The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Chronicles Series #1) Reviews

• THE LAST KINGDOM Delivers!

  
  By AZGG43SRINSA3 on 2004-12-04
  It is Northumbria, England, in the year 866. Uhtred, the son of an Earl becomes an orphan at ten and is captured and adopted by Ragnar the Dane. He is taught the Viking ways and Ragnar becomes more a father to him than his own father ever was. He loves the unrestricted, impious ways of the Danes and learns to become a formidable warrior.
  
  King Alfred, (later known as "The Great") is portrayed as an over pious but clever King of Essex. While Alfred is not a well-liked King, he is an intelligent one and soon comes to bind Uhtred to his cause against the Danes.
  
  The brutally descriptive battle scenes are exciting and repellant at the same time. Battles and wars are not described here as glorious and heroic circumstances but as what they really were, brutal, bloody, and often times fatal.
  
  This title was an excellent read and I just couldn't put it down many times at night. I've read it until the wee hours of the morning. I believe this is the best BC title I have ever read to date, even though I haven't read any of the Sharpe's novels (that era and place settings are not of interest to me). I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in early English (Saxon) history and/or Alfred the Great (and in the upcoming series, his descendants).
  
  

• Cornwell is a master of the historical novel

  
  By A680RUE1FDO8B on 2005-06-05
  Just a few moments ago, I was writing a review of one of Cornwell's American Civil War novels. Now I am writing a review of this Cornwell novel about 9th Century England. That's how good a historical novelist Cornwell is: the era doesn't matter. Cornwell weaves fact and fiction together seamlessly, believably and in a way sure to engage the reader's interest.
  
  The year is 866 A.D. The island is not yet united and the Danes raid and conquer at will. Cornwell's device is Uhtred, the 10 year old son of a minor chieftain, who is taken by the Danes, raised in the Viking ways of war and accepted as a Viking warrior.
  
  A priest becomes the medium through which the boy grows into a man and meets Alfred, the King who will take the first major steps in uniting England.
  
  Cornwell's story is well plotted, his characters are delightfully rich and his history both interesting and fascinating. A wonderful read.
  
  Jerry
  
  

• Recycling of Previous Works - Cornwell must vote Green!

  
  By A3CFHUO4CRLKY1 on 2007-03-10
  Yeah, this is an alright book, with a main character and plot that's interesting enough to keep you turning pages. It is however a nearly complete recycling of his very successful king Arthur series. The point of view, the prejudices, many of the characters - nearly everything - are just like The Winter King, except that it isn't as good. This is quite normal, as creative inspiration hits on a certain idea once, and then you really need to move on before you get bogged down in repetition.
  
  In addition to the lack of new ideas from the mechanics of writing (plot, characters, style, you name it, it's not new), the book is mired in post-modern skepticism that makes it popular to the modern reader, but utter trash as history. Both Derval (narrator from Winter King) and Uthred (narrator here) share an amazing doubtfulness of many core beliefs of the time period that is so close to what 'popular culture' teaches us now, that most readers don't even notice it. If you're at all familiar with the period, and the actual thinking of the period as reflected in their various sagas and writings, you'll see this as the rubbish it is.
  
  As part of this thinking, Cornwell undermines the internal setting itself and undermines your ability to believe in it, mostly due to poor craftsmanship. His pathetic anti-Christian attitude portrays all churchmen as slimy schemers, any Christian as a feeble, guilt-ridden whiner, and most of the leaders as duplicitous persons completely uninformed by an ethical religion (even pagan). You wonder how Christianity survived the time since it is being espoused by a bunch of low-lifes who don't even have the ability to explain their own beliefs to the main character, and who generally express themselves in terms of superstitious nonsense that is really paganism, despite the religion being nearly 1000 years old at that point.
  
  2000 years of history shows us that Christianity acted, and acts, as a civilizing influence over people's greed, narcissism, vile and violent impulses. It spreads literacy and education, encourages rule by law and not by the sword, discourages murderous blood feuds, the massacre of innocents and the oppression of the weak and vulnerable. It also has a beautiful and powerful message to deliver about humankind and it's relation to the infinite. The pagan Danes had the moral compunction of modern Mafiosi, with a gangster mentality that belongs to "The Godfather" films, the Sopranos, et al. Their own sagas reveal the endless cycle of murder, theft, exploitation and amorality that typifies their style of living, but you won't hear it from Cornwell. He makes it sound like a wild rock concert with shieldwalls. Also, he conveniently overlooks that somehow, despite the shortcomings (the _humanity_) of its adherents, Christianity succeeds in getting the Norsemen bowing their heads before any military defeat did.
  
