Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Plot)

The saga of Crispin starts out when Crispin's mother, Asta, passes away. Out of fear, he runs away. Crispin later overhears two people trying to find him and figures out that he has been convicted of a crime he did not commit. Frightened out of his wits, Crispin goes to the village priest, Father Quinnel for advice on what to do. In addition to telling Crispin to run away as far as he could, Father Quinnel tells him many secrets about his mother. The next day, Crispin goes on his way, only to find that Father Quinnel had been murdered. He goes through a forest and eventually finds a desolate village, no doubt destroyed by the Black Death. There, in the church, he finds a gigantic man called Bear. Bear makes Crispin swear to be his servant and teaches him how to play the recorder in order to help Bear gain money. Later, the troupe reaches a village where they entertain the villagers and the priest. Through this they get some money. Some time later, they reach Great Wexly, where the story gets juicy. They get a room and Crispin does some snooping around the city, against Bear's orders. He is attacked by his enemies. After a happy reunion with Bear, the two go back to their room. Later, after being found in a Resistance meeting, Bear is captured and taken prisoner. Out of love and fear, Crispin bravely goes to where Bear is being held and frees Bear after finding out he (Crispin) is a nobleman. He frees Bear only after swearing that e would never stake a claim on the lord's throne.

The plot is extremely absorbing. It is fast-paced and fills you with impatience to read the next chapter. This is probably because of the writers wonderful writing style and the vivid descriptions of life in Medieval England.