Tom Swan and the Head of St George

By: Christian Cameron

Narrated by: Peter Noble

Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

1450s France. A young Englishman, Tom Swan, is kneeling in the dirt, waiting to be killed by the French who have taken him captive.

He's not a professional soldier. He's really a merchant and a scholar looking for remnants of ancient Greece and Rome - temples, graves, pottery, fabulous animals, unicorn horns. But he also has a real talent for ending up in the midst of violence when he didn't mean to. Having used his wits to escape execution, he begins a series of adventures that take him to street duels in Italy, meetings with remarkable men - from Leonardo Da Vinci to Vlad Dracula - and from the intrigues of the War of the Roses to the fall of Constantinople.

©2012 Christian Cameron (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group

Great book. Highly recommended

Having read other books by this author I was not disappointed. Tom Swan will be one of your favorite characters. Can't wait to read his next adventure.

like listening to a blockbuster movie

Every book by the author that I have read has been 10/10. This was so very good. I cant say it’s the best, as his books ( red knight, long war, and now tom swan) are hard to say which is best, but they are all just great. It was immersive right away, and did not want to stop listening. If you are new to the Author, this is a great book to start with.

Picaresque

This is a delightful book but a bit confusing at times, too many characters to keep track of. After a while, I became bored by yet a new adventure.

Really enjoyable book

Cameron is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Like his other books, this has immersive location details, great scene setting, and great dialogue. The level of detail in the fight scenes and about weapons and armor is high for those who are interested but not overmuch for those who might not be. And despite the seriousness of the intrigues and clashes, there is a lot of wit and humor. And Peter Noble is hands down one of my favorite narrators.

Another great listen!

Mr. Cameron is quickly becoming my favorite author. From beginning to end this one kept me engaged. I’m a bit disappointed now that I’ve got nothing else to listen to after finishing this one in three days. Can’t wait for the next!

As always an amazing book from Cameron

This was truly amazing, I hope that this is a success and we can get the rest of the Tom Swan series on audible!

Underrated, Superlative

Story telling MasterCraft. Cameron "un-tropes" the tropes. World building would seem to be unnecessary in historical fiction, but in truth, immersion in a time period is the reason we love the genre. Cameron has such accurate vision of the history and anthropology that he is able to seamlessly weave historic minutiae into setting, and plot that provide a rich environment for his characters to grow organically. This is not a retelling or exposition with a "modern agenda". It's just a good story about what one man accomplished in those places at those times. It is unapologetic fully entertaining and immersive because the tropes are deconstructed by a knowledgeable and skilled story crafter.
Also, Peter Noble is possibly the best male performer of the written word. I hope he lives for ever.

Indiana Jones In Armour

Indiana Jones In Armour, that's what a peer on a XVth Century armour group on Facebook described this series to me as. I really enjoy historical fiction, and as I had just gotten done listening to Thomas Cromwell's Archer Tale series, I thought as rough and solemn as that series was, how could Cameron be able to make a series set in 1450s Europe more light-hearted and fantastical? Lots and lots of intrigue, and the pursuits of antiquities. And I've got to say, Indiana Jones in Armour is exactly what it is, and I enjoyed it a lot. Firstly, the attention to the descriptions and detailing in the various fighting scenes, and that he mentions, name, a lot of the moves in them. And he no doubt does a good job with the authenticity of the terms for all the clothing, weapons, armour, and other items used in the books.

The best part I think of the book so far is the narrator Peter Noble. I really like his performance, and his voice just fits the role for the book very well. I'm very glad to see he seems to do a lot of Christian Cameron's books, especially this series.

Though, sometimes plot points don't add up, or I have to go back and re-listen to figure things out, or there are some characters that I think seemed to either stop existing entirely or change in some way without much explanation, like for example [---Spoilers---] the Bishop that headed the Pope's embassy to the Sultan, where did he go to after they fled? And half way through the book, they started referring to Alessandro as Di Bracchio after the escape, and it was very confusing for me. [---End of Spoiler---]

All in all, it's a good historical fiction adventure book that doesn't take it's premise too hard or too solemn. Definitely a recommend.

Cameron does it again!

"Tom Swan and the Head of St George" is a great start to a new series! Has all the Cameron wit and historical background that he weaves into a great story.

Believe the stars (tiny spoiler(?)

The people that loved it apparently didn't take the time to write reviews, since the top written reviews aren't exactly favorable.
Contrary to what has been written, the ways he gets out of each predicament was rarely duplicated. It could be charm, wit, ingenuity, skill at arms, negotation, etc.
And yes, it's mostly a lighthearted romp aboit a swashbuckling hero, but that swashbuckling hero also (tiny spoiler alert)
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develops PTSD and becomes disgusted with killibg.