Lords of the North: A Novel (Saxon Chronicles #3) [Paperback]

Bernard Cornwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2008

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in A.D. 878, Cornwell's splendid third Saxon novel (after The Pale Horseman and The Last Kingdom) chronicles the adventures of 21-year-old Saxon warrior Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who believes "my swords could win me the whole world." Uhtred, who despite his Danish upbringing supported King Alfred of Wessex in the fight against the Danes in The Pale Horseman, helps free Guthred, an enslaved Dane, who proclaims himself king of Northumbria. "Fate is inexorable," Uhtred constantly bemoans as he attempts to destroy such enemies as Kjartan the Cruel, Sven the One-Eyed and Ælfric (Uhtred's thief of an uncle) and woos his beloved Gisela, Guthred's Valkyrie-like sister. Uhtred must overcome many challenges, notably King Guthred's shocking betrayal that leads to Uhtred's spending two years as a shipboard slave. Cornwell, best known for his Sharpe series (Sharpe's Battle, etc.), breathes life into ancient history with disarming ease, peppering it with humor and even innocence. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–This third novel that focuses on Uhtred is filled with plenty of action, betrayal, and bloodshed, along with a healthy dose of religion and superstition, as Saxons, Christians, and Scots battle for the ground that will become Great Britain. Set amid actual historical events and people, the story picks up where The Pale Horseman (HarperCollins, 2006) left off and is told by Uhtred; his tone is straightforward in a manly, congenial way. Going from an honored warrior of King Alfred to a slave and back, he is tested again and again as he fights not only for the king, but also for the woman he wants. The knowledge that his fate is set by the gods is a constant reminder that, although he is a mighty warrior, he is, in the end, only a man subject to their whims. A blood feud has charted his course, and his outlook on life is only to make a good accounting of himself before he takes up his rightful place in the corpse-hall. Although it may be difficult for newcomers to the series to grasp the characters' tangled relationships, historical fiction lovers and those who want a good old-fashioned action tale should enjoy this book.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (January 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061149047
• ISBN-13: 978-0061149047
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Men's Adventure

More About the Author

Bernard Cornwell was born in London in 1944 - a 'warbaby' - whose father was a Canadian airman and mother in Britain's Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted by a family in Essex who belonged to a religious sect called the Peculiar People (and they were), but escaped to London University and, after a stint as a teacher, he joined BBC Television where he worked for the next 10 years. He began as a researcher on the Nationwide programme and ended as Head of Current Affairs Television for the BBC in Northern Ireland. It was while working in Belfast that he met Judy, a visiting American, and fell in love. Judy was unable to move to Britain for family reasons so Bernard went to the States where he was refused a Green Card. He decided to earn a living by writing, a job that did not need a permit from the US government - and for some years he had been wanting to write the adventures of a British soldier in the Napoleonic wars - and so the Sharpe series was born. Bernard and Judy married in 1980, are still married, still live in the States and he is still writing Sharpe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Fate is Inexorable", March 31, 2007

By 

Bu-Chan (Aotearoa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lords of the North (The Saxon Chronicles Series #3) (Hardcover)

After reading some of the reviews here for "Lords of the North", I was a bit worried about what I would find. Being the third book in the series, I wondered if Cornwell could keep it going for a third book. It would have been understandable if things slipped a bit. I needn't have worried.

Following from The Pale Horseman: A Novel from the year 878, "Lords of the North" sees our hero Uhtred head north to follow his fate. Of course, the Three Spinners have other plans and Uhtred soon finds himself enslaved and alone.

I won't mention too much of the plot, as I do not want to ruin it for you. There are some good twists and turns, and I was rather surprised sometimes. Elements and people I had forgotten about made sudden reappearances, much to my own pleasure, I might add.

In this volume, Alfred the Great is developed a bit more, as is the relationship between him and Uhtred. Always a tense one, that relationship moves to a new level as Uhtred develops a more complex picture of the King he hates, yet serves.

The violence seems to be stepped up a couple of degrees in this violence, and at times, I have to admit relishing it. Some very deserving people got to taste Serpent-Breath's edge as Uhtred took his revenge on them. At times, the descriptions get pretty detailed, with mentions of "gristle" thrown in, just in case the reader does really get it with the "blood" gushing everywhere and coating the hilts of swords and mail.

Cornwell has kept up the pace in this book, with a seething tale of revenge and some excellent twists that kept me rivetted to the pages. This book kept me hooked to much greater degree than the last two volumes, and the turns in the plot were a big factor in that. The developing characters were also a large factor, especially those of Uhtred and Alfred the Great. I still have some puzzlement with regard to Uhtred and his deeper motivations.

This is a great volume that keeps the pace and keeps the plot moving. It is a fantastic read and I can only hope that Cornwell hurries to get number 4 out.

I am now a self-professed Bernard Cornwell fan.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Getting Better..., March 18, 2007

By 

Tamela Mccann "taminator40" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lords of the North (The Saxon Chronicles Series #3) (Hardcover)

The third book in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles, Lords of the North picks up just after the end of book two, The Pale Horseman. We are following Uhtred, our hero, as he moves north in the kingdom and away from King Alfred. Uhtred fortuitously frees a slave named Guthred along the way, only to unwittingly help Guthred become King of Northumbia. Uhtred, looking to mend his broken heart over the death of Iseult, quickly finds himself in love with Guthred's sister Gisela, and fighting to help the likeable Guthred keep his kingdom. What follows next is a betrayal of the first order, and oaths that must be remade despite promises to never give one again.

Uhtred is a hero that is larger than life: a superb swordsman, a brilliant war maker, a randy lover, and someone you can never count out. Still looking to regain his lost inheritance, Uhtred manages to find plenty of excitement along his journeys, joining forces with his best friend Ragnar to support those most in need and seemingly coming out on top most of the time.

Cornwell's saga is turning into a rich, vibrant tale that envelops gore, war, romance, and humor. Uhtred is ever smart and canny, and his loyalties are never in question. The length of the novel is perfect, and there is just enough of a cliffhanger that I'm waiting impatiently for the next in the series. Cornwell's bringing to life a very murky period in history, and he's doing it with style and fun. Highly recommended for historical fiction lovers, as well as those who simply enjoy an action-packed, engaging tale.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uhtred's journey continues: Book 3, February 16, 2007

By 

J. Cameron-Smith "Expect the Unexpected" (ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lords of the North (The Saxon Chronicles Series #3) (Hardcover)

This is the third and latest instalment of the tale of Uhtred and, in my view, is even better than the previous two. By now, those who've been following the story will know of Uhtred's history, his divided loyalties and his determation to try to recover his family lands.

Cornwell has so gradually built up the picture of conflict and introduced characters through the last two books that reading this novel is like rejoining old acquaintances. Uhtred remains constant in his objectives and despite betrayal will continue to ally with whomever is most likely to take him towards his goals.

Set in the 9th century, the battles - between the mighty Danes and the Kingdom of Wessex continue, as do the lesser battles between the apparent allies on both sides. As in the previous two books, Cornwell makes these battles come alive. There is plenty of action, intrigue and mayhem.

Be warned: this is not a book for the squeamish. The battle scenes are integral to the plot and I suspect it would be difficult to follow the story without reading them.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith