As I've mentioned in the bulletins [that is, if you happened to read though] I've claimed this book as one of the greatest I have read. To tell you the truth, I read it straight from the beginning 'till end last Saturday despite a mountain of assignments and reports I should have done first hand. Patterson even beat my J.K. Rowling faves in terms of keeping you musing over what may come next. It's just.. great!
To brief you with the book, it's a story of Hugh de Luc, a french commoner during the time of the crusades who keeps an inn with his wife, Sophie. One day, the crusaders came and asked men to join them in their pursuit to claiming back the holy land, which at the time has been invaded by the Muslims. At the middle of the battle, after about a year, he planned to go back with a lance given by a priest who was killed in the battle. In his return, he learned that his wife and child, whom he had never seen yet were killed by men with a black cross as a mark. But he never believed that his wife was killed. That she's alive somewhere.
He sought for his wife and he sought for revenge for his innocent. He stumbled accross a wild boar on his way to the duke yet he fortunately survived. He was found by Lady Emily, a noble from the next "dukedom" and was cared for for several months although opposed by the wife of the duke. It was she who planned the "pretext" - his being a jester to the Baldwin, the duke whom he believed to claim the lives of his family. An there he went. But later, he discovered that its not Baldwin but it's Stephen's army, the duke where Lady Emily lives who killed his wife and son.
Later on, he went back to where Lady Emily resides and sought for his wife which he only slightly had a little time to talk with for she died minutes after he found her. He wanted revenge but Emilie forced him to go back home. And so, he returned but he plotted a fight against those who would cause havoc and mayhem once again in their town.
He succeeded and he, at this point found out why he was so wanted by the Tafurs [the men with the black cross]. It's the holy lance [the lance that pierced Christ's body in His crucifiction. He feared that if he did not act now, more and more lives would be taken away for his sake. And so, he urged the townspeople to seek for justice with Baldwin. But the news spread that a jester has the holy lance in his hand. As they come close to the duke, in every towns that they pass, more and more people join their army.
Baldwin was eventually been brought to prison, but he was bothered by Lady Emilie who left as they took hold the duke's seat to see the condition of Lady Ana in their place. He followed Lady Emilie and later found that some of those who were with him to imprison their lige have also came to help. After several loss, Stephen, the duke who killed the innocent just for the holy lance to fall within his reach, was killed by his wife, Lady Ana with the lance. The lance was burried together with the body of Stephen.
Hugh found out that Lady Emilie is the King's daughter and eventually, Hugh was educated and was married with Emilie.
There you have it... The way I retold it here may have made it seem uninteresting to you but I hope I have not deceived you. Just read it and thank me later ok?
Posted by Nicky Guinto on August 04, 2007 at 09:45 AM in Books at Friendster Blogs
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