THE ARCHER'S TALE

Thomas, a young Englishman, joins King Edward III's army in 1343 to invade France after his village is massacred by French raiders. The object of their attack is a lance kept in the village's church. His vow for revenge begins a journey into manhood and toward a final confrontation with French forces. Tim Piggott-Smith reads the narrative crisply, his voice shifting tone with each action and thought, from the tension of the battle scenes to Thomas's joy for archery. Most characters have rough, harsh voices thick with old English accents, but are easily understood. The often violent story portrays a rough age with all its blemishes yet retains the romantic aura added by the modern imagination. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 02]