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Sword Song (The Saxon Stories #4)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 6,064 ratings · 266 reviews

"Bernard Cornwell ranks as the current alpha male of testoterone-enriched historical fiction....This satisfying tale leaves you hungry for more of Uhtred's adventures." -USA Today

The year is 885, and England is at peace, divided between the Danish Kingdom to the north and the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south. Warrior by instinct and Viking by nature, Uhtred, the dispos

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Hardcover, 336 pages

Published January 22nd 2008 by Harper (first published January 1st 2007)

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Sep 01, 2012 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

An absolutely fascinating era in English history; one where the tides could so easily have turned and left England as Daneland. The historical place names and character names are pretty much real and add to the whole feel of the 9th century. Where a sickly, extremely pious, but sharp witted prince becomes not only a king, when he was not directly in line to take the throne. But becomes known as King Alfred The Great, despite his frail body and constant illness, and despite (or maybe, because of)...more An absolutely fascinating era in English history; one where the tides could so easily have turned and left England as Daneland. The historical place names and character names are pretty much real and add to the whole feel of the 9th century. Where a sickly, extremely pious, but sharp witted prince becomes not only a king, when he was not directly in line to take the throne. But becomes known as King Alfred The Great, despite his frail body and constant illness, and despite (or maybe, because of) his pious beliefs and surrounding himself with some dubious priests.

But, Alfred needs warriors, he needs armies, he needs a Warlord that men will follow because he fights at their side and slaughters his enemies. It turns out that Lord Uhtred, a saxon born Lord, raised by the very pagans that Alfred needs destroyed, is the only man for the task. But, someone who is so renowned as a battle lord who also has a Lord's rights to land in the north of England, needs to be kept on a short leash. And Lord Uhtred, although loyal, is not a man to be tethered or dictated to.

Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a brilliant character, well written and certainly well thought out. This book, and the Saxon series as a whole, has no shortage of really well written characters. Diversity, amnity, and alliegence are done with skill in the main and supporting characters.

The real bonding between Lord Uhtred and Lady AEthelflaed (King Alfred's daughter, married to a cowardly, abusive ass) is just starting to bloom in this book. Uhtred's old adversary Jarl Haesten is a slimey piece of work. And the two brothers Jarl's Sigefrid and Erik couldn't be much more diverse. Jarl Erik actually comes across as a decent man. There is a point, after one of the battles where Erik and his brother are retreating, where Erik asks who leads. One of Uhtred's friends, the warrior priest, Pyrlig, points out that Lord AEthelred (the abusive husband to King Alfred's daughter) commands, and Lord Uhtred disobeys. Lord Uhtred then gives Jarl Erik, and his men, their freedom.

There is so much more to this book. And I believe it to be one of the best three in the Saxon series, so far. I await the next ;) (less)

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Sep 20, 2010 Alex Telander rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2008

SWORD SONG: THE BATTLE FOR LONDON BY BERNARD CORNWELL: We last left Uhtred, in Lords of the North, apparently an ally with King Alfred, while the Vikings were making a very successful takeover of England, making it seem like there was little hope left for Alfred and his Saxon people. But Alfred has God on his side, and feels he will be ultimately victorious; Uhtred on the other hand, a pagan, cares little for this Christian religion, but is still a little unsure of where his allegiances lie.

Whi...more SWORD SONG: THE BATTLE FOR LONDON BY BERNARD CORNWELL: We last left Uhtred, in Lords of the North, apparently an ally with King Alfred, while the Vikings were making a very successful takeover of England, making it seem like there was little hope left for Alfred and his Saxon people. But Alfred has God on his side, and feels he will be ultimately victorious; Uhtred on the other hand, a pagan, cares little for this Christian religion, but is still a little unsure of where his allegiances lie.

