Sword Song

By (author) Cornwell, Bernard
Short description/annotation

The fourth book in the epic and bestselling series that has gripped millions.

A hero will be forged from this broken land.

As seen on Netflix and BBC around the world.

Description

The fourth book in the epic and bestselling series that has gripped millions.

A hero will be forged from this broken land.

As seen on Netflix and BBC around the world.

To serve a king or become one? Uhtred – warrior, pagan, scourge of the Vikings – faces a hard choice.

Despite being offered a crown of his own, Uhtred is a man of his word. And he gave it to King Alfred of Wessex, who dreams of an England free from Vikings. So when the king orders him to take London from the Danes and hand it to his foolish son-in-law Aethelred, Uhtred agrees despite his concerns.

For Aethelred’s wife is the king’s spirited daughter Aethelflaed and her fate is entwined with Uhtred’s. And fate will not be denied …

Uhtred of Bebbanburg’s mind is as sharp as his sword. A thorn in the side of the priests and nobles who shape his fate, this Saxon raised by Vikings is torn between the life he loves and those he has sworn to serve.

Review quote

Praise for ‘The Lords of the North’:

‘Beautifully crafted story-telling, complete with splendid set-piece battles and relentless derring-do, so gripping that it rarely stops to catch a breath. It demonstrates once again Cornwell’s enormous skill as a historical narrator. He would have graced Alfred’s court entertaining the guests with his stories’
Daily Mail

‘Cornwell takes the spectres of ninth century history and puts flesh back on their bones. Here is Alfred''s world restored – impeccably researched and illuminated with the colour and passion of a master storyteller’
Justin Pollard, author of ‘Alfred the Great’

Praise for Bernard Cornwell:

''Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.''
Daily Mail

''Cornwell''s narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched''
Observer

Biographical note

Bernard Cornwell was born in London, raised in Essex and
worked for the BBC for eleven years before meeting Judy, his
American wife. Denied an American work permit he wrote a
novel instead and has been writing ever since. He and Judy
divide their time between Cape Cod and Charleston, South
Carolina.

Feature

• With his staggering Grail Quest, Warlord and Sharpe series Bernard Cornwell has cemented his position as a virtuoso of historical fiction

• The previous book in the Alfred series, The Lords of the North, reached number 2 on the Sunday Times hardback bestseller list, staying in the top ten for 9 weeks

• The Lords of the North PB has sold over 130,000 copies to date

• Backlist available for author promotions

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