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 Wesssex and his push into Mercia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17811 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 366 pages

Review
Praise for 'The Lords of the North': 'Beautifully crafted story-telling, complete with splendid set-piece battles and relentless derring-do, so gripping that it rarely stops to catch a breath. It demonstrates once again Cornwell's enormous skill as a historical narrator. He would have graced Alfred's court entertaining the guests with his stories.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell takes the spectres of ninth century history and puts flesh back on their bones. Here is Alfred's world restored -- impeccably researched and illuminated with the colour and passion of a master storyteller.' Justin Pollard, author of 'Alfred the Great' Praise for Bernard Cornwell: 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer

From the Inside Flap
The year is 885 and England is at peace, divided between the Danish kingdom to the North and the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south. Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, warrior by instinct, Viking by nature, appears to have settled down. He has land, a wife, two children and a duty given to him by Alfred to hold the frontier on the Thames. But trouble stirs, a dead man has risen and new Vikings have arrived to occupy London. Their dream is to conquer Wessex, and to do it they need Uhtred's help.

Alfred has other ideas. He wants Uhtred to expel the Viking raiders from London. It is a dangerous time and Uhtred must decide how much his oath binds him to the king. Other storm clouds are gathering. Æthelflæd - Alfred's daughter - is now married, but a cruel twist of fate means that her very existence becomes a threat to Alfred's kingdom. It is Uhtred, half Saxon, half Dane, whose uncertain loyalties must now decide England's whole future.

Sword Song tells the story of the making of England and, like all Bernard Cornwell's previous novels, is based on true events. It is a gripping story of love, deceit, and violence, set in an England of tremendous turmoil and strife, yet one galvanised by a small flicker of hope that Alfred, the great king of Wessex, may prove a force that lasts. Uhtred, his greatest warrior, has become his sword, a man feared and respected the length and breadth of the land, his Lord of War.

About the Author
Bernard Cornwell was born in London, raised in Essex, and now lives mainly in the USA with his wife. In addition to the hugely successful Sharpe novels, Bernard Cornwell is the author of the Starbuck Chronicles, the Warlord trilogy, the Grail Quest series and the Alfred series.

Customer Reviews

Keeps getting better
I read the 3 first books in this series (The Last Kingdom, Pale Horseman, and Lords of the North) quite some time ago, found them all three excellent historical novels, so started "Sword Song" with high expectations. Rest assured: it's near perfect.

In "Sword Song" the struggle between Saxons and Danes has reached a new phase, with Alfred consolidating the kingdom of Wessex and trying to get a grip on the (leaderless) Mercia. Uthred has become Alfred's most important warlord, but he feels equally drawn to the Viking-world in which he grew up, and just then an army of Vikings arrives and captures London...

I really can't do this book enough justice: the battle scenes are as good as ever (and there's plenty), but above all I love the way in which Uthred keeps developing as a character. The arrogant, young warrior has become a mature man (with a fearsome reputation, true enough), and a loving husband and father.

I for one am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

'I was death come from the morning'
'Sword Song' is set in a 9th century England divided between the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south and the Danish kingdom of the north.

As in the preceding three novels, Uhtred dominates this story. While his heroic actions are generally physical, his capacity to analyse situations and act quickly endow him with some very attractive leadership qualities. I enjoy the action in these novels and while I have a different mental picture of Alfred the Great, I can accept the picture as painted through Uhtred's eyes.

These are good novels in an historical setting, and breathe life into a time long past.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Falls a little short in comparison with the last three
The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman, and Lords of the North were all incredible novels, and set us up for an excellent introduction to Uhtred's character. With Sword Song completed, I still feel that Uhtred is the single greatest character in the history of novels and movies, but his tale fell a little short in this novel. A couple of scenes seemed a little too "miraculous," and Uhtred even says that more than once in this particular novel, things like "I should have died then, but the boat gave a sudden lurch," etc. Things like that are a little disappointing if they are brought up again and again. Repetitions are also littered through Sword Song, of pasts and histories that have already been drilled into our heads, sometimes bringing up the same thing 3 or 4 times in the same novel. Cornwell should understand that as readers of the series, with one book put out every year, we get it already and know what he's speaking of. Lastly the novel was, as many people before me have already said, too short. It was just over 300 pages, hardcover, and fell a bit short of my expectations because of this as well. For those who are hoping to see Ragnar, don't get your hopes up. His name is mentioned perhaps a dozen times in the book but the beloved character makes no appearance. As for the actual story, some things seem strangely put together, and that is probably hugely due to the amount of fiction in this tale as opposed to Cornwell's previous three. He even says that this is the book he's taken the most liberty with, including the main point of the plot. Bravo Bernard, but bump it up a couple notches on the next one for us. Uhtred deserves it.