ReferenceCrécy happened
The climactic battle is real: on August 26, 1346, Edward III's army beat a much larger French force, largely thanks to its longbowmen.
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SetupListen to the doctor
Pay attention to what the doctor Mordecai tells Thomas about the Vexille family. That's where the series gets its name.
source ↗

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