Death of Kings
The master of historical fiction presents the iconic story of King Alfred and the making of a nation.
As the ninth century wanes, England appears about to be plunged into chaos once more. For the Viking-raised but Saxon-born warrior, Uhtred, whose life seems to shadow the making of England, this presents him with difficult choices.
King Alfred is dying and his passing threatens the island of Britain to renewed warfare. Alfred wants his son, Edward, to succeed him but there are other Saxon claimants to the throne as well as ambitious pagan Vikings to the north.
Uhtred‘s loyalty – and his vows – were to Alfred, not to his son, and despite his long years of service to Alfred, he is still not committed to the Saxon cause. His own desire is to reclaim his long lost lands and castle to the north. But the challenge to him, as the king’s warrior, is that he knows that he will either be the means of making Alfred’s dream of a united and Christian England come to pass or be responsible for condemning it to oblivion.
This novel is a dramatic story of the power of tribal commitment and the terrible difficulties of divided loyalties.
This is the making of England magnificently brought to life by the master of historical fiction.
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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 Last Kingdom
The Last Kingdom is known in the US as The Saxon Tales. Formerly known in the UK as The Warrior Chronicles.
The Last Kingdom consists of thirteen books — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
