The Saxon Stories
Encyclopedia
The Saxon Tales is a continuing historical novel series written by the historical novel
ist Bernard Cornwell
about 9th century Britain. The protagonist of the series is Uhtred Ragnarson, sometimes known as Uhtred Uhtredson. Uhtred is born in Northumbria
, but captured and adopted by the Danes. The story takes place during the Danish invasion of Britain, where all but one of the English kingdoms is conquered. The story centers on the ruler of Wessex, Alfred
, later historically dubbed 'the Great'. Cornwell mentions that he is in fact descended from an historical Uhtred of Bebbanburg, on whom the protagonist is based.
The following novels are now available:
The sixth book in the series, Death of Kings, was released in September 2011 in the UK and will be released in January 2012 in the US.
, not only because of similarities between the two protagonists (e.g., both were orphaned), but also in the similarities between the foreign menace in the form of the Danes in The Saxon Stories and the Saxons in The Warlord Chronicles. Alfred also resembles Arthur in his mission as the only man to save his kingdom (England for Alfred, Southern Celtic Britain for Arthur) from an unstoppable threat.
The main character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Bamburgh), is an old man telling tales of events that took place decades earlier. He intersperses the narrative with often-acerbic commentary regarding the events and characters he describes.
Bernard Cornwell
mentioned in the historical notes at the end of The Lords of the North that he intended to continue writing The Saxon Stories. On his website, Cornwell states he may write seven or eight novels under the "Saxon Stories" banner. The Burning Land is the latest in the series and was released in 2009. Cornwell is working on the sixth book in the series during 2011, with an anticipated publishing date in October.
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
ist Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell OBE is an English author of historical novels. He is best known for his novels about Napoleonic Wars rifleman Richard Sharpe which were adapted into a series of Sharpe television films.-Biography:...
about 9th century Britain. The protagonist of the series is Uhtred Ragnarson, sometimes known as Uhtred Uhtredson. Uhtred is born in Northumbria
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
, but captured and adopted by the Danes. The story takes place during the Danish invasion of Britain, where all but one of the English kingdoms is conquered. The story centers on the ruler of Wessex, Alfred
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English monarch still to be accorded the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself...
, later historically dubbed 'the Great'. Cornwell mentions that he is in fact descended from an historical Uhtred of Bebbanburg, on whom the protagonist is based.
The following novels are now available:
- The Last KingdomThe Last KingdomThe Last Kingdom is the first book in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell. The series follows the wars between King Alfred the Great and the Danes or Vikings. The Last Kingdom focuses on Uhtred's upbringing and early adulthood. The book begins when Uhtred marches with his father to war...
(2004) - The Pale HorsemanThe Pale HorsemanThe Pale Horseman is a novel by Bernard Cornwell, based in 9th Century Wessex and Cornwall, and is the second book in his The Saxon Stories series. The book is the sequel to The Last Kingdom, and starts where that tale left off...
(2005) - The Lords of the NorthThe Lords of the NorthThe Lords of the North is a novel based in 9th Century Anglo-Saxon kingdoms Wessex and Northumbria. The book starts where The Pale Horseman left off...
(2006) - Sword SongSword Song (novel)Sword Song is the fourth in the bestselling Saxon Stories series from historical novelist Bernard Cornwell. The protagonist, Uhtred, holds the fate of Wessex in his sword again and the book follows Alfred's efforts to protect Wessex and unite England...
(2007) - The Burning LandThe Burning LandThe Burning Land is a novel based in the 9th century Anglo-Saxon kingdoms Wessex, Northumbria and Mercia. It is the fifth book in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Tales series, and starts where Sword Song left off.-Plot summary:...
(2009)
- Death of KingsDeath of KingsDeath of Kings, published in 2011, is the sixth novel of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Tales series. It continues the story of Saxon warlord Uhtred of Bebbanburg who keeps fighting against a new Danish invasion of Wessex and Mercia....
(2011)
The sixth book in the series, Death of Kings, was released in September 2011 in the UK and will be released in January 2012 in the US.
Style
The series is frequently compared to The Warlord ChroniclesThe Warlord Chronicles
The Warlord Chronicles is a trilogy of books about Arthurian Britain written by Bernard Cornwell...
, not only because of similarities between the two protagonists (e.g., both were orphaned), but also in the similarities between the foreign menace in the form of the Danes in The Saxon Stories and the Saxons in The Warlord Chronicles. Alfred also resembles Arthur in his mission as the only man to save his kingdom (England for Alfred, Southern Celtic Britain for Arthur) from an unstoppable threat.
The main character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Bamburgh), is an old man telling tales of events that took place decades earlier. He intersperses the narrative with often-acerbic commentary regarding the events and characters he describes.
Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell OBE is an English author of historical novels. He is best known for his novels about Napoleonic Wars rifleman Richard Sharpe which were adapted into a series of Sharpe television films.-Biography:...
mentioned in the historical notes at the end of The Lords of the North that he intended to continue writing The Saxon Stories. On his website, Cornwell states he may write seven or eight novels under the "Saxon Stories" banner. The Burning Land is the latest in the series and was released in 2009. Cornwell is working on the sixth book in the series during 2011, with an anticipated publishing date in October.