The Last Kingdom

By Bernard Cornwell

Book Overview

The first installment of Bernard Cornwell's New York Times bestselling historical fiction 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 Netflix series.

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 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 Saxon 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 in a brutal clash of cultures. 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, in a relentless blood feud.

This action-packed, 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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060887184
• ISBN13: 9780060887186
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Bernard Cornwell describes 9th Century England

After watching the show and movie in depth. I am surprised at how much details he adds to the books. I did not know each book is around 300 pages, but he makes me feel like I am in 9th century England right next to Uhtred.

HIGHLY ENTERTAINING LISTENING

Having played title roles in both Hamlet and Henry V, British actor Jamie Glover is the perfect choice to read Bernard Cornwell's latest historical adventure. Glover is expressive without being overly dramatic as he takes listeners back to the 9th and 10th centuries and a young warrior, Uhtred, who discovers his allegiances are divided in the midst of a bloody war. Appreciated for his historical authenticity and rousing battle scenes, Cornwell paints an almost vanquished King Alfred pitted against the dreaded Vikings as he strives to protect a last outpost. Uhtred, of noble blood, is captured after seeing his father slain in battle. He's but a boy of ten in A.D. 866 and is influenced by the Earl Ragnar who raises the boy with affection and trains him in Viking warfare. Uhtred feels beholden to and loves the man who has brought him up but also knows that he is English and owes an allegiance to the King. It will take years, the love of a woman, and the loss of many lives for Uhtred to choose which path he must follow. What a saga; what a terrifically entertaining listen! - Gail Cooke

my favorite of all

I've read almost all the Cornwell books: the Sharpe series, Civil War series, the archer, and King Arthur--only the 2 or 3 individual novels have been missed. This is my favorite so far. It is similar to the King Arthur books but with less of the mysticism and magic. The hero is a spunky boy who amuses a Viking chief during a battle and is adopted; the Norse life proves to be more suited to his taste and he grows up as a Dane. However, some old business brings him back to the English side. I won't tell more but any lover of historical fiction will find it hard to put this book down.