Bernard Cornwell is telling the story of the Battle of Poitiers in this historical fiction. I had not read him before but picked the book up randomly at the Library when I saw the genre of historical fiction. It also had the premise of a historical relic, namely the sword of St. Peter (known as "La Malice") which is supposed to bring victory to its bearer.

I found out that a known copy of this sword was in Poznan, Poland but it was treated as a successful copy by most scholars and none of the supernatural powers was ever attributed to it. Although it is the main plot device in the novel, the main plot does not really evolve to give it any importance. I think the strength of the novel is in its realistic depiction of battle scenes and the description of many devices/techniques used in war in the 14th century. The description of the motives of all the hired soldiers/gangs that can switch allegiances like changing a glove is also interesting.

Describing a very turbulent period in the English/French history where Edward the Black Prince is devastating the French country with his forays and has culminated his successes with a win in the Battle of Poitiers in which he has imprisoned the French King. Although it is peculiar that he could not ascend the English throne since he dies a year earlier than his father, this era of the English History is rather interesting.

What failed in the novel is perhaps the disconnect between the plot device and the development of the novel. It is as if the sword becomes really unimportant, when you ask yourself why that device was used at all, since there is enough material in the book to develop a very rich plot.