Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell (2007, Hardcover)

As always Cornwell comes through, giving us an historical work which is both satisfying and accurate. In this, the last of the Alfred trilogy, he wraps it up nicely. Historical fiction when done well fills in those gaps that history proper cannot touch. Cornwell has done his research and filled in those gaps with highly probable events and personalities in a not-to-be-put-down work which takes the reader back to that era. Forget the television or movie heroes and heroines, this is likely how it really was.

Needless to say I highly recommend this work and of course the other two that come before it. Buy it, read it. When you are done with this, do the same with his re-telling of the Arthur legend. Cornwell is simply the best there is.

This is an excellent book and Bernard Cornwell writes historical novels that make you hate to put the book down. This is the third in a series and I can't wait until the next one is available.

If you want an adventure,action,and drama.This is IT!!!THE SAXON STORIES, READ ALL THREE, AND DIP YOURSELF INTO THE STORY THAT WELL HAVE YOU WAITING FOR MORE.I STARTED LOOKING FOR A NEW AUTHOR AND I HAVE FOUND ONE IN BERNARD CORNWELL. I CAN'T WAIT TO READ ALL OF HIS BOOKS. AND YOU CAN NOT FIND A BETTER BUY THEN ON EBAY!!!!!

I started reading the series by Cornwell and wanted this book to continue my reading

There were many plot lines that this book continued uncover

Book three in the Saxon Chronicles is the best book by Bernard Cornwell that I have read. I had read his "Grail Quest Trilogy" before coming to this series, which I thought was a trilogy, but now know could go on much longer (it will be at least 4 books and I certainly hope for more).

"Lords of the North" continues the fantastic, emotional tale of Uhtred, the fictional Saxon-born, Dane-adopted and raised warrior, that is fated to fight for England and a king that he does not like, Alfred.

Uhtred lost his family when he was a boy and was adopted by a Danish Viking warrior, Earl Ragnar, who he loved as a father, and from whom he learned of the pagan deities, especially the spinners, the three mythical creatures that weave the fate of every man; hence his repeated statement through the entire series, "Fate is inexorable".

Uhtred, after assisting Alfred the Great with the defense of Wessex against the Danes, marches north to regain his birthright which was taken by his uncle when Uhtred's birth father died in battle. But fate has other plans for Uhtred, including assisting another king, killing priests, killing Saxons, killing Danes, loving a woman who becomes a nun, loving another woman who is betrothed to another, betrayal, slavery and revenge. Not bad for six months in the life of a Saxon/Danish warrior in the ninth century.

The author admits in his historical note at the end of the book that this tale is more fiction than fact, mainly because not much is known about the history of the Northumbria, the northern Saxon province. Using the name of the king, Guthred, and the characters he created in books 1 & 2,(which I highly recommend you read before coming to this; not because you need to in order to understand this book, but because the entire series is fabulous and why skip the salad and appetizer to get to the main course when the entire meal should be savored?) to weave a more fictional tale that is still most definitely anchored in fact, so far as the customs, trials, dangers, life, religions and battles would have been in the ninth century; that is to say that, despite the fact that none of the characters are real (except Guthred of whom not much is known) the entire story is told in accordance with the period and should be taken as an authentic description of fictional people. The world which Cornwell writes is wonderful, historically accurate and vivid.

This book is the best of the "Saxon Chronicles" by far and I eagerly await the release of book 4, "Sword Song" which is slated for release early 2008.