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.
more
Excellent as always.
This book is even more awesome since I started watching the Netflix show.
Better than the TV series!
I loved this book. I have asked for the other 9 in the series for Christmas. I’m having a hard time starting another book until I get them, but I will I love to read. It is $ 100.00 to get the whole series. What a great gift.
Well researched historical fiction as usual from Bernard Comwell
Enjoyed, partly like reading history, was a interesting read
Mr. Cromwell is one of my favorite authors. Historical fiction can be hard to write well. He brings the battles and country to life. Very well researched and very well written. I look forward to following The rest of the journey.
Okay, I liked Bernard Cornwell before, with the Hood and the Archer trilogy, now I am hooked on another series. Don’t spoil it for me. I have not watched the series on television and don’t plan to do so until I finish the series. BTW – Uhtred was supposed to be blond. The fact that his stories are based on historical events helps to enrich the …
Great book on a little understood part of English history. One of the best books I have read this year
Excellent historical novel, fascinating period, England during the Danish / Viking invasions. Really well written, and the use of locations is extremely accurate.
Less fighting and more scene-setting and character development than your usual Cornwell book, but well written, highly entertaining, and wonderfully informative about an era of early English history not well known to most readers.
Good book
I read this book because I had watched the series. It’s a great book, even better than the series. I would like to read all 10 books. It’s a fun read.
This book is an excellent blend of history and fiction.
I liked Cornwell when I first started reading him, but I discovered that all of his books have the same character—-the tough loner killer who wins the love of the tough loner killer woman while killing the psycho bad guy—-set in different places and historical eras, so I eventually lost interest in the same story over and over.
If you like the tv productions and
You like to read this book is for you. You can only get so much into a series on tv show and so much more from the book. Start with this book and then read the rest of the series!
A great beginning to Cornwell’s Saxon Stories. Fine historical fiction in the tradition of Patrick O’Brian & C. S. Forester.
I am a fan of B. Cornwell and he can do no wrong.
For Uhtred. fans of us a must.
Great read. Very realistic battles.