See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

62 used & new from £0.14
See All Buying Options
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Sword Song
 
See larger image 

See all 2 customer images
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Sword Song (Hardcover)

by Bernard Cornwell (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


12 new from £1.95 38 used from £0.14 12 collectible from £6.39
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Paperback 28 used & new from £0.01
Audio CD (Abridged,Audiobook,CD) £15.99 £8.99 19 used & new from £3.97

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Lords of the Bow (Conqueror 2)

Lords of the Bow (Conqueror 2)

by Conn Iggulden
4.5 out of 5 stars (41)  £3.77
Azincourt

Azincourt

by Bernard Cornwell
3.7 out of 5 stars (67)  £3.00
Crusade (Brethren Trilogy)

Crusade (Brethren Trilogy)

by Robyn Young
3.8 out of 5 stars (21)  £5.49
The Lords of the North (Alfred the Great 3)

The Lords of the North (Alfred the Great 3)

by Bernard Cornwell
4.5 out of 5 stars (45)  £4.31
Centurion (Eagle)

Centurion (Eagle)

by Simon Scarrow
4.0 out of 5 stars (28)  £5.49
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 366 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; 1st Edition edition (3 Sep 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007219717
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007219711
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 3.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 17,557 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #49 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > C > Cornwell, Bernard > Sharpe Novels

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Review
Praise for 'The Lords of the North': 'Beautifully crafted story-telling, complete with splendid set-piece battles and relentless derring-do, so gripping that it rarely stops to catch a breath. It demonstrates once again Cornwell's enormous skill as a historical narrator. He would have graced Alfred's court entertaining the guests with his stories.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell takes the spectres of ninth century history and puts flesh back on their bones. Here is Alfred's world restored -- impeccably researched and illuminated with the colour and passion of a master storyteller.' Justin Pollard, author of 'Alfred the Great' Praise for Bernard Cornwell: 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer

Product Description
The fourth in the bestselling Alfred series from number one historical novelist, Bernard Cornwell. Our hero, Uhtred, has been made Governor of London. This fourth book in the series will mostly be set in London and will cover Alfred's building of fortified towns to hold Wesssex and his push into Mercia.

See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(6)
(5)
(3)
(3)
(2)
(1)
See all 8 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Sword Song
32% buy the item featured on this page:
Sword Song 4.1 out of 5 stars (34)
Sword Song (Alfred the Great 4)
22% buy
Sword Song (Alfred the Great 4) 3.9 out of 5 stars (19)
£3.77
The Lords of the North (Alfred the Great 3)
18% buy
The Lords of the North (Alfred the Great 3) 4.5 out of 5 stars (45)
£4.31
The Pale Horseman (Alfred the Great 2)
14% buy
The Pale Horseman (Alfred the Great 2) 4.4 out of 5 stars (37)
£4.31
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

34 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (14)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (5)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
43 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps getting better, 5 Oct 2007
By Didier (Ghent, Belgium) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
I read the 3 first books in this series (The Last Kingdom, Pale Horseman, and Lords of the North) quite some time ago, found them all three excellent historical novels, so started "Sword Song" with high expectations. Rest assured: it's near perfect.

In "Sword Song" the struggle between Saxons and Danes has reached a new phase, with Alfred consolidating the kingdom of Wessex and trying to get a grip on the (leaderless) Mercia. Uthred has become Alfred's most important warlord, but he feels equally drawn to the Viking-world in which he grew up, and just then an army of Vikings arrives and captures London...

I really can't do this book enough justice: the battle scenes are as good as ever (and there's plenty), but above all I love the way in which Uthred keeps developing as a character. The arrogant, young warrior has become a mature man (with a fearsome reputation, true enough), and a loving husband and father.

I for one am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars 'I was death come from the morning', 26 Nov 2007
By J. Cameron-Smith "Expect the Unexpected" (ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
'Sword Song' is set in a 9th century England divided between the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south and the Danish kingdom of the north.

