The Last Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Author | Bernard Cornwell |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Saxon Stories |
| Genre(s) | Historical |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Released | 4 October 2004 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 400 p. (hardback edition) & 384 p. (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-00-714990-5 (hardback edition) & ISBN 0-06-053280-7 (paperback edition) |
| Followed by | The Pale Horseman |
The Last Kingdom is first book in The Saxon Stories trilogy by Bernard Cornwell. The trilogy focuses on the wars between King Alfred the Great and the Danes or Vikings.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
The Last Kingdom focuses on Uhtred's upbringing and early adulthood. The book begins when Uhtred marches with his father to war against the Danes at the age of 10.
[edit] Plot summary
His father is killed in battle, and Uhtred seeks to avenge his death against a Dane called Ragnar. Ragnar laughs at the boy and adopts him after the battle is over. Giving loyalty to the puppet king, he is kept from his home Bebbanburg because his uncle Æfric takes his home as his own. Uhtred is raised by Earl Ragnar of the Danes.
Uhtred then describes his life among the Danes, then moving to the country, where he fights with a boy named Sven, son of Kjartan, a shipmaster in Ragnar's small fleet. One day, Ragnar's daughter is kidnapped by Sven out in the woods, and he attempts to rape her. Uhtred then defends her with a sword, and tells Ragnar. He proceeds to Kjartan, and smashes one of Sven's eyes.
Uhtred then goes Viking across East Anglia, and participates in the conquering of Mercia, East Anglia, and the invasion of Wessex. He is kidnapped by a priest, Beocca, a family friend. He then escapes from Wessex and joins Ragnar again. Uhtred enjoys life with the Danes but flees after Kjartan kills Ragnar. Uhtred hopes to escape the assassins of Kjartan by sending out the lie that he died. Uhtred then joins King Alfred in Wessex. There he learns to read and write, and sails with Alfred's fleet of 12 ships against the Danes. Seeking to take command of the fleet, he gains it on the condition that he marry the orphaned Wessex girl Mildrith. After doing so, he besieges Guthrum in a city, and is hostaged off to Guthrum. There he meets Ragnar the younger, son of Earl Ragnar, the man who adopted him. He is saved by Ragnar's son, and tells him of Kjartan's betrayal. He then escapes to find his wife. She was taken by Odda the Younger, another Wessex ealdorman (earl or noble), to the north. There he fights in the battle at Cynuit where Uhtred finds himself fighting against Ubba Lothbrokson's Danes. The book ends with Uhtred killing Ubba.
[edit] Characters in "The Last Kingdom"
- Uhtred – noble son, the main protagonist
- Æfric – Uhtred's uncle and usurper of the throne of Bebbanburg
- Ælfred – Christian King of Wessex
- Ragnar – Danish earl who adopts Uhtred
- Beocca – priest and family friend
- Brida – friend and lover of Uhtred
- Kjartan – danish shipmaster who destroys Uhtred's future
- Sven – son of Kjartan, enemy of Uhtred
- Guthrum – danish king, often called the unlucky
- Ubba Lothbrokson – danish warlord, feared by many
- Ivar Lothbrokson – danish warlord, brother of ubba and halfdan, often called the boneless
- Halfdan Lothbrokson – danish warlord, brother of Ubba and Ivar, no reputation
- Mildrith – marries Uhtred, very pious
- Odda the Younger – ealdorman of Wessex, enemy of Uhtred
- Ravn – blind skald and father of Ragnar
- Leofric – Friend of Uhtred, good fighter
[edit] Release details
- 2004, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-714990-5, Pub date 4 October 2004, hardback
- 2005, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-714991-3, Pub date 30 May 2005, paperback
- 2006, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-721801-X, Pub date 3 October 2005, paperback (mass-market)
- 2006, USA, HarperTorch ISBN 0-06-053280-7, Pub date 30 June 2006, paperback (mass-market)
