Product Description

The fourth in the bestselling Alfred series from number one historical novelist, Bernard Cornwell. Our hero, Uhtred, has been made Governor of London. This fourth book in the series will mostly be set in London and will cover Alfred's building of fortified towns to hold Wessex and his push into Mercia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #631851 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Customer Reviews

The 4th Uhtred and Alfred novel... still going strong
Our Hero Uhtred just as he thinks things are settling down, he gets some new enemies to fight.... well it wouldn't be a Cornwell without would it? He is stuck fighting for the Saxons and their King Alfred, of which he has no love, and against the Danes who he has an affinity to. Not suprisingly this gives him problems just about every where he turns. This first person narrative style is different to the other Cornwell series and is a nice change. This is not the strongest in the series, but still excellent. well researched, gripping historical fiction from the master Bernard Cornwell! Only problem is I dont know when the next book is due.......

History lessons you don't fall asleep during!
Well I'll get all the negative stuff out of the way first! Uhtred really is just a dark ages 'Sharpe' he even has an Irish side kick now and whilst Sharpe was loathed as a commoner amongst upper class twit fellow officers, Uhtred is loathed because he is a pagan amongst pious preachy christians!

That said for many years I loved Sharpe! and likewise I am loving Uhtred and the Saxons, a major part of our national history largely ignored till now! Romans and vikings by the score, Saxons, hardly any!.

Back to the book it's architypical Cornwell. Our hero is unloved by his masters, out numbered by his foe's but backed up by his savage comrades. Yes we've seen it a hundred times before from Cornwell but it is such a winning formula and he does it probably better than anyone. Also I like the stories being told from the first person perspective by Uhtred himself as you really feel like you are in the heart of the action.

This book starts with the re-taking of London from the Danes an actual event but then takes a sharp left down imagination lane to put Uhtred in a daring rescue bid. As with most Cornwell stories the action is compelling gritty and believable, the book is fast paced though perhaps a hundred pages short of what we normally expect of him.

We are promised more Uhtred action shortley by the author and I'll no doubt be there with my credit card though I hope he doesn't over do it as I felt he did with Sharpe as there are so many other great bits of history he can take us to but I have not quite had enough of Uhtred yet! So I'll be sharpening my battle axe for next time.

Uhtred Rocks!
This is a typically absorbing 4th installment in the series by Cornwell apparently based on one of his distant relations; the hero, a fictional Uhtred de Bebbanburg, is a Saxon Lord at the time of Alfred The Great who's adventures take place against a background of the birth of England as a nation.

Nobody does historical 'faction' quite like Cornwell - all is based on an accurate historical macro with some fictional sub plots and characters to liven things up and personalise the action (like Sharpe) - a soap for grownups based on fact!

Once you get hooked you simply cannot put them down.

Superb stuff - great characterisation, pace, perspective and, of course, brilliant battle descriptions. Looking forward to the next one!