  
  All this is unmentioned in Cornwell's juvenile approach where he juxtaposes a sort of hippy 'do-what-you-like' paganism against an oppressive 'hey kid, toe the line' Christianity that is completely unbalanced. You get the feeling he just doesn't have a good grasp of history, or he just has a post-modern agenda against the only civilizing influence the Barbarian West has ever had since it destroyed Roman hegemony.
  
  Overall, a lackluster piece of hack writing, but better than nothing for those of us who enjoy the Dark Ages and want to read it in a style that resonates with our modern, spiritually bleak, secularist lives.
  
  

• my favorite of all

  
  By AZBJ7DP1RUW1K on 2005-01-31
  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.
  
  

• Excellent

  
  By A27WY6OD5ZVB28 on 2004-11-22
  I very much enjoyed this book. It's a great story with intricate characters. Cornwell lets us get to know many different sides of one story. You get to know the Vikings or rather Danes and what kind of people they are and the people of England who are barely Christians and also the priests and pious kings. It's very interesting to read about a time in the English history that isn't written about much in historical fiction. I highly recommend this book.
  
  
• A pretty good Cornwell book
  By A1CPXDDAK7OK57 on 2007-07-07
  I'm a huge fan of Bernard Cornwell, and this book is very well-written and exciting like all of his novels. If you enjoyed the Warlord Chronicles you will be sure to enjoy his Saxon stories. The reason this novel lost stars is because it has a number of problems that make it somewhat inferior to other books Cornwell has written.
  
  First, the main character Uhtred is just a recycled version of Derfel from the Warlord Chronicles. Like Derfel, he is a pagan warrior who narrates the story and has most of Derfel's beliefs and mannerisms. Unlike Derfel, he is highly unlikable because he is arrogant and only shows loyalty to whoever can benefit him at the moment. Despite these traits, Uhtred is made out to be the perfect hero of the book.
  
  Which brings me to another point. In this book and its sequel "The Pale Horseman", Cornwell seems to place far too much historical importance on the actions of his fictional protagonist. After all, these books are supposed to be about Alfred the Great, the Saxon king who drove out the Danish invaders. Yet Cornwell seems content to portray Alfred as an annoyingly pious weakling who only succeeded in defeating the Danes because of the fictional Uhtred. Uhtred is gifted with the hindsight of the author and is therefore able to predict everything that the Danes will do and know exactly how to defeat them in every engagement. For some punk who isn't even out of his teens, this all seems too much to achieve.
  
  Also, Cornwell always has an axe to grind against Christianity and this book is no exception. Like almost all his books, in this story Christian characters are generally portrayed as sniveling and stupid weaklings. He always throws in one token likable Christian character, but this person is usually not a proper Christian at all. I enjoy Cornwell's books, but as a Christian it never ceases to annoy me when the author insists on depicting all Christians as horrible and misguided people simply because he has some unfathomable grudge against us.
  
  If you find yourself looking past these problems, you will no doubt enjoy this book very much. It has all the good qualities which are characteristic of this author, and it was interesting to learn a bit about a period of England's history that I myself was not at all familiar with before reading this book.
  
  
• Cornwell is at the top of his game here
  By A2F6N60Z96CAJI on 2005-03-05
  Name the Kings of England.
  
  Well, there's mad old George III, who lost the Revolutionary War. That's one. And Henry VII, everyone remembers him. After that, there's King James, who we recall from his version of the Bible, and the one who gave up his crown to marry the American woman, and the one who got his head chopped off.
  
  After them, and maybe Richard III from the Shakespeare play, the collective memory (at least on this side of the Atlantic) goes a bit dim.
  
  But only one of those Kings of England who we really don't know or remember was named "the Great," and that was Alfred, who ruled from 871 to 900, back in the days when the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was on the bestseller list, at least for people who could read. Bernard Cornwell thinks we should know more about Alfred and his times, which is why he has written THE LAST KINGDOM. That should be enough of a recommendation for anyone.
  
  Cornwell is the author of the bestselling Richard Sharpe series, which follows the adventures of a hard-charging British soldier during the Peninsular Campaign. Although Sharpe is a great character by himself, one thing he serves to do is to illustrate the greatness of Lord Wellington --- the commander of the British forces in Spain, and Sharpe's own patron. Wellington (at least as portrayed by Cornwell) is far too stiff, aloof and unlikable to ever be the hero of his own tale, and Sharpe ably stands in.
  
  The same trick is tried in THE LAST KINGDOM, with a twist. The first-person narrator here is Uhtred, who is the son of a minor lord of Northumbria. As a child, he is captured by a raiding pack of Danes that are "going Viking," or raiding the coast. The young Uhtred becomes the adopted son of a Viking leader and learns a central, universal truth: Vikings are cool.
  
  Vikings are cool for the same reasons that Vikings have always been cool. Vikings don't have to brush their teeth (not that anybody did, much, in the ninth century). Vikings get cool swords and stand shoulder to shoulder in the shield wall. Vikings don't have to learn how to read, or say their prayers, or build a stable, efficient society based on the rule of law. Vikings don't have to do any of that, so they are
  cool.
  
