Lords of the North
Written by Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by Jamie Glover
4.5/5
()
About this audiobook
The third installment of Bernard Cornwell’s bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, “like Game of Thrones, but real” (The Observer, London)—the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit BBC America television series.
After achieving victory at King Alfred’s side, Uhtred of Bebbanburg is returning to his home in the North, finally free of his allegiance to the King—or so he believes. An encounter with a vicious slave trader introduces Uhtred to Guthred, the self-proclaimed King of Northumbria. Curious about Guthred’s astounding claim, Uhtred follows him north. But he soon discovers fate has another incredible surprise in store, and begins an unexpected journey that climaxes in the midnight siege of a city thought impregnable—a dangerous seige that results in the forging of England.
Lords of the North is Bernard Cornwell’s finest work yet—a breathtaking adventure, but it also tells the story of the creation of English identity, as the English and Danes begin to become one people, appropriating each other’s languages and, thrillingly, fighting side-by-side.
Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell was born in London, raised in Essex and worked for the BBC for eleven years before meeting Judy, his American wife. Denied an American work permit he wrote a novel instead and has been writing ever since. He and Judy divide their time between Cape Cod and Charleston, South Carolina.
More audiobooks from Bernard Cornwell
Vagabond: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/51356: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Agincourt: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heretic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gallows Thief: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gallows Thief Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fort: A Novel of the Revolutionary War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fools and Mortals: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Horseman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stonehenge: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Harlequin Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uhtred's Feast: Inside the World of The Last Kingdom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Crowning Mercy: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fallen Angels: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to Lords of the North
Titles in the series (13)
The Last Kingdom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lords of the North Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sword Song Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Horseman Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Burning Land: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Death of Kings: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pagan Lord: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Empty Throne: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Warriors of the Storm: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Flame Bearer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War of the Wolf: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sword of Kings: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War Lord: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related audiobooks
The Empty Throne: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Burning Land: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Flame Bearer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War of the Wolf: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sword of Kings: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sword Song: The Battle for London Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Warriors of the Storm: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War Lord: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Horseman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sword of Kings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Vagabond Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War Lord Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5War of the Wolf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Enemy of God Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Archer's Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Winter Warrior: A Novel of Medieval England Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5God's Hammer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dubh-Linn: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Raider's Wake: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Bear and the Wolf: New World Book 4 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dragon Sword: Danelaw Saga Book 1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Viking Warrior: Dragonheart Book 2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Oathsword: Danelaw Saga Book 2 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rebellion's Forge Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hrolf the Viking: Norman Genesis Book 1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Vengeance Trail Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Loch Garman: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Viking Kingdom: Dragonheart Book 4 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Viking Jarl: Dragonheart Book 3 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Warlord's Bargain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Historical Fiction For You
And Then There Were None Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tom Lake: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outlander Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Rose Code: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lost Apothecary: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hang the Moon: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Song of Achilles: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Weyward: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Alice Network: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Lost Names Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5That Bonesetter Woman: the new feelgood novel from the author of The Smallest Man Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5News of the World: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5West with Giraffes: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Reformatory: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dragon Teeth: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Neon Gods Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Clan of the Cave Bear Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Quiet on the Western Front Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The River We Remember: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Yellow Wife: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Schindler's List Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rules of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Red Tent - 20th Anniversary Edition: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Bookshop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Lords of the North
109 ratings18 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The first Bernard Cornwall book I have read and it was a good one, although this is the third in a series I was able to make sense of what had previously happened. It had a very readable style, which made reading it very quick. I loved the historical details about York and Durham and how he weaved in details about St Cuthbert and holy relics. Enjoyable.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Bernard Cornwell’s oeuvre has the panache for interpreting war with all its savageries and triumphs. His storytelling is so raw that I have found myself at times vividly remembering his tales with such precision, that I thought I saw them at the theater instead of having read them. And once again true to Mr. Cornwell’s style, the insults are utterly fantastic, “When you are dead…I shall have your skin tanned and made into a saddle so I can spend the rest of my life farting on you.” All this and packs of wild dogs, it doesn’t get any better than this people.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5More of the same really. The pace moves along quite quickly and this passes the time when one wants a less demanding read. But Uhtred is for me as unsympathetic a character as ever, going around the country slaughtering everyone who stands in his way. The broad historical backdrop and background to Alfred and the Vikings are what keep me reading and what will undoubtedly make me read Sword Song when it comes out in paperback.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Uthred of Bebbanburg heads north, now that he has succeeded at the court of Alfred, but getting what he wants isn't going to be easy. The north's a complicated place, and our hero needs to face some of his own baggage and sort out some family issues.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cornwell is predictably unpredictable! The novel moves at a steady pace but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader turning the page! For sure I will be reading the next book in the series before very long! These books are taking me about two days each to read through. Grand fun!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book is incredible!!! However, this is an abbreviated version in which he skips sentences and leaves off useful information. I’ll be looking for a reader who reads the entire book as it was written.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just a modest correction to previous review. This is the third in the series. And it looks like there's more to come.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5People need to know this is the ABRIDGED version. At 5 hours, it is less than half the length of the 13 hour unabridged recording. (It's not like Cornwell's books are bloated by any stretch...).
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I read the book in German, as I am from Germany. I like the book very much. I can recommend the whole Saxon Chronicle and I am looking forward to the fifth part which will come out in Sep/Oct this year.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In this installment of the 'Saxon Stories', we are finally introduced to the craziness and insanity that is Northumbria. While the first two books were great in their development of Uhtred's story, this is where the main story arc across the main series really gets going. Bernard Cornwell has a habit of playing mind games, and forces his readers to understand that no character, however noble, always makes good decisions.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Entertaining and about what I was expecting.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Third in the Saxon Stories set in the 9th century Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Wessex and Northumbria. It is 878 and Uthred of Bebbanburg is heading north. He has helped the Saxons of Wessex defeat the invading Danes but his help has been mostly unacknowledged by King Alfred so is setting off to help sort out some old business. I haven't managed to find copies of the earlier books in the series yet but this was okay so I might read them in future.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Left me breathless, running around the house shouting, "Uhtred and Ragnar! "
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/52nd of a good Trilogy. Good action writing
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This whole series has been amazing so far! I have been listening to the audio books, this may not be the wisest move depending on the price of gas in your area. The battle scenes are so captivating I find myself sitting in the car at my destination unable to pry myself away until I find out who Uhtred has slain and what inventive insults have been thrown about the bloody place!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Yet another gift from Cornwell ! Splendid, enjoyable, bloody fun!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lords of the North is the third book in the Saxon Stories and Cornwell promises that more - perhaps many more - are in the offing. As is almost obligatory, let me acknowldge that I am a big Cornwell fan - I've read many of the Sharpe books, part of the Grail series and all three of the Saxon Stories. The Lords of the North picks up right after Alfred's historic victory at Ethandun (or Edington) in 878 CE and continues the tale of Uhtred, a man stuck between the worlds of Saxon and Dane. Uthred returns to the north as he begins what will apparently be a multi-volume quest to reclaim his title as Lord of Bettanburg. Unfortunately, the historical record for Northumbria at this time is extremely sparse and confused. Consequently, Lords of the North is more fictional and less historical than the previous two books. I frankly found the book fell somewhat short of my admittedly high expectations. The atmosphere of the tale seemingly has historical authenticity, but the ending is rushed and struck me as implausible. After a long struggle to overcome one of their major antagonists, Uthred and Ragnar dispense with another one in one brief encounter. A good tale and fans of Cornwell will enjoy it, but in parts it felt like a book that simply bridges the gap from one part of the story to the next. The good news is that Uhtred lives into his 80's, so many more tales remain - let's just hope that doesn't become the bad news, too. Recommended.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The third in Cornwell's Saxon Tales series. Uhtred is back with a vengeance and there is much blood letting. I think I have enjoyed this volume more than the first two. Cornwell seems a bit more free with Uhtred's adventures. Things get a bit weird, and it makes the story a bit spicier. I especially got a tickle out of Uhtred's little side trip to Iceland. I'm interested to see what happens in the next one. Somehow I have a hunch that Uhtred is going to screwed over by Alfred again. I really have to read up on Alfred. I can't believe he was such a pansy.