As in the preceding three novels, Uhtred dominates this story. While his heroic actions are generally physical, his capacity to analyse situations and act quickly endow him with some very attractive leadership qualities. I enjoy the action in these novels and while I have a different mental picture of Alfred the Great, I can accept the picture as painted through Uhtred's eyes.

These are good novels in an historical setting, and breathe life into a time long past.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
33 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Falls a little short in comparison with the last three, 28 Sep 2007
The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman, and Lords of the North were all incredible novels, and set us up for an excellent introduction to Uhtred's character. With Sword Song completed, I still feel that Uhtred is the single greatest character in the history of novels and movies, but his tale fell a little short in this novel. A couple of scenes seemed a little too "miraculous," and Uhtred even says that more than once in this particular novel, things like "I should have died then, but the boat gave a sudden lurch," etc. Things like that are a little disappointing if they are brought up again and again. Repetitions are also littered through Sword Song, of pasts and histories that have already been drilled into our heads, sometimes bringing up the same thing 3 or 4 times in the same novel. Cornwell should understand that as readers of the series, with one book put out every year, we get it already and know what he's speaking of. Lastly the novel was, as many people before me have already said, too short. It was just over 300 pages, hardcover, and fell a bit short of my expectations because of this as well. For those who are hoping to see Ragnar, don't get your hopes up. His name is mentioned perhaps a dozen times in the book but the beloved character makes no appearance. As for the actual story, some things seem strangely put together, and that is probably hugely due to the amount of fiction in this tale as opposed to Cornwell's previous three. He even says that this is the book he's taken the most liberty with, including the main point of the plot. Bravo Bernard, but bump it up a couple notches on the next one for us. Uhtred deserves it.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Sword Song
Bernard Cornwell, what a prolific writer on all subjects. He astounds me with his knowledge an information. Another brillient book from a brillient Writer.
Published 25 days ago by Mr. I. D. Rhodes

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!
What can I say? Can Bernard Cornwell put a foot wrong? Yet another superb novel from the master of historical fiction. Read more
Published 5 months ago by CityGent

4.0 out of 5 stars The 4th Uhtred and Alfred novel... still going strong
Our Hero Uhtred just as he thinks things are settling down, he gets some new enemies to fight.... well it wouldn't be a Cornwell without would it? Read more
Published 8 months ago by chuckles

5.0 out of 5 stars page turner
A great read. The only problem was that i had to get up for work the next day when i had been reading the book all night. A very compelling story. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Rev Gherkin

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Average
Sword Song.....at times interesting but is predominantly a boring sequence of "ands" "then" he/she/viking did this then this then this. Read more
Published 10 months ago by H. Longton

2.0 out of 5 stars Do not waste your life
There are better books and better things to do with your life. Go read them or do them.
Published 10 months ago by Phillipa Brookes

4.0 out of 5 stars His mind is not on this book
I am a huge fan but you get the feeling that his mind is elsewhere when reading this. I heard the author give a talk a while ago (when this book came out) and he didn't want to... Read more
Published 14 months ago by reader001

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad but the weakest so far
We're back on the warpath with Uhtred. Except we're not really.
There isn't much of an arc to this book. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Quince

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent again.
The sequal to 'The Last Kingdom' 'The Pale Horseman' and 'Lords of the North'. This may be the best book yet as there is a major fight as Uhtred and Steapa and others take London... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr England

4.0 out of 5 stars 9thcentury fascination
Bernard Cornwell has a way of drawing you into his stories, having read all 4 in this series and most of the Sharpe series I developed a desire to know more of this period to the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by J. Goodsell

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

The Body Shop

The Body Shop - Vitamin C Skin Boost
Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

›Shop The Body Shop

  

Beauty without the Beast

Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream
From au naturel to party glam, we have all the best names in cosmetics and skincare.

›Discover Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates