Bernard Cornwell’s just published The Pagan Lord is the seventh volume of the adventures of Uhtred, a Danish warrior who fights to protect the Saxon kingdoms from the Vikings. Not too many adventure novels are set in the 9th Century so that’s some of the appeal of these books. In The Pagan Lord, Uhtred is framed for a kidnapping. His estate is burned and he’s on the run again. Uhtred finally figures out the shenanigans and once again he has to put together a fighting force to save the Saxons from being overrun by the Vikings. You don’t have to read the previous six books to enjoy The Pagan Lord but it helps. And, if you like this kind of historical fiction, you’ll want to read all of Cornwell’s Saxon Stories anyway. Cornwell gives some strong hints at the end of The Pagan Lord that the next book may conclude the series. GRADE: B+
I tried the first one, but it just wasn’t for me. Still, many people like the series. Does he also have another series?
Rick, Cornwell has several military series. You can check them out at http://www.bernardcornwell.net/ and perhaps you’ll find one that you’ll like.
Phil is reading WOLF HALL and enjoying it. I just read THE MASTER about Henry James. On the whole though, I prefer my fiction straight up.
Patti, I liked WOLF HALL and THE MASTER. Cornwell’s fiction appeals to the military side of me.
Military side?