  While Uhtred is with the Vikings, learning the way of the warrior from his surrogate parents (and bedding a nubile wench or two along the way), the story meanders along, explaining the Viking way of revenge and the blood feud and the glories of Valhalla. But Uhtred is English and wants nothing more than to reclaim his lost castle and birthright; to do that, he may have to return to his own people. And when treacherous Danish opponents of his foster family launch a surprise attack, he has no choice but to do so.
  
  Alfred is different because he, at least for his day and age, was civilized. Uhtred misses few opportunities to sneer at Alfred for his Christianity, his belief in law, and his supposed softness. Uhtred takes off the cross and puts on the hammer of Thor because he finds Thor to be the stronger --- but Thor lives on today only in the pages of Marvel Comics and in the name of Thursday. It was Alfred, and Western Civilization, that were the stronger in the battle, and it is Cornwell's job to show why.
  
  THE LAST KINGDOM is the first of a proposed trilogy, which will show how Alfred defeated the Danes and established England as England and not as a Viking protectorate. As such, it is just the beginning of the story, and a long and bloody epic it promises to be. Cornwell is a talented historical novelist, and he's at the top of his game here --- all the more so because the history of the ninth century is much less documented than the nineteenth.
  
  The novel provides a lot of insight to our time, of course, with Western Civilization again under threat. And the character of Uhtred, going back and forth between the civilized and uncivilized worlds, is emblematic of the struggle (as well as being a skilled teller of tales and describer of battles). But none of this explains the appeal of THE LAST KINGDOM so much as these three words, which are all you need to know about the book.
  
  Vikings are cool.
  
  --- Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds
  
  
• Charge the Shield Wall!
  By A37GRFP6VMUXKT on 2006-08-08
  Bernard Cornwell, perhaps our best writer of the historical adventure novel today, scores high with the first book in his Saxon Stories. I'm a devoted follower of Cornwell, and in my opinion, The Last Kingdom ranks with the better Sharpe stories and exceeds The Heretic.
  
  The Last Kingdom tells the story of the 9th-century Danish (Norse or 'Viking') invasion of Anglo-Saxon England (or Englaland as they said a millennium or so ago). The fierce Danes roll over three of the four kingdoms and have only to finish off the pious Alfred, King of Wessex. This book begins the story of Alfred's resistance. The Saxon Stories relate how Alfred became known as the only 'Great' king in English history.
  
  Highly recommended for fans of Cornwell or anyone who like historical adventure stories. Terribly exciting battle scenes on the 'shield wall'.
  
  
  
  
• Could not put it down
  By A3LSQB1BP8C14G on 2005-03-06
  As an avid reader of history and historical fiction, I have developed high standards. I was not disappointed with The Last Kingdom. It is not contrived, it does not have people acting outside of character to benefit the plot, and its descriptions of life in the times ring remarkably true. I can't wait for the sequel, and will likely dip into other Cornwell before it comes out.
  
  The book tells the tale of the Danish invasion of Britain in the ninth century through the eyes of Uhtred, a Northumbrian ealdorman who is orphaned at age ten and sees his patrimony stolen by an uncle. Raised by his Danish captors, he grows into an accomplished warrior while grappling with conflicting loyalties and religious convictions. Don't start this book if you have something else that needs to be done quickly, since you may find that you can't do anything until the last page is turned.
  
  
  
• Absolutely Brilliant
  By A2FGM7M0BQ8NPL on 2005-12-29
  I first heard of this series because one of my other favorite authors, George R R Martin (The song of Ice and Fire series), had posted a blurb on his website describing how wonderful Cornwell is.
  
  Martin was right. 100% right. I was blown away by what I read and could hardly put the book down.
  
  Usually I enjoy reading high fantasy fiction as written by Martin and Jordan. I was extremely happy with the book despite being used to reading about magic and dragons. The story is excellent and the characters are well done. The pacing is quick, the numerous battles are written beautifully. Important events happen frequently and are surprising. All in all, an excellent read.
  
  I cannot wait to devour the other 30 or so Cornwell books. It will most likely take me years, but after reading the first couple of chapters of THE LAST KINGDOM, I knew I was in for the long haul.
  
  Brilliant.
  
  
• Best Work Yet!
  By A1YYPHJG76O3LZ on 2005-02-09
  Great depiction of Danish/Viking life and their invasion of England, juxtaposed against that of the English defenders fighting desperately to hold on. The hero has a foot in each fascinating, vividly drawn world. This book is very similar to but IMO surpasses his Arthur trilogy in terms of characterization and plotting. The climactic battle will blow you away. Impossible to stop reading.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  
• Excellent Kick-Off to New Series -- Here Come the Danes!
  By A2PNTEDGMOLMOY on 2005-05-23
  Bernard Cornwell's "The Last Kingdom" sees our favorite spinner of rollicking historical fiction turn his clever eyes to the historical mists surrounding England's King Alfred the Great and his defense of England against the invading Danes (known to you and me as the Vikings). For those familiar with Cornwell, there are few surprises here, and that is a major plus.
  
  This tale of 9th-century England is told by Uthred, a fictional character (while many of the other characters in the novel are real-life historical figures). A Northumbrian, Uthred is captured in battle by the Danes as a child and raised as a Dane, learning their mythology and values. Yet Uthred remains English at heart, and knows that even while he has learned to honor (and even love) Danes, his destiny will see him fighting in the shield wall against their invasion. Uthred's inner conflicts make him one Cornwell's more compelling heroes.
  
  9th-century England is really four separate kingdoms, and over the course of the novel the Danes sweep over three, leaving Wessex to stand alone as the Last Kingdom of the title. Wessex is led by the scholarly, sickly, pious, and reluctantly randy Alfred. Uthred has little affection for this man, particularly when placed alongside Uthred's favorite reckless Danes, but Alfred remains a player to be reckoned with. Alfred has the talent to see Uthred's military prowess, and Uthred rises to become a leader of the English forces.
  
  As one can expect from Cornwell, battle scenes pepper the novel, and Uthred finally gets the chance to satisfy his dream of standing in the front of a massive shield wall against hundreds of foes. Fortunately for the reader, Uthred is a man of humor as well as might, and Uthred spends a lot of his time bedeviling Christian priests by pointing out the inherent weaknesses of their faith when compared to the noble (and relatively reasonable) worship of Odin and the other Norse gods. Uthred also has a remarkable ability to be able to tell folks what they want to hear -- while most of Cornwell's heroes have a tendency towards brutal honesty, Uthred has a refreshing talent for mendacity.
  
  Since this is clearly the first novel in a series, the climactic scenes are relatively reserved but are nevertheless satisfying. Several juicy plot lines remain unresolved, and there are still Danes aplenty in England at the conclusion of the novel. One can hope that this series will progress in the same fashion as Cornwell's other medieval trilogies, the Grail Quest series and the King Arthur series. In "The Last Kingdom," Cornwell has taken a lean, mean first step with plenty of thrills and a surprising amount of humor. One heck of an enjoyable read!
  
  
  
  
• More of the same, but still good
  By A3Q0Q4CAA9TTZF on 2007-02-14
  I really enjoy Cornwell's books. I especially liked the Warlord series with King Arthur. That was one of my favorite reads of all time. (I even liked it better than the Fire and Ice series from Martin.) This book seems like more of the same. Uhtred and Brida = Derfel and Nimue. Are his novels becoming too formulaic? Still, I enjoyed it and have ordered the second book in the series. Good read but not spectacular.
  
  
• Entertaining Historical Adventure
  By A1EW1OILI6AGGC on 2007-02-15
  This is the first book I've read by the author, but I really liked this book. It's a highly readable, entertaining historical adventure. The tale is narrated by Uthred, a pagan Northumbrian, who's abducted by the Danes. He's a very likeable warrior and has a strong voice. I am looking forward to reading his continueing story.
  
  
• What better way to explore 9th century Wessex?
  By A1DYMH30TSRONY on 2007-02-17
  In this, the first of three novels centred on Uhtred, Bernard Cornwell breathes life into 9th century Wessex and the struggle between the (West) Saxons and the Danes. Cornwell's writing style is suited to the action of combat, conflict and intrigue and the images he invokes in my imagination feel very real.
  
  Uhtred moves between the Christian world of Alfred the Great and the pagan world of the Danes. By belonging to neither world, and to both, Uhtred is perfectly placed to take the reader into the conflict for the last of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The story is narrated by Uhtred in his old age and paints a quite different picture of King Alfred (the Great).
  
  This is a struggle between different civilizations, cultures and values. Neither side has a monopoly on righteousness, or on evil. Be warned: if bloodthirsty battle makes you squeamish, this book may not be for you. For myself, I've found a new hero in Uhtred.
  
  Read it, enjoy it - and then read the next in the series!
  
  Jennifer Cameron-Smith
  
  
  
• Bernard Cornwell at His Brilliant Best
  By APRY1W9VFEFQ6 on 2005-02-11
  Bernard Cornwell is back to his brilliant best after what I thought a slight stutter with Stonehenge. This book is excellent and it is difficult to give a brief synopsis of it without giving too much of the plot away, but here goes.
  
  The book begins in the late 9th century AD. The Vikings are seen in the coastal water of Northumbria. The news comes through to the Ealdorman of the major stronghold in Northumbria that the Vikings have captured Eoferwic (York) and he marches with his army and his ten year old son to join forces with the other English forces to retake the city.
  
  The battle is a resounding success for the Vikings and the young boy is captured and taken into the family of Ragnar one of the senior Vikings. Ragnar likes the boy Uhtred and treats him as his own son.
  
  The struggle between the English and the Danes and how the boy grows up not knowing where is true loyalties lie is the background to the book. His eventual marriage moves him closer to the English cause, and when he is drawn into a battle against one of the greatest Viking chieftains he realises at last his true allegiance.
  
  This really is a blood and guts novel and a really good read.
  
  
• Alfred "grates"
  By ATQVPA123R4E on 2005-02-20
  
  Going against the stream here, I have to say I didn't like this book. It was well written; I take nothing from the writer's ability in my not being pleased with it. I didn't expect the degree of murder that was almost revelled in though (see for instance, Uthred's live-in girl friend who likes to lick blood from swords), nor the street language that the writer indulges in. But these are incidentals and come with the age we live in.
  
  My biggest disappointment has to be the way that one of the greatest heroes of English history - though always in the shadows of the Arthur of Arthurian myth makers - is treated. Alfred, in this book, is a religious phoney, a killjoy. Everyone hates him. He has no personality and no friends. One almost has to spit before mentioning his name. Contrast that with Asser's life.
  
  Perhaps in subsequent books Cornwell will turn all things round, but in this book Alfred is the baddie while the Vikings - fully in touch with their emotional side - are just out for a bit of harmless rape and pillage.
  
  
  
  
• A great read.
  By A2IX24RC2OV957 on 2005-03-07
  Bernard Cornwell is by far my favourite author, I love his writing style and it seems to just get more interesting with each new book.
  
  With all Cornwells books you get a great story combined with a remarkably detailed view of life throughout different historical periods. With this book you find yourself quickly fixated on the story while all the time learning about the culture of the Danes and Britons, a huge amount of research goes into each of these books to provide an accurate account of life many years ago.
  
  This book was great and I would seriously recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction.
  
  
• Fascinating historical/military fiction
  By A2CR57GAJKNWVV on 2005-03-08
  The Norsemen raided the English kingdoms for decades, but in 866, they attempt outright conquest. Huge armies of Danes descend first on Northumbria, then Mercia, then East Anglia, until only Wessex, the richest Saxon kingdom and the most southern, survives. And the Danes plan that Wessex will be next. After everyone else has fallen before them, few doubt that Wessex will fall--and English culture will be eliminated from the world. But King Alfred isn't willing to give up so easily.
  
  Early in the invasion, Uhtred of Northumbria is captured by the Danes. For his ten-year-old bravery after his father is killed in battle, the Danes adopt him, raise him, and teach him to fight. He adopts their religion--which is the religion of his ancestors although the English had adopted Christianity after their conquest of most of Britain--their fighting ways, and their casual attitudes toward sex. But when his adoptive father is killed in a feud, Uhtred flees to Wessex where he is welcomed by Alfred and put to work. Although his kingdom is under threat, already Alfred plans on a time when the Danes will be defeated. He wants Northumbrian, Angliacan, and Mercian noblemen under his banner--under his control.
  
  Author Bernard Cornwell personalizes a mostly historical tale with the fictional life of Uhtred. Through his eyes, we see the power and ambition of the Danes, the long odds against their invasion's success, but also how close to success they came. Because the Danes were a society of warriors, they were able to put a much higher proportion of their men into battle.
  
  Cornwell's battle descriptions are high points of the story--both vivid and convincingly detailed. It's easy to imagine the shield wall as men fight and die. Because Uhtred is committed neither to the Danes nor to Wessex, Cornwell is able to play with the personalities of the historical figures, letting Uhtred see both their strengths and their weaknesses.
  
  Cornwell is a master of military-historical fiction and THE LAST KINGDOM is a welcome addition to his work.
  
  
• a book for 12 y ear old boys
  By ARVOMJ2YFFF9K on 2005-05-09
  i have never read any of cornwell's many books but the cover should say, suitable for boys 12 years and younger. this is childish gibberish with a paper thin plot. basically he has assembled some historical facts and built a yarn about some dim witted englishmen chasing some vagabond vikings about the coast of england. this very definitely ain't O'brian.
  
  
• Danish Vikings on a Landgrab in England
  By A3TEH90X39WC8F on 2005-10-06
  This one is a nicely done rendition of the period when the Danes were overrunning England and Alfred, king of the holdout English kingdom of Wessex (land of the West Saxons), stood nearly alone against them. After the other kingdoms, including Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia had fallen, there was only Alfred's Wessex and Alfred, a somewhat prissy churchman, seemed the least likely of English kings to hold them off. But he proved a surprise to his contemporaries and, of course, to the Danes.
  
  This tale tracks an English lord, an ealdorman, who is snatched from home and hearth at the tender age of ten in the course of a Danish raid on his father's coastal holdings and subsequently reared as a Dane. Coming of age in the warlike culture of the vikings, young Uthred Uthredsson must balance competing loyalties to his adopted Danish father and his English heritage. This first volume in a projected series carries Uthred to King Alfred and his first big decision, and then back again into the jaws of destiny.
  
  There is not much of a story here . . . just lots of fighting and running (or sailing) about. But it's all well told and keeps the reader with Uhtred all the way. The book suffers from a certain thinness in characterization though. None of the players are particularly memorable, not even Uhtred, our protagonist. And Bernard Cornwell spends an awful lot of time giving us details of time and place, showing off his extensive research. But he makes it all work.
  
  I liked this one much better than I liked the first in his Warlord series, The Winter King (I never read the other two in that series because the first just failed to move me). That earlier one was about the Romano-Celt, Arthur, in his legendary fight to hold back the Saxon tide and defend the Celtic land of Britain. But, of course, as we all know Arthur lost despite his brief moment of glory when he defeated the Saxons in a series of big battles. This one, on the other hand, is about the descendants of those temporarily defeated Saxons, now firmly established in the land they conquered after Arthur, as they struggle to defend themselves against new invaders from their old homeland, their cousins the Danes.
  
  Of course, the Danes were among the earliest vikings so this one is basically a viking tale and there's a great deal more historical information to work with in telling it, including the record left behind by the English clerics of the period, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which reports the earliest invasions of Saxon leaders like Hengest and Horsa and takes us right up to later viking times.
  
  But if you really like viking tales, as I do, there are lots of others out there, some better than this one. Among my favorites are The Golden Warrior: The Story of Harold and William by Hope Muntz, about the struggles of Harold, the last English king, against William of Normandy for the English throne, and the recently published Saga: A Novel of Medieval Iceland by Jeff Janoda. This one brilliantly retells a fascinating tale found in the Eyrbyggja Saga, one of the most famous of the sagas of old Iceland. Both are powerful novels in the old Norse saga tradition and either one has Cornwell's new entry beat. But The Last Kingdom is a decent read, too, and better than some of Cornwell's other efforts.
  
  SWM
  author of The King of Vinland's Saga
  
  
• Great start to a new series
  By A3PI7AGQ3UJ1W3 on 2006-03-25
  How does Cornwell do this? Once again, he has come up with a great idea to blend his excellent characters into an interesting period of history. Sure, there are some unlikely events and 11-year old Uhtred can be wise beyond his years, but all in all this is an excellent book that I recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction, in particular 9th century England and the invasion of the Danes. This is Cornwell at (or near) his best.
  
  
• I loved this book
  By A10L8XPLYAK7SQ on 2006-08-08
  When I want to read for pleasure I pick up two kinds of books; historical fiction and alternate history. Since I'm a history teacher, I read "real" history during the school year and fiction during the summer. This was the first book on my personal summer reading list and greatly enjoyed it. So much so in fact that I have read it twice this summer.
  
  Cornwell tells the story and history in such a way that it is very vivid in the mind's eye. I was drawn deep into the life of Uhtred and found myself wanting to know more. I will be reading the second novel on this topic soon.
  
  For those who like action novels that require a more than a little IQ to enjoy, this one is for you.
  
  
• Couldn't put it down
  By AUCXT9K30SHYF on 2006-09-01
  I am a fan of Bernard Cornwall. This is the first of his books I've read and it made me want to read more. I couldn't wait to read "Pale Horseman". That stunned me so much with its vividness that I couldn't wait for the third one. It's not out in the U.S. until Jan. so I ordered it on Amazon U.K. I just miss Uhtred and can't wait for the fourth.
  
  
• Another page-turner by Cornwell
  By A3J07TGKMCY94E on 2006-11-25
  I won't repeat many of the other reviews by framing out the plot and characters for you. It will be much more enjoyable for you to do so on your own by actually reading. What I will say is that it is an excellent read, start to finish.
  
  As I began reading this book, I was reminded of Cornwell's magic when he wrote The Warlord Chronicles. And it was a great change from the boredom I felt reading Stonehenge. In The Last Kingdom, the story revolves around England vs the Danes and a warrior named Uthred, whose fictional life tells us the story of the people, the places, and the battles of England in the late 800's. The are lots of historical facts to be gained by reading this book as well as Cornwell's great ability to make battle scenes come alive.
  
  While I appreciate and admire all the research that Cornwell puts into his books, I do find the names of locations hard to grasp. He uses town and city names that were used in the time period in which the story takes place. There is a key in the front of the book, but I find it interrupts my reading to constantly flip back and forth to find out to what city he is referring. There is also a map but it is not all inclusive - just the major cities are labeled. It would be better if there were a pull out map with all the locations included on it that one could refer to while reading. Then again, perhaps I'm just being lazy and need to do more research into England and Wales of the late 800's.
  
