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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Cornwell’s Last Kingdom series is the absolute best! His first line of the first book is the most memorable since “It was the best of times.” And it only gets better from there.
I loved the Saxon series by Bernard Cornwell. I highly recommend every book in this series.
Enjoyed much more than the tv series. Detailed and well developed characters.
Bernard Cornwell is as excellent a story teller and world builder as the likes of Tolkien. The only difference, Cornwell’s world of Saxon England actually did exist.
The Last Kingdom is a running series of novels about the warrior Uthred of Bebbanburg who helps the Anglo Saxon’s under the rule of King Alfred the Great repel the invading Viking …
I love Bernard Cornwell. He is the master of Historical fiction. I hope some day to be able to write historical fiction as well as he does.
Excellent storytelling. I plan on reading the entire series. Action and history.
Next book in the series. Brilliant.
you don’t wan’t interuptions
I’m always fascinated when an author I like switches point of view. And Bernard Cornwell does it admirably in The Last Kingdom, the first book in his Saxon Stories series.
Most of Cornwell’s novels (or at least, all the ones I’ve read) are written in third person. But he tells the Last Kingdom from the first-person perspective of Uhtred, a …
The first book in the story of Uhtred the Anglo Saxon warrior and the king he served, Alfred the Great. This is the story of England and how Alfred saved it from the Danes with the help of warriors like Uhtred.
Cornwell writes amazing battle scenes and brings history alive.
Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom book is the first in a memorizing, historical Saxon series set in Medieval England. The entire series is so good it’s addictive.
I love the history of England, beginning with King Alfred the Great, and the story of a young boy, Uhtred of Babbenburg, who grows into a mighty warrior and battles the Danes for …
Bernard Cornwell is one of the great historical fiction writers of all time. His series that take place in Medieval Britain are some of the best books I’ve ever read. I highly recommend The Archer’s Tale and The Saxon Tales series.
Urthed, as a boy, is captured by the Danes in 865 as they attacked and killed his father. Urthed is raised by the Danes and learns to be a warrior. He ultimately returns to England, King Alfred, to fight the Danes. He has unusual situations as he retains Danish friendships while he fights the Danes.
Honestly the best series of books I’ve read. I recommend them to everyone, they are just great!
A great series!
King Alfred the Great engages and defeats the looming Danelaw Viking dominance over early medieval England in this completely absorbing re-telling of actual historical events. Bernard Cornwell’s mastery of the historical novel form shines like polished steel in this, his first book of the Saxon Stories which follow the life and times of Uhtred of …
This ENTIRE series is amazing. I keep waiting for more.
Wonderful series. Excellent writer.
I love this series!!
Everything I have read by Bernard Cornwell is eminently readable. Great realism in battle scenes and strong characters, male and female.