The Winter King - A Novel of Arthur
These are the tales of the last days before the great darkness descended. These are the tales of the Lost Lands, the country that was once ours but which our enemies now call England. These are the tales of Arthur, the Warlord, the King that Never Was, the Enemy of God and, may the living Christ forgive me, the best man I ever knew. How I have wept for Arthur...
Fifth-century Britain lies on the edge of darkness. Memories of Roman civilization are fading; the pagan Gods are retreating before the spread of Christianity; the Saxons are snapping and snarling at the borders. Only fragile bonds unite the unruly kingdoms of Britain against the invaders, bonds cemented by the vigour of the High King, Uther Pendragon. But the Pendragon is failing, and his heir is no strong leader but a child, born on a bitter winter night.
Only one man could keep Uther's throne safe; only he could hold the warring kingdoms together to face their true enemy, the Saxons. That man is Arthur: soldier, statesman, Merlin's protege, Uther's illegitimate son. But he has been banished, exiled by his own father to Brittany. Derfel, one of his spearmen, narrates the story of Arthur's return and of his quest for peace: embattled, bloody and, finally, triumphant.
The Winter King is a magnificent tale of the Dark Ages and the reality of war and political strife in a landwhere religion vied with magic for the souls of the people. It portrays Arthur the man rather than the legend, a military genius who, with a small band of warriors bound to him by loyalty and love, struggled to keep alive a flicker of civilization in a barbarically brutal world.
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Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell’s name is synonymous with sweeping historical epics, where battles are not just fought on the page, but also fought for the hearts and minds of his readers. With a talent for bringing history’s most dramatic moments to life, Cornwell crafts stories that resonate beyond the battlefield. His books blend grit, passion, and authenticity, drawing readers into vividly imagined worlds where the stakes are as high as human history itself.
Born in London in 1944, Cornwell’s early years were shaped by a love of history and a sense of adventure. After spending time in England and the United States, his diverse experiences ignited his fascination with the past, and he quickly became captivated by the idea of writing historical fiction. With a background that includes working in television, Cornwell honed his skills in storytelling, focusing on pacing, character development, and the art of creating tension. It was this combination of skills that would eventually lead him to pen his iconic Sharpe series—a saga that would not only shape his career but also define a genre.
The Warlord Chronicles
The Warlord Chronicles consists of three books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
