Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28988 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 366 pages

Synopsis
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.

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.

Customer Reviews

page turner
A great read. The only problem was that i had to get up for work the next day when i had been reading the book all night. A very compelling story. I have only just got into Cornwell and am reading everything he has written. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Very Average
Sword Song.....at times interesting but is predominantly a boring sequence of "ands" "then" he/she/viking did this then this then this.

The book earned its entire 2/5 marks through the potential story line, however i personally felt it exasperated build up's to scenes and you had to endure several tideous pages of nothingness faffing.

The author fails to identify and relate personally the reader to many of the characters and more often than not, several characters rementioned are only names.

I advise if looking for a historical battle fancy ect..... Conn's Caesar Triology is fantastic and and of David Gemmels work, such as Shield of Thunder or Fall of Kings.

Do not waste your life
There are better books and better things to do with your life. Go read them or do them.