Sagaspedia
Trivia
Trivia, title by title: 16 in total. Tap a cover to open it. Titles you haven't marked as read stay locked so nothing gets spoiled.
- Referencenod to comics or other movies
- Cameoa familiar face shows up
- Setupplanted now, pays off later
- Behind the scenesproduction 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.
source ↗ - 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.
source ↗ - 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.
source ↗ - 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 ↗
- ReferenceThe Scottish invasion
The battle of Neville's Cross, near Durham, is real: in October 1346 the English beat the Scots and captured King David II.
source ↗ - ReferenceBack to La Roche-Derrien
Thomas already fought at La Roche-Derrien in the first book. The June 1347 battle for the town, against Charles of Blois, really happened too.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesCritics liked it
Kirkus Reviews called the book "wildly entertaining."
source ↗ - SetupThe coded diary
Thomas's father's book mixes Latin, Hebrew and Greek. Every passage he manages to read matters to the quest.
source ↗
- Behind the scenesA small war in the truce
Per the author's site, the novel opens with the fall of Calais and most of it happens in the truce that followed. For Thomas there is no truce.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesA different Spanish title
In Spain, Edhasa published the book as El sitio de Calais, the third in its Arqueros del rey series.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe plague is real
The Black Death reached Europe in 1347 and killed a huge share of the population over the next few years. Cornwell puts Thomas right at its start.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe Cathars
The Vexilles' heretic past comes from the Cathars, dissident Christians in southern France crushed by the Church in the 13th century. Hence the title.
source ↗
- Behind the scenesAlmost ten years later
Cornwell returned to Thomas in 2012, nine years after Heretic. The 2013 US edition notes the text differs slightly from the British one.
source ↗ - ReferencePoitiers happened
The battle of Poitiers was fought on September 19, 1356. The Black Prince's smaller army faced that of King John II of France.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe Captal de Buch
Jean de Grailly, the Captal de Buch, was a real Gascon noble who fought for the English at Poitiers. In the book, Thomas crosses paths with him.
source ↗ - SetupPeter's sword
La Malice is said to be the sword Saint Peter used to defend Jesus in Gethsemane. Watch who is spreading the stories about its power.
source ↗
Locked. These details give away parts of the title. Mark it as seen to unlock.
Original text by Sagaspedia. Posters: The Movie Database (TMDB); character photos via Wikipedia. This site uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. All trademarks and titles mentioned belong to their respective owners. Streaming availability may change.
As an Amazon Associate, Sagaspedia earns from qualifying purchases.
About · Contact · Privacy · [email protected]