While the first three of the Saxon Chronicles gave little hope and direction for Uhtred, in Sword Song, he has more to fight for with a wife and child, and another baby on the way. The old Roman town of London, an important one with its link to the Thames, has been taken over by the Vikings. If Alfred gives them London, Wessex is next and soon there will be little left to defend and England will be a Viking nation. So Alfred charges Uhtred with this great task to use the Saxon army, as well as his own loyal men, and take back London.

At this point Uhtred is an warrior and a great leader in a shield wall. But with the siege of London, he must mount an attack from the Thames, using ships and men. It will involve all his previous experience of battle, as well as appeasing both the Saxon army, and his own Northmen. His plan is to appear as an ally to the Vikings upon reaching London which, with his history, is a possibility, but then to spring the trap and take back the pivotal town. The question is whether Uhtred will live up to his side of the bargain, with his loyalty being challenged. Coupled with this is Aethelflæd, Alfred’s daughter, who has been recently kidnapped and is being held somewhere in London by a Viking lord; her life must be protected at all costs.

Sword Song jumps the bestselling series one big step forward, with this pivotal battle in the creation of the nation of England and its people. Ending on a cliffhanger, Cornwell skillfully leaves fans having to wait another whole year until they can get the next important chapter in the story of Alfred the Great.

For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.(less)

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Apr 29, 2013 Tsdidymus rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

He's a good writer. The scenes are graphic. The characters are a bit flat. Like any story, there's a lot to talk about. I'm going to focus on a couple things: the virtue and the violence.

One of the virtues I'll mention is loyalty. Uhtred, the protagonist, is consistently faced with choosing between what he wants and what he has promised. Also, and related to the former in this story, fate is a critical part. The interplay between the two themes is interesting and there's something to be gained...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Dark-Draco rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure-fiction, historic-fiction, favorites

Uhtred, warrior and hero, is tempted by an offer to defect from Alfred's side and in return, become King of Mercia. The Viking brothers, Erik and Sigfried, want his powerful friends on their side, but Uhtred doesn't trust them, especially as they are being helped by a man who once broke his oath to him. When the brothers take over Lundene, Alfred commands Althelred, Overseer of Mercia, to get rid of them. Uhtred, daring displeasure, disobeys orders and launches a daring attack that means his sid...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Sean O'Reilly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bookcrossing

I have read several of the Sharpe novels after being hooked by the TV adaptation in the 90's but this is the first time I have read a non-Sharpe Bernard Cornwell book. I didn't realise at the time that I picked this up that it is in fact the 4th book in a series. Had I realised this I might not have chosen it as I like to read series in order. However I'm glad I did.

There is lots of good period detail here as well as a plot that is gripping, well placed and surprising in places. As you would exp...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Justin rated it 3 of 5 stars

In the next tale of Uhtred of Bebbanberg, Cornwell takes us to the conquering of London in his early Medieval tale Sword Song.

Cornwell continues his journey through King Alfred the Great's evolving life to create a unified England and rid the island of the Danes who have conquered, lost, reconquered, and lost much of the lands outside of Wessex (although they did take quite a bit of that for a time, too). Instead of using many facts for this iteration, however, Cornwell decides to invoke his im...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Billy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Uhtred is one of the GREATEST literary figures ever created!,

The Saxon Chronicles, panned from the outset as Cornwell trying to return to his British roots, has proven to be a juggernaut that cannot be stopped by bad and, in this case, off-base, press reviews.

Book 4, 'Sword Song: The Battle for London', continues the story of Lord Uhtred, Saxon born, Dane raised, sworn man of King Alfred the great. In this installment, Uhtred fights to take London back from the invading Northemen, the Vikings....more

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Jan 15, 2012 kamelin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Denn die Zeit zum Kämpfen war gekommen ..." [german review]

Uhtred bekommt mal wieder einen herzallerliebsten Auftrag von seinem verhassten König Ælfred. Diesmal soll er die Dänenbrüder Sigefrid und Erik Thurgilson aus Lundene werfen. Doch natürlich wäre Ælfred nicht der, dem Uhtred liebend gern den Hals umdrehen würde, wenn es da nicht eine klitzekleine Bedingung gäbe: Uhtred darf wieder mal die ganze Drecksarbeit machen, während sein scheinheiliger Vetter Æthelred die Lorbeeren einheimsen sol...more "Denn die Zeit zum Kämpfen war gekommen ..." [german review]

Uhtred bekommt mal wieder einen herzallerliebsten Auftrag von seinem verhassten König Ælfred. Diesmal soll er die Dänenbrüder Sigefrid und Erik Thurgilson aus Lundene werfen. Doch natürlich wäre Ælfred nicht der, dem Uhtred liebend gern den Hals umdrehen würde, wenn es da nicht eine klitzekleine Bedingung gäbe: Uhtred darf wieder mal die ganze Drecksarbeit machen, während sein scheinheiliger Vetter Æthelred die Lorbeeren einheimsen soll. Der aufmerksame Cornwell-Leser ist nichts anderes gewohnt, doch diesmal zieht Uhtred sein Ding durch, pfeift auf die Befehle und heckt seinen eigenen Plan aus.
Tatsächlich muss er in diesem Band gleich zweimal eine Verteidigungsanlage knacken: das erste Mal das alte London, etwas später ein vorgelagertes Nest an der Themse - 'diesmal im Auftrag der Liebe. Denn neben der Rückeroberung Merciens gilt es eine Herzensangelegenheit höchster Priorität zu regeln: Die unglücklich verheiratete Æthelflaed gerät in die Hände der frisch vertriebenen Dänenbrüder Sigefrid und Erik, die prompt ein sattes Lösegeld fordern. Während ihrer Gefangenschaft verliebt sich die geraubte Prinzessin allerdings in ihren Entführer, und bittet Uhtred händeringend um Hilfe. (Das Stockholm-Syndrom war damals wahrscheinlich noch nicht bekannt, aber irgendwie ist es wohl nicht ganz unpassend es in diesem Zusammenhang einmal zu erwähnen). Und natürlich lässt sich Uhtred abermals weichklopfen, doch dann kommt alles ganz anders.

Der 4. Teil der Uhtred-Saga hat mir ausgesprochen gut gefallen, sodass ich ihn mit einem Happs verschlungen habe. Nachdem der 3. Teil (Die Herren des Nordens) meinen Lesehunger eher gebremst hat, fand ich diesen Band wieder so fesselnd wie Teil 1 (Das letzte Königreich) und 2 (Der weiße Reiter).

Es ist schon erstaunlich, wie Cornwell eine friedliebende Leserin in eine blutrünstige Kriegerin verwandeln kann, denn normalerweise bleiben bei mir die Messer in der Schublade und die Streitaxt im Keller. Doch sobald ich seine Geschichten lese, streife ich mir das Kettenhemd über, wetze das Schwert und überprüfe noch einmal den korrekten Sitz meiner Saxe. Bernhard Cornwell schafft es auf bestürzende Weise, den Leser mit in seinen Schildwall zu nehmen, durch Regen und Matsch waten zu lassen und den Dänen das Fürchten zu lehren. Das Sympathische an der ganzen Sache ist, dass es keine schwarzweiß-Malerei gibt. Die Dänen sind mindestens so liebenswert wie die sächsischen Halunken. Dabei ist es immer wieder erstaunlich, dass sie, kurz bevor sie sich gegenseitig abmurksen, nochmal schnell nach dem Namen fragen, schließlich will man sich später in Odins Halle wieder treffen, zusammen besaufen und den Ausgang der Schlacht ausdiskutieren.
Volle Punktzahl für den 4. Teil, ich habe ihn geliebt.
(less)

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Nov 22, 2010 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-novels

Bernard Cornwell writes entertaining male wish-fulfillment novels set during interesting periods of history. Sword Song is the fourth novel in the Saxon Tales series, set during the reign of King Alfred the Great in 9th century England. All the tales in the series are recounted by the fictional Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a young Saxon noble who was raised by Viking raiders and whose knowledge of the Norse culture makes him feel contempt for the Christian Saxons. And yet -- and this is the theme in al...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Ricardo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bernard-cornwell

No quinto livro das Saxon Stories, Uthred Ragnarson de Bebbanburg continua a sua saga em busca das suas terras, do seu castelo e da sua vida. Amarrado por juramentos a um rei de que não gosta e não gosta dele, continua entregue a um destino que, espera ele, o levará à sua liberdade.

Alfred continua a querer aumentar o seu reino e os seus olhos viram-se agora para a expansão a Norte. A forma mais rápida sendo o dar um regente ao Sul de Mercia. O eleito é Æthelred, primo de Uthred, que permanecerá...more

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Mar 08, 2009 Ed rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Historical Fiction and Cornwell fans.

Recommended to Ed by: John Gregory

Shelves: historical-fiction, reviewed

This is the fourth volume in the Saxon Tales series with Uhtred of Bebbanberg as the main protagonist.

It is, in my opinion, the least interesting of the four. The battle scenes, as in all Cornwell's writings, are drawn with extraordinary clarity. There are also some very interesting new characters, Siegfried and Erik, two Norsemen brothers plus an assortment of priests, warriors, and women.

The thread of the story involves the desire of Siegfried and Erik to conquer Wessex, Alfred the Great's ki...more

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May 18, 2013 Matt Brady rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read more than enough Bernard Cornwell over the years to have certain expectations, and Sword Song, the fourth installment of the adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, definitely met them. But, unlike Cornwell's very best, it did not exceed them.

If you've read the previous three books in the series, you know the deal by now. Uhtred is a Saxon raised by Danes, a fearsome warlord in reluctant service to King Alfred of Wessex, a King with ambitions to create and rule a nation called England. Uht...more I've read more than enough Bernard Cornwell over the years to have certain expectations, and Sword Song, the fourth installment of the adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, definitely met them. But, unlike Cornwell's very best, it did not exceed them.

If you've read the previous three books in the series, you know the deal by now. Uhtred is a Saxon raised by Danes, a fearsome warlord in reluctant service to King Alfred of Wessex, a King with ambitions to create and rule a nation called England. Uhtred is a pagan surrounded by Christians, a Northumbrian surrounded by West Saxons, a man who feels trapped by the oath he once gave to Alfred, a King he respects and loathes in equal measure. In the service of Wessex, Uhtred finds himself involved in most of the notable incidents of the era, fighting against the Scandanavian invaders he loves in the service of a King and Church he despises. It's a simple scenario that works pretty well.

Cornwell has honed his style over the years so that it's now basically a formula. This isn't a criticism, as it's a formula that works well and delivers an entertaining read, but it does mean there's a certain level of repetition and predictability. Cornwell's heroes are often flawed and vaguely morally ambiguous, while his villains, with a few noteable exceptions, tend to be rather one-note (particularly the long parade of evil/cowardly priests that litter the Saxon Series, and the Warlord Chronicles before that, most of whom are practically interchangeable) Characters like Aethelred of Mercia, Sigfried Thurgilson, or the weaselly Viking Haesten are serviceable, hateable villains, but lack any real depth. The heroes are better served, Uhtred in particular, but also tend to conform to familiar Cornwell moulds. One new character that did manage to stand out was Osferth, King Alfred's bastard son, a failed monk whose ambition to be a great warrior seem to exceed his aptitude. A sullen yet somehow still likeable little brat, Osferth seems ill suited to the life he's chosen, and I hope we see more of him in the future. Female characters have never been Cornwell's strong suit, and Sword-Song is no differentin that, but he does try, and the princess Aethelflaed has a prominent role.

All in all, Sword Song is another fun and entertaining book in what has been a fun and entertaining series. Action adventure historical fiction, with vivid, visceral battle scenes and likeable, rogueish heroes. It isn't Cornwell's best book, and it has some pacing problems (The Battle of Lundene, which is over before the halfway point, really feels like the peak of the story), but it's far from his worst, and is as enjoyable as you'd expect.(less)

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Jun 22, 2011 Graham rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anglo-saxon, historical, viking

Possibly Cornwell's darkest and most pessimistic book yet. This is the fourth in the series chronicling the adventures of Uhtred, a Saxon battling the invading Northmen in 9th century England.

Once again, it's an eventful and compelling read, not least because it's action packed from beginning to end. Uhtred is forced into confronting the Vikings in the London area again and again, with things culminating in one of the most ferocious battles yet written by the author. Each battle is incredibly vi...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Nate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-ages

Cornwell still hasn't let me down with this series. The villains are still easy to hate and there were even characters I wholly liked (Pyrlig is great.) The relative lack of major events in Lords of the North made it a slower read for me than The Pale Horseman, and although this one seemed still primarily focused on the smaller stories of Uhtred and Æthelflæd there was a ton of action and purposeful movement.

I have to say that I'm proud of Uhtred. A whole 300+ pages and he didn't commit a single...more

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Dec 03, 2010 bookczuk rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-on-recommendation, met-the-author, borrowed, southern-author, thank-you-charleston-county-library

Given to me to read by HMcD. The author is a neighbor of hers. Even though this is part of a series (kind of like skipping to the end of a book to see how it ends) I found it not a problem at all to jump into this take of England during the time of Alfred the Great (9th Century). From what I've gathered, half Saxon,half Dane Uhtred was done out of his inheritance, raised by Vikings and is now sworn by oath to Alfred. In a time when Vikings and Saxons are at war (as well as Christianity and Pagan...more

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May 04, 2009 Erika rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. London is in the heart of three warring kingdoms: Wessex, Mercia, and East Anglia. King Alfred of Wessex is determined to secure the former Roman city along the Thames as part of his dream to create a unified nation he privately calls England. In the fourth Saxon Chronicle book, Bernard Cornwell continues Uhtred’s tale two years after the events of Lords of the North. In Sword Song: The Battle for London, Uhtred and Gisela are married and living under Alfred’s rule with two children and a third...more London is in the heart of three warring kingdoms: Wessex, Mercia, and East Anglia. King Alfred of Wessex is determined to secure the former Roman city along the Thames as part of his dream to create a unified nation he privately calls England. In the fourth Saxon Chronicle book, Bernard Cornwell continues Uhtred’s tale two years after the events of Lords of the North. In Sword Song: The Battle for London, Uhtred and Gisela are married and living under Alfred’s rule with two children and a third on the way. Given authority over one of Alfred’s burhs (a frontier-like settlement), Uhtred continues to serve out his sworn allegiance to Alfred.

A bit more philosophical than the previous books in the series, Sword Song also explores forbidden romances, abusive relationships, and loyalties where, once again, borders are little more than nebulous landmarks Uhtred and his Danish and Saxon friends are willing to cross when the need suits them. I thought I’d get tired of the fine line Uhtred has always walked throughout the series and of the thin loyalties he pledges, but I didn’t. I actually feel frustrated for Uhtred who really just wants to get back to Bebbanburg and reclaim his rightful throne. One often wonders, though, if perhaps this will never happen. Will Uhtred resign himself to a tortuous life under Alfred and his insufferable nephew or is Cornwell saving the best for last?

Fans of the series will be happy to hear the vivid blood baths, oath-breaking, oath-making, besieging, testosterone, and religious machinations are back in full force--a warring and tumultuous landscape for Uhtred’s conflicting desires: ambition, grudging loyalties, and a warrior’s thirst for battle. I think the battles and blood-letting might be even more visceral in this installment. Sword song is not for the queasy or soft-at-heart. Cornwell brings a passionate relish to his descriptions of the ever famous shield wall and Uhtred, our narrator, shares this passion. But behind his gruff exterior lies the foundation of Uhtred’s happiness and the source of his burgeoning fears. With his lovely Gisela pregnant again, will she survive the childbirth or will Uhtred lose his only joy?

The Christian religion shares in the extreme enthusiasms of Sword Song. With an exuberance never (at least than I can remember) seen in the zealous piety of Alfred and his Christian converts and followers, his nephew Aelthred goes to some lengths to protect his manhood and preserve his jealous insecurities at the expense of his wife’s dignity. I’m hoping in the next book, Aelthelfaed gets her revenge.

Sword Song builds upon Cornwall’s earlier foundations and brings back familiar characters, exciting adventures, and even more humorous moments to ease the growing pains of Alfred’s new kingdom. If you’ve read the first three, then the fourth is a must. It’s a great addition to an already entertaining action-adventure tale mixing fact and fiction into an irresistible, testosterone-charged fusion of politics, war, romance, and friendship. I can’t wait for the next!(less)

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Mar 19, 2012 Maudie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another rousing tale from Bernard Cornwell!! My second Cornwell book has proven to be as satisfying as the first and I am beginning to realize, to my delight, that in the field of historical fiction, Mr. Cornwell shares the world stage with such current heavy-weights of the genre as Dent and Penman, who both "know their Stuff" when it comes to historical aspects.

'Sword Song' is a stirring tune of Saxons, Northmen and a legendary king with history being the vital center on which to base their de...more

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Oct 23, 2009 Faith Mortimer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Again, another excellent and well-crafted novel by Bernard Cornwell. Sword Song is the 4th in he series about Alfred and the Danes/Vikings in Wessex and the rest of England.
The story is narrated by Uhtred, half Saxon,half Dane a warrior and lord in his own right. The essence of this plot is the taking of Lundene (London) and how Alfred manages to incorporate it into his own kingdom of Wessex after defeating the Danes (helped of course by Uhtred).

The historical research is second to none, and alt...more

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Feb 09, 2010 Shawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. While I usually don't like to start a series halfway through, I got this one for Christmas and I can say that it made sense regardless. Of course this means I cannot say if the book would be mindlessly repetitive of what had gone on in previous books, which is a pet peeve of mine in series. Mind you, I don't mind this if it is done well, but half the time I think authors just cut and paste from their earlier works.

I think the reason this book works for me is partly th...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction

In this next to last Saxon tale, Uhtred is once again back in Wessex, pledged to King Alfred despite his best intentions, and forced to watch as Alfred relies on his military skills, while sharing his kingdom with Uhtred's slimy cousin, Aethelred.

Aethelred was a real historical figure who probably behaved better than Cornwell has given him credit for, the author admits, but he needs a villain as a foil for his hero Uhtred. In this book, we encounter two more Norse warriors, the brothers Sigifred...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Jacob rated it 3 of 5 stars

Some minor gripes for this one. Predictability in the plot--Uthred falls out of favor, odds are stacked against him, he makes an unlikely bid for victory, and all comes through. Everything ties up a little too neatly at the end, won't spoil it but please tell me that the way everything gets unstuck with the two brothers and Alfred's daughter at the end isn't just a little ridiculous. The sudden concern for Alfred's daughter being beaten. This is set in the 9th century, not the 21st. Callous Uthr...more

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Apr 13, 2009 John rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historic-novel

This action-packed tale revolves a violent and pivotal point in England's history as Danes and Saxons battle for the city of London. The story is told from the point of view of Uhtred, a fierce Saxon warrior raised by Danes, who has sworn an oath to serve King Alfred.

Uhtred, who really only wants to return to his family and his rightful home in Bebbanburg (Bamburgh in Northumberland), must weigh his oath to Alfred against various offers and alliances that could make him rich and powerful.

