The first installment of Bernard Cornwell’s bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, “like Game of Thrones, but real” (The Observer, London)—the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit television series coming to Netflix in Fall 2016.
This is the exciting—yet little known—story of the making of England in the 9th and 10th centuries, the years in which King Alfred the … years in which King Alfred the Great, his son and grandson defeated the Danish Vikings who had invaded and occupied three of England’s four kingdoms.
The story is seen through the eyes of Uhtred, a dispossessed nobleman, who is captured as a child by the Danes and then raised by them so that, by the time the Northmen begin their assault on Wessex (Alfred’s kingdom and the last territory in English hands) Uhtred almost thinks of himself as a Dane. He certainly has no love for Alfred, whom he considers a pious weakling and no match for Viking savagery, yet when Alfred unexpectedly defeats the Danes and the Danes themselves turn on Uhtred, he is finally forced to choose sides. By now he is a young man, in love, trained to fight and ready to take his place in the dreaded shield wall. Above all, though, he wishes to recover his father’s land, the enchanting fort of Bebbanburg by the wild northern sea.
This thrilling adventure—based on existing records of Bernard Cornwell’s ancestors—depicts a time when law and order were ripped violently apart by a pagan assault on Christian England, an assault that came very close to destroying England.
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I was enthralled by this book. On every level, it is a knock-out. Not to be missed.
I love this entire series of books! Bernard Cornwell is one of my favorite writers. The Anglo-Saxon/Viking era is fascinating to me, and the characters in this book seem to come to life. Cornwell writes battle scenes with breathtaking vividness, and the quieter moments are poignant though often touched with humor.
Characters that are easy to like good action and a reasonably solid grounding in history. I could hardly put it down.
A great start to the Last Kingdom series of books that the TV series is based on. Well documented and written.
Exceptional writer, love this series!!
This is a fast moving book that keeps the attention of the reader.
It was a great introduction to England’s history!!!
Loved the characters. The book takes you on a journey through history. I felt as if I could be standing in the middle of the story.
This is a series of books and I never wanted to leave the characters, the story ended whilst I would have loved it to continue.
Please read all of them, if you love the Saxon & Viking era you will be in your element.
A great series to fall into, each of the novels by this author are well done. They are researched and detailed in historical data, very easy to read.
One of the best historical narratives I’ve come across.
Simply brilliant… if you like historical fiction, you will love this!! United Kingdom historical fiction — before it was called England — educational, romantic, exciting, scary, passionate… great read!!
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Cornwell’s Last Kingdom series. If you enjoy Medieval historical fiction, battle, and Vikings, you will love this.
The first book in the Uhtred Series. Loved each one. Great characters and if you like medieval reads this is a good start.
I love this whole series!!
Excellent character driven story!
I loved everything about this book. The plot and characters were engaging. I hated for it to end. Read this book and watch the miniseries.
One of my favorite Genres, It was full of action from Chapter one and I found it hard to put the book down reading late into the night
Not my favorite by Bernard Cornwell.
Interesting and unique voice–unmistakeably Uhtred. Told from his perspective after the events have passed, the simple, Polysyndeton flavored text is sprinkled with old English and Danish words, which are easily understood in the context. The matter-of-fact style doesn’t go deep into emotions or physical descriptions of the events, rather into the …
Cromwell is a master. Excellent historical fiction with a military theme.