Monday, February 27, 2012

Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell

Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell --- 320 pages

Sixth volume in The Saxon Tales Series about Alfred the Great's forging of England out of the maelstrom of tribal factions in ninth century Britain. No one writes this kind of historical fiction with more aplomb than Bernard Cornwell.  In this series he creates a tale about his own remote ancestor, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, and inserts him into the fabric of English history to flesh out the bare bones of what historians can tell about Alfred's reign.

Saxon born but raised by Danish raiders when his uncle usurps his place as the lord of Bebbanburg Keep in remote Northumbria, Uhtred survives by his warrior skills, worships the old gods of the North, and nurses one burning ambition: to avenge his father's death and regain Bebbanburg. To gain the men and treasure to achieve his goal, Uhtred becomes the reluctant leige man of the Christian Alfred, who needs a warrior to lead his forces and assert his claim to the kingship of Wessex and Mercia. Alfred is beset with tribal rivalries, while Danish raiders sweep down from the north in search of plunder, slaves and land. Yet Alfred too has a dream: he seeks to unify all the Saxon tribes into one Christian kingdom of Angleterre --- England.

In this volume, Alfred is dying, his dream of a united England slipping from his grasp. His son and chosen successor, Edward, young and untried, needs an experienced war leader he can trust. But he is surrounded by counselors who cannot seem to agree on anything --- except their dislike and distrust of Uhtred. The fragile web of tribal loyalties binding Wessex and Mercia to Alfred's crown is fraying under the pressure of rival claimants, and the Danes, smelling opportunity as power changes hands, come ravening like wolves in winter.

Will Alfred's dream and Uhtred's life survive this lethal knot of divided loyalties and treacherous secrets?

To find out more about Bernard Cornwall's Saxon Tales and other great series, click HERE to go to his web site.

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