Bernard Cornwell- There is no one better at depicting a battle scene, a ride through the country or a love affair. He keeps the reader enticed throughout with great use of detail especially within the intense battle scenes where he is able to create a vivid picture for the reader.

The Story

The Story begins in the 9th Centuruy with a boy called Uhtred (the protagonist) who is the son of the Lord of Bebbanburg. When the Danes invade England, Uhtred is captured and taken prisoner by a Dane named Ragnar. He takes him in and treats him like a son, and so Uhtred grows up a Dane, believing in their Gods and their customs. When he grows up and loses his adopted father he returns to the side of the Saxons, hoping one day to take back Bebbanburg from his evil uncle who has since usurped it. Uhtred's fate it seems is to fight for the Saxons to rid his country of the Danes, all the while hating the King he serves and missing the family of Danes he left behind. Most of the Danes however would like nothing more than to kill Uhtred and he must therefore fight for his Kingdom and enter into a world of War.

My thoughts

Cornwell certainly brings this time of history to life and he has clearly put a lot of effort into researching the History. If i didn't know better i could have believed he had experienced these things for himself. The detail and the passion with which he writes is very exhilarating. I have never read a Sharpe novel, for which he is most famous for, however if he writes with the same passion and historical knowledge i will definitely pick up one of the series.

If you're an keen reader and like this era of History then a very strongly recommend this book!