  And I must say that I enjoy the barbs Cornwell gives to the church by pointing out the contradictions in their actions and the ways in which history was rewritten to serve their purposes.
  
  Overall - an excellent book! Great for readers who enjoy stories of medieval times, historical England, Arthur (though it's not about Arthur), battles, etc.
  
  
• Wooden Ships and Iron Men
  By A1SKNS2DGG46XM on 2006-11-27
  Britain in the 9th Century is a tough place. Raiders from the north and east take the short hop across the Northern Sea in their dragon boats to rape and pillage coastal villages. It's a time when a man of 40 is considered elderly, and a woman not married with two or three births by 16 is considered an unmarriageable old maid. And by the second half of that century, the Danes, finding Britain's fertile valleys more suited to raising families than the rocky crags of their homeland, decide to stay. Starting in the northeastern kingdom of Northumbria, the raiders become invaders and finally occupiers, relegating the local nobility to figureheads, and reawakening the ancient pagan culture practiced in Britain before the Romans ruled the land. Uhtred, the fictional 10-year-old son of a Northumbrian earl, sees his family slain at the hands of the invading Danes, and is captured and taken into slavery by the warlord Ragnar. After the kingdoms of Mercia and East Anglia fall to the Dane swords and battle-axes, only Alfred's kingdom of Wessex stands between Britain and total domination by the Danes.
  
  It is young Uhtred who narrates this lively and authoritative historical novel spanning the decade in which Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, the southern-most kingdom, resists the Danes and lays the foundations for what would become England. Uhtred is a warrior at heart, and is spared death on the battlefield that changes the course of his life as well as that of England. Demonstrating his resourcefulness as a slave, he is eventually virtually adopted by Ragnar, who treats the young Englishman as a second son. Uhtred learns the Norse ways, and finds Ragnar's lust for life and battle a more than fitting substitute for his own late but dour and unloving father. While still consumed with the dream of returning to Bebbanburg to reclaim is homeland, Uhtred finds logic and fairness in God Oden and the pagan ways, confusing his allegiance between country and the occupying Danes who have embraced him.
  
  Cornwell's history, as always, is well researched and easily read. Far, far from the dry and simply factual narrative that often is synonymous with fiction based on historical events, Cornwell's words and characters fly off the pages, spinning a gripping story that is truly a page-turner. The battle scenes, authentic and gloriously gory, capture the true horror of medieval combat and the shield wall, while the political maneuverings of both sides unfold like the best of the pop thrillers. Setting this author ahead of the pack is his dry wit, gently mocking the still-fledging Christian Church and the ribald priests and nuns who prayed and counseled, but were not above the occasional rape and pillaging of their own. Nor is Cornwell afraid to put his own spin on the historical record: the pious and saintly Alfred is rendered with more than his fair share of human foibles - an often sickly leader who spends a great portion of this young adulthood rutting servant girls.
  
  In summary, a spell binding novel, a slice of history painstakingly told with a cast - both historical and fictional - that you'll care about and that will keep you reading well past any prior plans. "The Last Kingdom" is the first in a series of novels of England's Saxon period, leaving more looking forward to "The Pale Horseman". Well done, Mr. Cornwell!
  
  
  
• Britannia + Middle Ages = Bernard Cornwell
  By ADTJVU4Q53ZG0 on 2007-01-10
  "Wyrd bið ful aræd."
  (Uthred Uthredson)
  
  In the year AD 865 a never seen before number of dragonships, with about 2000 - 3000 northmen appears at the eastern coast of the island, that in later times will be called England. The Commanders of this armed force, which chroniclers call "The Great Heathen Army" are Ivar the Boneless, Ubbe and Halfdan, the sons of legendary Vikingsheroe Ragnar Ragnarr Loðbrók. As before, this time their activities should not confine on "Víkingr" (old nordic.: robbing, plunder, taking booty) only. Rather this time ist is the start of an invasion to colonize. After conquering Eastanglia, Northumbria with it's capital Eoferwic (Jorvik/York) and Mercia, the Danish occupying forces are finally attacking Wessex, the last remaining anglo-saxon kingdom.....
  
  ....from this historical background Bernard Cornwell develops his story about the second germanic invasion of the Britannia, that was called "Lloeggyr" (the lost Land) by the celtic-roman people, who had been driven out of it to Wales and Cornwall. The novel focusses the fate of the (fictional) Northumbrian nobleman Uthred Uthredson, who sometimes unintentional, sometimes deliberately has to change front and loyalty between his anglo-saxon relatives and his scandinavian friends. On this occasion his interests come into conflict with the intensions of King Ælfreds of Wessex, who will (as the only sovereign of the islandkingdom) get later the epithet "the Great"...
  
