Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a 2003 children's novel written by Avi. It was the winner of the 2003 Newbery Medal.^[1] Its sequel, Crispin: At the Edge of the World, was released in 2006. The final book that completes the trilogy, Crispin: The End of Time, was released in 2010.

Plot

In 1377 A.D. England, a 13-year-old boy, known only as Asta's Son, lives as a peasant in the small village of Stromford. His village is part of the territory of the feudal Lord Furnival, which, in Furnival’s absence, is under the control of the steward, John Aycliffe. When his mother dies, Asta's Son is left alone, as he has no other known relatives. Shortly afterwards, John Aycliffe falsely accuses him of theft, and declares him a Wolf's Head (one who may be killed on sight).

Asta's Son turns to the village priest, Father Quinel, his only friend, who gives to him a cross of lead that belonged to his mother, and reveals that his true name is Crispin. Father Quinel promises to reveal to Crispin the truth of who his father was, but before he can, Aycliffe's men murder him, forcing Crispin to flee the village by himself. While fleeing from Aycliffe and his men, Crispin comes across an abandoned village where he meets Orson Hrothgar but people call him Bear for short. Bear learns of Crispin's lead cross and notices the writing on the cross. While Bear does not tell Crispin what the words say, Crispin realizes that the cross and its words are important. Bear is rough with Crispin, but during their travels together, a true bond of friendship develops between them. Bear eventually asks Crispin if he would like to become his apprentice, and Crispin happily agrees. Posing as father and son, the two travel towards the city of Great Wexly, the capital city of Lord Furnival's lands. Bear insists that he has important business to complete there. When they arrive, they find troubles waiting for them. Lord Furnival has died and John Aycliffe has arrived. Bear and Crispin stay at The Green Man tavern. In the room, there is a false-wall, which Bear tells Crispin will be his hiding place if things go badly. Bear meets with John Ball. Soldiers come and raid the tavern, taking bear with them. John Aycliffe had been looking for Crispin, who is hiding. Depressed, Crispin discovers that he is Lord Furnival's son. Crispin tries to get the help of "The Brotherhood", an organization Bear is a member of, and headed by John Ball. When they refuse to aid Crispin in trying to find Bear, Crispin takes it upon himself to break into Furnival Palace and find Bear himself. He finds a dagger in one of the hallways and keeps it under his cloak. He goes into a great room and sees a picture of Lord Furnival, who looks a lot like him. Crispin finds Aycliffe, pins him to the ground and puts the dagger to his neck; but instead of killing him, makes him vow under oath that he (Crispin) and Bear will be able to leave Great Wexly unharmed (never to return) in exchange for Crispin's cross of lead. Crispin is led to Bear, who is being kept in the palace's cellar. Bear has been tortured and is weak, but manages to walk out of the palace on his own. Aycliffe and a band of soldiers escort them to the city gates. At the city gates, Aycliffe reneges on his oath and is intent on killing Crispin. A fight ensues between Aycliffe and Bear. Crispin gives Bear the dagger he found in the palace. The soldiers have their swords drawn and encircle Aycliffe and Bear. During a back and forth battle Bear eventually squeezes Aycliffe from behind, causing him to drop his sword and dagger. Bear then hurls Aycliffe into the line of soldiers. Aycliffe is punctured multiple times by the soldiers' swords and dies. Crispin leaves the cross of lead on Aycliffe's bleeding chest as he and Bear exit the Great Wexly gates. Outside the gate, Bear and Crispin play music and sing and for the first time he feels like Crispin instead of Asta's Son.

Characters

• Crispin - A 13 year old serf and a peasant boy, living in a rural English village called Stromford in 1377. The book is written from his point of view. Son of "Asta" and "Lord Furnival"
• Asta - Crispin's mother and the youngest daughter of Lord Douglas. Forced to live as a serf when Crispin was born out of wedlock by Lord Furnival. Her death initiated the main plot of this story.
• Lord Douglas - Asta's father
• Lord Furnival - Lord of a large English territory which includes Stromford. Father of Crispin born out of wedlock. Died while Crispin and Bear were en route to Great Wexly.
• Lady Furnival - The wife of Lord Furnival
• Bear - A spy for a secret brotherhood uprising. Disguises as a traveling jester. Came across Crispin shortly after his escape from Stromford. Bear forced Crispin into an othed-servitude which led to genuine friendship and Crispin to be his loyal apprentice.
• Father Quinel - Friend to Crispin and his mother and a priest, murdered by John Aycliffe to hide that Crispin's father is Lord Furnival.
• Goodwife Peregrine - Elderly woman in the village, appears to be a very wise and mysterious person. Upon Father Quinel's instruction, she gives Crispin provisions a pouch for his lead cross as he flees Stromford.
• Widow Daventry - Barmaid at the Green Man Tavern and friend of Bear, had many children and 2 husbands, but they died from the plague or "The Black Death". Tells Crispin who his real father is.
• John Aycliffe - Steward of Stromford and kin of Lady Furnival, attempts to kill Crispin to make sure he keeps his power.
• Cerdic - A boy that tricks Crispin into a trap, nothing else is really known about him.
• John Ball - The only historical figure who plays a small role — he and his group prepare for their Peasants' Revolt

Reception

According to Kirkus Reviews, "The characters are somewhat less well-developed [than the setting]; although the revolutionary and frequently profane Bear is a fascinating treasure, Crispin himself lurches along, progressing from milquetoast to restless rebel to boy of courage and conviction in fits and starts, driven by plot needs rather than organic character growth... despite its flaws, this offering is nevertheless a solid adventure and could serve as the jumping-off point for an exploration into a time of great political upheaval."^[2] Anita L. Burkam wrote in The Horn Book Magazine, "Avi writes a fast-paced, action-packed adventure comfortably submerged in its fourteenth-century setting, giving Crispin a realistic medieval worldview even while subverting it with Bear's revolutionary arguments."^[3]

References