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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN num: 9780060888626
ISBN number: 0060888628
Label: HarperCollins
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 336
Printing Date: January 23, 2007
Publishing house: HarperCollins
Release Date: January 23, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 139858
Studio: HarperCollins
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
From Bernard Cornwell, the undisputed master of historical fiction, hailed as 'the direct heir to Patrick O'Brien,'* comes the third volume in the exhilarating Saxon Chronicles: the story of the birth of England as the Saxons struggle to repel the Danish invaders.
The year is 878, and as Lords of the North begins, the Saxons of Wessex, under King Alfred, have defeated the Danes to keep their kingdom free. Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, helped Alfred win that victory, but now he is disgusted by Alfred's lack of generosity. Uhtred flees Wessex, going north to search for his stepsister, who was taken prisoner by Kjartan the Cruel, a Danish lord who lurks in the formidable stronghold of Dunholm.
Uhtred arrives in the north to discover rebellion, chaos, and fear. His only ally is Hild, a West Saxon nun fleeing her calling, and his best hope is his sword, Serpent-Breath, with which he has made a notable reputation as a warrior. He needs other partners if he is to attack Dunholm, and chooses Guthred, a seemingly deluded slave who believes he is a king. Together they cross the Pennines, where fanatical Christians and beleaguered Danes have formed a desperate alliance to confront the terrible Viking lords who rule Northumbria.
Instead of victory Uhtred finds betrayal. But he also discovers love and redemption as he is forced to turn once again to his reluctant ally, Alfred the Great. It is Alfred who sees opportunity in Northumbria's chaos, and Alfred who looses Uhtred and his stepbrother, Ragnar, onto Dunholm, the invincible fortress on its great spur of rock. A breathtaking adventure, Lords of the North is also the story of the creation of England, as the English and Danes fight against each other, but also find common cause and create a common language. In the end they will become one people, but as Uhtred will discover, their union is forged through the white heat of battle.
* The Economist
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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This is the third book of the Saxon chronicles and unfortunately it feels like Cornwell has run out of ideas. The same themes can only be revisited so many times and Cornwell goes to the same well too much in this one. Some examples:
In book one, Uhtred serves a Christian king for little reward. In book two Uhtred serves the same king (Alfred) for no reward. In book 3, well, I think you can guess, he serves a different king, rescues him from slavery as a matter of fact, and again there is no reward. The fact that Uhtred is constantly unrewarded for his service is one of the main ways of generating sympathy for him, but I had to draw the line here.
Again in this book we have the same theme of uniting power of Christianity and yet the ever corrupt church officials and its denials of life's pleasures ruining the day for Uhtred. This would be entertaining except this horse has already been beaten to death in books 1 and 2. I can only muster so much indignation at the monks and priests that Cornwell trots out before I give up on the book.
Finally, the plot of the book seems to be entirely unbelievable. So much of the books 1 and 2 was spent in telling us that Uhtred has no choice but to serve Alfred, because he has nowhere to go. Yet in book 3 he goed to Eoferwic alone, well with a woman, and he has hopes to somehow recapture Bebbanburg. Why he couldnt abandon Alfred beforehand and go North is utterly unclear now, because its not like his position has improved. Also, how he could ever hope to avoid detection is unclear. He even travels with a woman who speaks only Saxon, so he absolutely has to show his mastery of both languages while pretending to be a Dane. Its pretty clear that with his arrogance, arm rings and ability to speak both languages that he would stand out like a sore. But, of course, miraculously the Danes are not in Eoferwic, so this point never gets brought up. Then, in an even more unbelievable turn he rescues the future king of Northmbria, who of course is not going to reward him for it and well the book goes on but Cornwell is clearly out of steam on this one.
Rated by buyers 
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I just love this book and this whole series! The characters are very well put together in the plot, which has many suprises. Just so you know, this page's info about the book is wrong, its not from the Grail Quest Series it's from Saxon Tales (#3).
Rated by buyers 
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When reading 'historical fiction' I prefer more emphasis on history. I like the author to set a believable backdrop. I've recently finished Iggluden's `Emporer series' and Follet's Pillars of the Earth. Cornwell's work is in a similar vein to Iggluden, with much blood and gore, whereas Pillars is an epic novel. Nevertheless, Lords of the North is a great action adventure story with satisfying character development and an intriguing plot. Uhtred is like an old-school James Bond. It helps to have some knowledge of geography/history of Britain, but not necessary to enjoy this fast-paced romp.
Rated by buyers -
Bernard Cornwell has once again merged history and fiction into an exciting read. The man is an absolute master of his craft!
Rated by buyers -
This book is typical Bernard Cornwell. I think he is a master at his craft, and I eagerly await anything that he publishes. As a favor to you, I'd like to mention a new author that I think is an equal to Bernard Cornwell. Sam Barone has written a two book series: Dawn of Empire and Empire Rising. These books are long, detailed, and fascinating. Furthermore, if you like to read about battles, Barone's final battles last a hundred pages and more. None of it is dull! I never did get to bed before 2:00 AM while reading this book so you are warned! The author is a nice fellow who returned my email when I sent him my thanks for writing such a fine series. Barone reminds me a lot of a cross between Bernard Cornwell, Wilbur Smith, and oddly enough, Zane Grey.
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