The sig...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Nancy Ellis rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this series, but there was something even more special about this book that made it the best yet. King Alfred in Wessex wants to make sure the newly arrived Norsemen don't take control of London, which is currently in the land without a king, Mercia, and inhabited by Danes as well as Saxons. Good old Uhtred with his divided loyalties is given the task of ridding the city of the Vikings, and as usual, he is torn by his love for the Danes and his oath to Alfred. I never could understand why...more

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Oct 10, 2009 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mature-reads

I didn't finish this book, nor have I finished the other Cornwell books I have picked up. The reason why I go back to them is that his historical data is meticulous and fascinating, his plots riveting, and his characters engaging. Why I don't end up finishing them is because he savours the violence. I read murder mysteries, histories, books on surgical procedures,with no problem. However, I read them for something else than to enjoy the violence. These are very much 'guy' books. The details of a...more

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Mar 17, 2011 Lynne rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's hard to rate this book. It is a fascinating history, but the time period is ugly. I would hate to have lived in this time period. Women are nothing and these particular men are more concerned with fighting each other and stealing what they can. The main character is a Saxon who as a child was captured by the Danes. He believes in the "old gods" meaning Odin. He doesn't like Christians but has taken an oath to King Alfred. King Alfred is an actual person. He planted the seeds for England as...more

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May 28, 2012 Legolas Greenleaf rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone interested in ancient England

Recommended to Legolas by: a close friend out in Ohio (who's also a Bernard Cornwell fan)

This is a brilliant book, and Bernard Cornwell is a wonderful author. I have this book over many times, and it always gets more interesting each time :). The book describes the mid 800s CE from the point-of-view of a Saxon noble, and his point-of-view (or rather, the point-of-view of Bernard Cornwell) is a lot different than the usual perspective historians give. It's a book full of adventure and part of the story of a kingdom that faced almost certain obliteration. This kingdom (Wessex, literal...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Lynne Cantwell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fantasy

I've never read anything by Cornwell before, although I'd been told he was good. Happened to see this at a used bookstore.

The novel is narrated by Uhtred, a dispossessed Northumbrian lord who's now sworn to King Alfred. But a group of devious Vikings want Uhtred to be their king in Mercia -- although what they really want is to control the whole island, starting with London (which Uhtred calls Lundene).

Uhtred is a warrior, and he relishes describing the battles he's been in. So the book is prett...more

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Jun 16, 2011 Graham Botha rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: readers of historical fiction

Sword Song labors its way through one bloody battle scene after another. If you enjoy reading lurid descriptions of different ways to kill someone with a sword, dagger or axe, you will really like this book. The historical background almost makes it interesting, but fails to provide sufficient detail to enable the reader to become immersed in the period. The characters are almost developed to the point where the reader cares about them, but not quite. The plot appears to be heading toward an exc...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Scott Taylor rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very rewarding book, from start to finish. At first I didn't enjoy the main character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, but this changed as I got to know him a little better through the book. He's a diverse character, with honor, and having lots of facets.

Set in 885, this book chronicles the beginnings of the England we know today as seen through the eyes of Uhtred. It is set in a time of great upheaval, with Danes controlling the north and a hearty group of Saxons in the south. Uhtred, working for King Al...more

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May 31, 2009 Will rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: history lovers.

Again, Cornwell has written another book in his series that keeps the entertainment rolling. Generally I get bored with series reads, but the Saxon Tales series has managed to keep plot lines out of stagnation and repetition and shed a bit of light on a very important time in western civilization. While some key phrases and reminders do get particularly repetitive through out the series, they are easily overlooked for the greater story as a whole.
For the lover of history, the series is fun and...more

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About Bernard Cornwell

Cornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his mother's maiden name, Cornwe...more Cornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his mother's maiden name, Cornwell.

Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times, but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.

He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a Green Card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.

As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find that there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.

Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel Sharpe's Company published in 1982.

Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) He also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British, in 1987.

After publishing 8 books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987 and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.

A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and a political thriller called Scoundrel in 1992.

In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.

Cornwell's latest work is titled Azincourt and was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.(less)

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Books by Bernard Cornwell

The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1)

The Winter King (The Warlord Chronicles, #1)

Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3)

The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories, #2)

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Sword Song (The Saxon Stories #4)

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