  After his "Warlord Chronicles" about the Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain in the "Dark Age" (at the End of the 5th Century), with the trilogy "The Winterking", "Enemy of God" and "Excalibur") Bernard Cornwell with "The Last Kingdom" succeed again in a first part of a new novel series. Again a central topic is the conflict between the (meanwhile) christian "inhabitants" und pagan "invaders", who are oppositing in shieldbarriers. But some descendants of the former anglosaxon conquerers countinue worshipping the old gods. Because of the numerous battle- and other rough scenes the novel could not be recommend readers with tender natures. The same applies for the peculiar humor of the northmen, particular in relation to Christianity and it's priests, who comes "still more black" in the english way, but meets the historical background.
  
  In his "Historical Note" Bernard Cornwell makes a clear separation between historical facts and literary fiction. With the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" und "Asser's Life of King Alfred" he reveals the important sources for his novel. Already at the beginning of the book the readers can find interesting and helpful materials, as a map of Britain at the end of the 9th century an a synops with the anglo-saxon names of towns, villages etc., as well as their danish an today designations.
  
  The thrilling and informative novel scores 5 Amazonstars and forces the reader to purchase it's sequel "The Pale Horseman" and "The Lords of the North" immediately....
  
  
  
• Loved it...
  By A2QSRKJ1R0J6EK on 2007-02-04
  Historical fiction at its best. Buy this book (and The Pale Horseman)!
  
  
• King Alfred inspires interesting, if flawed, history novel
  By A12AE5KDH7HBKE on 2007-04-03
  I have always thought the history of my own name's patron, Alfred the Great, king of Wessex 871-899, would make a great historical novel. Now Bernard Cornwell has risen to the task, and the result is interesting, if not always satisfying. Since my interest is in Alfred rather than the author, I have not read any of Cornwell's other novels, so I cannot compare them to the present one.
  
  Generally Alfred is considered the hero who saved the British Isles from the invading Viking hordes. However, in Cornwell's saga we encounter Alfred's world through the experience of the narrator, Uhtred, who grew up among the Danes and feels much sympathy for them. Cornwell clearly enjoys his contrarian history, where the Anglo-Saxons are a bunch of pious whiners and the Danes are the admirable and free-spirited heros--aside from a bit of mass murder, of course.
  
  Now, we do eventually get the point that we are looking at history through the eyes of an aged narrator who remembers his childhood and adolescence, and not always accurately at that. But after a while the prejudices get grating.
  
  It is not that the story drags; for the most part it moves quite well and keeps our attention. But it seems that whenever we turn the page we encounter yet another priest or bishop who is stupid, superstitious, and has a runny nose. Not only does this get quite tedious, it is also the most unhistorical facet of the whole narrative. To be sure, all the chronicles praise Alfred's outstanding, and in some eyes perhaps excessive, piety and devotion to the church. But all we know about early Medieval Christianity belies the picture we get from this otherwise historically mostly accurate novel.
  
  One rather suspects that when it comes to religion the author's own prejudice gets in the way of his formidable talent as a storyteller. If it were not for that, the book would surely merit four stars as a very good, although perhaps not outstanding, piece of historical fiction.
  
  
  
• What historical fiction should be
  By A24XW89X697UQH on 2007-05-19
  This is what historical fiction should be. I've just completed the newest installment in the series, Lords of the North. Obviously, I was so enraptured by the first volume, I did what I normally don't and bought the next two volumes in hard cover shortly after their release.
  
  If you've never read a Bernard Cornwell novel, start out with this one. If you don't love it, at least you'll have a good feel for his style. The book (actually whole series) is about a lovable rogue named "Uhtred." Actually Uhtred is not the name he starts life with, but even how he got the name is part of the plot. Uhtred is uniquely positioned by circumstances to tell the story of the Danish invasions of England from both the Saxon and Viking perspective. How he continues to walk this seemingly impossible tightrope between cultures is both what moves the plot forward and makes for such a fantastic story(s). Every volume ends with Uhtred and his hated, yet still co-protagonist, Alfred the Great, somehow wiggling out of an impossible fix - only to start the next volume over again and into more conflict.
  
  Even if you don't love history, just observing how Cornwell weaves his craft perfectly is a thing of wonder. Unlike so many historical fictionists, he manages to pull all this off without upsetting known historical facts. The artistry of his writing, coupled with the speed that he's able to publish new works is something that other authors can only marvel at.
  
  
  
  

• The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Chronicles Series #2)
• Lords of the North: A Novel (Saxon Chronicles #3)
• Sword Song: The Battle for London
• The Winter King (The Arthur Books #1)
• Enemy of God (The Arthur Books #2)