Lords of the North: A Novel (Saxon Chronicles #3)
by Bernard Cornwell
List Price:
Our Price: $6.17
You Save: $7.82 (56%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.02 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Bernard CornwellEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-01-02
ISBN: 0061149047
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Book Reviews of Lords of the North: A Novel (Saxon Chronicles #3)
Book Review: After a Second reading... Definitely my Favourite Novel of all Time.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read a fair few novels & generally find that three things make for a great story: surprises, an educational/ spiritual message and believable characters who you can idolize.
These three may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I find that this novel had all three & much else aside.
And this is highly unusual in a series as, often, one of the first 2 is the classic & the third one is a dud (e.g. with James Frey's books or Prince Caspian from The Chronicles of Narnia). However this book proves more than a match for the other two, despite the limited historical material it has to draw on.
Basically the plot sees Uhtred (a Lord of the North - deposed ruler of Bebbanburgh/ Bamburgh to be exact) going North to finish a plot feud with Kjartan (Lord of Dunholm/ Durham) & to take back Bebbanburgh Castle from his usurping uncle. The novel has many surprising twists & turns & ultimately, Uhtred is mostly successful.
In the process we are treated to a view of the historic North of England (which is often overlooked), including interesting details in the form of the various rulers of the North, the curious blending of Dane & Saxon, Christian & Pagan that was going on at the time & the complex politics that arose.
Best of all, we are given a full view of the most gruesome aspects of the Viking era: Slavery. As three of the main charactors (including Uhtred) experience being slaves, we see what a barbaric institution it was & how it was frowned upon by the West Saxons even then.
And last thing to mention is that, even if you're not into History or learning about how Britain came to be, this book still has one of the best plots I've ever encountered, taking full advantage of Cornwell's experience writing the Sharpe novels. The way the plot jinks back and forth is simply breathtaking & the thoughts, fears & triumphs of Uhtred are so vividly written that you think & feel them yourself.
Cornwell also has the storyteller's touch in making Uhtred's reality congruent with his pagan beliefs. As an example, before being enslaved, Uhtred witnesses a particularly bad casting of the rune sticks (which we would see as superstition, but to Uhtred would be real). He also takes Thunder & Lightning during a battle as a sign that Thor is on his side. These details may seem irrelevant, but they do help immerse you in a novel far more thoroughly than lesser books...
So, if you haven't read this book then I encourage you to start off with The Last Kingdom (Alfred the Great 1) & The Pale Horseman (Alfred the Great 2) to understand the context of the series
If you've read them already however, then this is the best one to try again as it includes all the most interesting bits of the series & is a gripping read.
It's a pity that its brilliance didn't continue much into Sword Song, but this novel is all the better because of it.
Summary of Lords of the North: A Novel (Saxon Chronicles #3)
The year is 878. Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, has helped the Saxons of Wessex defeat the invading Danes. Now, finally free of his allegiance to the victorious, ungrateful King Alfred, he is heading home to rescue his stepsister, a prisoner of Kjartan the Cruel in the formidable Danish stronghold of Dunholm. Uhtred's best hope is his sword, Serpent-Breath, for his only allies are Hild, a West Saxon nun fleeing her calling, and Guthred, a slave who believes himself king. Rebellion, chaos, fear, and betrayal await them in the north, forcing Uhtred to turn once more, reluctantly, to the liege he formerly served in battle and blood: Alfred the Great.
Family Saga Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Family Saga Books
Elephant Manby Christine Sparks
Ballantine Books; Published: 1986-11-12; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.02
Price in other shops:
Assegaiby Wilbur Smith
Thomas Dunne Books; Published: 2009-05-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.95
Price in other shops:
Birds of Preyby Wilbur Smith
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 2003-05-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $48.99
An Act of Loveby Nancy Thayer
St Martins Pr; Published: 1997-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.85
Price in other shops:
Honoluluby Alan Brennert
St. Martin's Press; Published: 2009-03-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.52
Price in other shops:
Family Treeby Barbara Delinsky
Anchor; Published: 2009-10-27; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Those Who Save Usby Jenna Blum
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 2005-05-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
Vinegar Hillby A. Manette Ansay
Penguin USA (P); Published: 2000-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.99
Billy Phelan's Greatest Gameby William Kennedy
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1983-01-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1)by Neal Stephenson
William Morrow Paperbacks; Published: 2004-09-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.50
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Enemy of God (The Arthur Books #2)by Bernard Cornwell
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 1998-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.62
Price in other shops:
Excalibur, A Novel of Arthur (The Arthur Books #3)by Bernard Cornwell
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 1999-07-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.16
Price in other shops:
The Winter King (The Arthur Books #1)by Bernard Cornwell
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 1997-04-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.93
Price in other shops:
Sword Song (The Saxon Chronicles, Book 4)by Bernard Cornwell
Harper; Published: 2008-01-22; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.17
Price in other shops:
The Burning Land: A Novel (Saxon Tales)by Bernard Cornwell
Harper Perennial; Published: 2010-09-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.45
Price in other shops:
The Burning Land (The Saxon Chronicles, Book 5)by Bernard Cornwell
Harper; Published: 2010-01-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.95
Price in other shops:
Death of Kings: A Novel (Saxon Tales)by Bernard Cornwell
Harper; Published: 2012-01-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.44
Price in other shops:
The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Chronicles Series #2)by Bernard Cornwell
HarperCollins; Published: 2006-12-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.08
Price in other shops:
Sword Song: The Battle for Londonby Bernard Cornwell
Harper Perennial; Published: 2008-12-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Chronicles Series #1)by Bernard Cornwell
HarperCollins; Published: 2006-01-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.91
Price in other shops: