Death of Kings

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The latest chapter in the epic saga of the making of England, magnificently brought to life by "the reigning king of historical fiction" (USA Today), Bernard Cornwell.

As the ninth century wanes, Alfred the Great lies dying, his lifelong goal of a unified England in peril, his kingdom on the brink of chaos. Though his son, Edward, has been named his successor, there are other Saxon claimants to the throne—as well as ambitious pagan Vikings to the north. Torn between his vows to Alfred and the desire to reclaim his long-lost ancestral lands in the north, Uhtred, Saxon-born and Viking-raised, remains the king's warrior but has sworn no oath to the crown prince. Now he must make a momentous decision that will forever transform his life and the course of history: to take up arms—and Alfred's mantle—or lay down his sword and let his liege's dream of a unified kingdom die along with him.

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Fiction Historical Middle Age British literature

Editorial reviews (2 reviews)

The Observer : Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell (May 20, 2012)

The novel taps into a particular kind of male fantasy; as such, it works very well. "I am just me, Uhtred of Bebbanburg," says the hero after a brief moment of self-examination in which he ponders the role of Christianity in making people act in a moral way: "I have never tried to be good, though nor do I think I am wicked." The same might be said of Death of Kings

Reading the past : Death of Kings, by Bernard Cornwell (October 03, 2011)

The consummate skill with which Cornwell evokes every aspect of Uhtred’s story and character transforms an already exciting book into a truly outstanding one.