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The Last Kingdom

Book 1 in the series:The Saxon Stories

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The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell is a historical fiction novel set in ninth-century Britain during the Danish invasion. The story follows Uhtred, a young Saxon boy who is captured and raised by Danes, navigating the complexities of loyalty and identity. Through vivid battle scenes and detailed historical context, the book paints a picture of a tumultuous time in English history, focusing on the clash between Saxons and Danes. The narrative is driven by Uhtred's transformation from a boy to a warrior, exploring themes of destiny, loyalty, and the struggle between paganism and Christianity.

Characters:

Characters are multifaceted, particularly Uhtred, whose conflicts and relationships drive the narrative and highlight the complexities of loyalty and cultural identity.

Writing/Prose:

Cornwell's prose is characterized by immersive detail and vivid action, presented through the engaging first-person perspective of Uhtred.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Uhtred's dual identity as he grows from a Saxon child into a warrior caught between the warring factions of Saxons and Danes, all set against the backdrop of historical events.

Setting:

The setting is 9th century England amidst Viking invasions, richly portrayed to enhance the historical context of the narrative.

Pacing:

The pace is brisk, filled with action and conflict that sustains reader interest, although there are moments for character reflection.
The Danes were clever that day. They had made new walls inside the city, invited our men into the streets, trapped them between the new walls, surrounded them, and killed them. They did not kill all t...

Notes:

The Last Kingdom is the first book in Bernard Cornwell's series called The Saxon Stories.
The story follows Uhtred, the son of a Saxon noble, who is captured by Vikings and raised as one of them.
Uhtred's character struggles with his dual identity as both Saxon and Dane throughout the series.
The series explores themes of loyalty, identity, and cultural conflict as the Saxons battle the invading Danes.
Cornwell incorporates real historical events and figures, such as King Alfred the Great.
The narrative is in the first person, providing a personal account of Uhtred's life and experiences.
The book is noted for its vivid descriptions of battles and the harsh realities of life during the Viking invasions.
Many readers appreciate the immersive storytelling that brings historical details to life.
Cornwell's writing is praised for its accessibility and engaging prose, making history enjoyable to read.
The TV adaptation of the series has increased the popularity of both the books and Cornwell's work.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include depictions of violence, including battle scenes and references to rape, which reflect the harsh realities of the historical setting.

From The Publisher:

The first installment of Bernard Cornwell's New York Times bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, "like Game of Thrones, but real" (The Observer, London)-the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit Netflix series.

In the middle years of the ninth century, the fierce Danes stormed onto British soil, hungry for spoils and conquest. Kingdom after kingdom fell to the ruthless invaders until but one realm remained. And suddenly the fate of all England-and the course of history-depended upon one man, one king.

From New York Times bestselling storyteller Bernard Cornwell comes a rousing epic adventure of courage, treachery, duty, devotion, majesty, love, and battle as seen through the eyes of a young warrior who straddled two worlds.

Ratings (40)

Incredible (13)
Loved It (21)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (89):

Read It (40)
Want To Read (37)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (11)

1 comment(s)

1 month

I can see the appeal, and this might be the right book for me at some other time when I have more patience.

 
 
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