The Archer's Tale.

THE ARCHER'S TALE. Bernard Cornwell. 2001/2003. Read by Colin McPhillamy. 12 cds. 14.25 hrs. Recorded Books. 1-4025-5942-9. $119.75. Vinyl; plot, reader notes. SA

The Hundred Years War provides the backdrop for Cornwell's latest military adventure series. The hero is a teen named Thomas, an illegitimate young man whose father is the priest of a small English town that boasts nothing but the lance that St. George used to slay the dragon. A band of French marauders led by a mysterious man in black attacks the town, slaughters its inhabitants and steals the lance. Thomas survives and vows to avenge his father and retrieve the lance. He joins a band of archers attached to the Earl of Northampton and goes to Brittany in 1343 to fight, where he makes a deadly enemy, an egotistical knight named Sir Simon. He inadvertently falls in love with the daughter of the man who led the raid on his town; more fighting ensues, ending with the famous Battle of Crecy, where Thomas and his fellow archers win the day.

Cornwell is known for his vivid and gruesome battle scenes and this book has more than a few. Justice of a sort is done, but there will be sequels, because the man in black escapes. Religion, as well as anti-Semitism, plays a large role in the story. Narrator McPhillamy is a member of The Royal National Theatre in London and has appeared on Broadway with Lauren Bacall. His full-voiced narration is masterful. We get the immediacy of the battle scenes, the cooings of romance, and accents for English, French and Jewish characters. His female characters are convincing as well. A stellar performance. Janet Julian, English Teacher, Grafton, MA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.