The Last Kingdom
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15
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Average rating3
From Bernard Cornwell, the New York Times bestselling author whom the Washington Post calls "perhaps the greatest writer of historical adventure novels today," comes a saga of blood, rage, fidelity, and betrayal that brings to center stage King Alfred the Great, one of the most crucial (but oft-forgotten) figures in English history. It is King Alfred and his heirs who, in the ninth and tenth centuries, with their backs against the wall, fought to secure the survival of the last outpost of Anglo-Saxon culture by battling the ferocious Vikings, whose invading warriors had already captured and occupied three of England's four kingdoms.Bernard Cornwell's epic novel opens in A.D. 866. Uhtred, a boy of ten and the son of a nobleman, is captured in the same battle that leaves his father dead. His captor is the Earl Ragnar, a Danish chieftain, who raises the boy as his own, teaching him the Viking ways of war. As a young man expected to take part in raids and bloody massacres against the English, he grapples with divided loyalties -- between Ragnar, the warrior he loves like a father, and Alfred, whose piety and introspection leave him cold. It takes a terrible slaughter and the unexpected joys of marriage for Uhtred to discover his true allegiance -- and to rise to his greatest challenge.In Uhtred, Cornwell has created perhaps his richest and most complex protagonist, and through him, he has magnificently evoked an era steeped in dramatic pageantry and historical significance. For if King Alfred fails to defend his last kingdom, England will be overrun, and the entire course of history will change.
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It was the first book I read from Bernard Cornwell after hearing from my friends and reading many positive reviews of his work. I can't say I disliked the book, it was okay, but there were some things that bothered me.
First, I thought that there wasn't enough depth regarding the characters feelings and personal relationships. The main character (Uhtred) seemed to me too cold and detached from reality, I really didn't feel any empathy for him. And I thought that all the other characters were also kinda flat and uninteresting.
Second, the author emphasizes almost solely the battles, describing them untiringly. I thought that at times it was repetitive and, well, boring. I know it is supposed to be an action packed book, but for me the action was not as exciting as I imagine it should be. The story is so battle centered that for me it lacked the exploration of the human conflicts and feelings.
Third, the author almost doesn't mention or give importance to the relationship between the characters, specially between men and women. I understand that it might be the author's choice to reflect an age in which women were not considered meaningful in military and social affairs (except for breeding), but for me the women who appeared in the story were treated too superficially.
All in all the book is interesting because of its historical aspect, picturing the creation of England and its struggles to battle the Danes during the 9th century.
Featured Series
3 primary booksThe Last Kingdom Series, is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2004 with contributions by Bernard Cornwell.
