- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins (1 Oct 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 000721975X
- ISBN-13: 978-0007219759
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.2 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 329,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Burning Land (Alfred the Great 5)
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Product Description
Review
Praise for The Burning Land:
‘Cornwell draws a fascinating picture of England as it might have been before anything like England existed’
The Times
Praise for AZINCOURT:
'This is a magnificent and gory work' Daily Mail
'The historical blockbuster of the year' Evening Standard
‘If Bernard Cornwell was born to write one book, this is it. No other historical novelist has acquired such a mastery of the minutiae of warfare in centuries past.’ Daily Telegraph
‘A runaway success’ Observer
Praise for Bernard Cornwell:
‘The characterisation, as ever, is excellent…And one can only admire the little touches that bring the period to life. He can also claim to be a true poet of both the horror and the glory of war.’ Sunday Telegraph
This is typical Cornwell, meticulously researched, massive in scope, brilliant in execution’. News of the World
‘He’s called a master story-teller. Really he’s cleverer than that.’ Telegraph
Product Description
The latest in the bestselling Alfred series from number one historical novelist, Bernard Cornwell.
In the last years of the ninth century, King Alfred of Wessex is in failing health, and his heir is an untested youth. The Danes, who have failed so many times to conquer Wessex, smell opportunity…
First comes Harald Bloodhair, a savage warrior leading a Viking horde, who is encouraged to cruelty by his woman, Skade. But Alfred still has the services of Uhtred, his unwilling warlord, who leads Harald into a trap and, at Farnham in Surrey, inflicts one of the greatest defeats the Vikings were ever to suffer.
This novel, the fifth in the magnificent series of England's history tells of the final assaults on Alfred's Wessex, that Wessex survived to become England is because men like Uhtred defeated an enemy feared throughout Christendom.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
64 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What a fabulous novel which breathes energy, new life and excitement back into a series which was beginning to feel a tad tired at the end of the last book.
At the end of book four, I felt as if the Uhtred saga was being drawn out too far and whilst I enjoyed the book I hoped Mr Cornwell would divert his skills to developing a new and original story. I was a little hesitant when beginning this book, I really wanted to like it as Bernard Cornwell is my favourite author and I didn't want to give any negative criticism to his latest work.
The Burning Land is truly excellent and the book allows Uhtred to taste some of the independence away from King Alfred which he has been craving for so long. This freedom has allowed the author to experiment and throw Uhtred into new plots and adventures. The pace is relentless and Uhtred is swiftly covering most of the Isle in search of a purpose, allegiance and identity. However, it is not long before old oaths and promises are called upon and the Norns which have always governed Uhtred's life laugh in his face when he establishes his independent purpose in life.
My only criticism against this book and it is truly out of pure selfishness, is the length. With Mr Cornwell biding his time before releasing a new book, we have an agonising wait before his newest novel is published. With only 336 pages, I soon devoured the book and was lamenting the impending finish which sadly, came too quickly!
Bernard Cornwell fans will definitely not be disappointed with this fifth book of the series. It is a `must read' and certainly sets up sound foundations for the next book of the series. Buy it, enjoy it but be prepared for the torturous wait for the sixth book!
At the end of book four, I felt as if the Uhtred saga was being drawn out too far and whilst I enjoyed the book I hoped Mr Cornwell would divert his skills to developing a new and original story. I was a little hesitant when beginning this book, I really wanted to like it as Bernard Cornwell is my favourite author and I didn't want to give any negative criticism to his latest work.
The Burning Land is truly excellent and the book allows Uhtred to taste some of the independence away from King Alfred which he has been craving for so long. This freedom has allowed the author to experiment and throw Uhtred into new plots and adventures. The pace is relentless and Uhtred is swiftly covering most of the Isle in search of a purpose, allegiance and identity. However, it is not long before old oaths and promises are called upon and the Norns which have always governed Uhtred's life laugh in his face when he establishes his independent purpose in life.
My only criticism against this book and it is truly out of pure selfishness, is the length. With Mr Cornwell biding his time before releasing a new book, we have an agonising wait before his newest novel is published. With only 336 pages, I soon devoured the book and was lamenting the impending finish which sadly, came too quickly!
Bernard Cornwell fans will definitely not be disappointed with this fifth book of the series. It is a `must read' and certainly sets up sound foundations for the next book of the series. Buy it, enjoy it but be prepared for the torturous wait for the sixth book!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Alfred of Wessex has won many victories but now, in the last years of the 9th century, he is in failing health. These are dangerous times: Alfred's likely successor is an untested youth, and the Vikings who have failed so many times to conquer Wessex seize the opportunity to attack.
Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Alfred's unwilling warlord, leads the enemy into a trap at Farnham, and inflicts one of the greatest defeats the Vikings have ever suffered. Uhtred is caught in the conflict caused by his oath to the Christian King Alfred, which he feels obliged to honour, and his own pagan beliefs. However, after the victory at Farnham, Uhtred is tested both through personal tragedy and an attack by some of Alfred's henchmen who are jealous of his standing and offended by his foreignness. This causes Uhtred to break with Alfred and to travel north where he hopes to recover his ancestral home, Bebbanburg, from his uncle.
The fates intervene, as they so often do, and Alfred's daughter Aethelflaed is able to induce Uhtred to return south to take control of the Mercian army for another desperate battle with the Vikings.
This is the fifth book in the Saxon Tales. While Uhtred is the central character, Mr Cornwell has peopled this novel with characters that bring the conflicts of the times to life. The series depicts both the conflicts between the Saxons and the Vikings and the conflicts between Christians and pagans. The tale may be Uhtred's, but the story is of England in the making. I am looking forward to the sixth novel: I'm hoping that at some stage Uhtred will recover Bebbanburg.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Alfred's unwilling warlord, leads the enemy into a trap at Farnham, and inflicts one of the greatest defeats the Vikings have ever suffered. Uhtred is caught in the conflict caused by his oath to the Christian King Alfred, which he feels obliged to honour, and his own pagan beliefs. However, after the victory at Farnham, Uhtred is tested both through personal tragedy and an attack by some of Alfred's henchmen who are jealous of his standing and offended by his foreignness. This causes Uhtred to break with Alfred and to travel north where he hopes to recover his ancestral home, Bebbanburg, from his uncle.
The fates intervene, as they so often do, and Alfred's daughter Aethelflaed is able to induce Uhtred to return south to take control of the Mercian army for another desperate battle with the Vikings.
This is the fifth book in the Saxon Tales. While Uhtred is the central character, Mr Cornwell has peopled this novel with characters that bring the conflicts of the times to life. The series depicts both the conflicts between the Saxons and the Vikings and the conflicts between Christians and pagans. The tale may be Uhtred's, but the story is of England in the making. I am looking forward to the sixth novel: I'm hoping that at some stage Uhtred will recover Bebbanburg.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Uhtred, King Alfred's warlord, is looking back over his life to the time when he was the most feared swordsman in the Land, recounting some of the most bloodthirsty battles between the Saxons and the Danes to gain land and power in the country yet to be named England: he was not just a warrior, he was also an excellent tactician, planning his battles with meticulous detail.
The battles are gory, the descriptions of the killing are somewhat squeamish, the life of the warriors hard, Cornwell's storytelling really makes the characters come to life, but it's not just about the battles, it is the beginning of England, of how religion played a huge part in people's lives while the Danes worshipped the old gods. Uthred, himself, worshipped Thor......he is talking to the wife of one of the Danish ruler's --
***'Christianity is a disease that spreads like a plague. We have to stop it.
''If the gods want it stopped,' I suggested, 'they'll do it themselves.
''Our gods prefer feasting. They live, Uhtred. They live and laugh and enjoy, and what does their god do? He broods, he's vengeful, he scowls, he plots. He's a dark and lonely god, Uhtred, and our gods ignore him. They're wrong.' ***
It is not all about the men, there were some strong women as well, such as King Alfred's daughter who would probably have made as good a ruler as her brother given the chance, riding out to watch while the battles raged.
It was easy to read, the details are interesting, not boring, there was a good pace to the story throughout.
This is the 5th in Cornwell's Alfred series, and several earlier events are mentioned throughout but I didn't feel as if should have read them to know what was happening in this book, though I wish I had now as I'm sure I would have enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed reading this!
If you love historical fiction you should add this series to your collection - as the blurb on the back of the book says --
'This is the making of England brought magnificently to life by the master of historical fiction'
And I certainly wouldn't argue with that!
The battles are gory, the descriptions of the killing are somewhat squeamish, the life of the warriors hard, Cornwell's storytelling really makes the characters come to life, but it's not just about the battles, it is the beginning of England, of how religion played a huge part in people's lives while the Danes worshipped the old gods. Uthred, himself, worshipped Thor......he is talking to the wife of one of the Danish ruler's --
***'Christianity is a disease that spreads like a plague. We have to stop it.
''If the gods want it stopped,' I suggested, 'they'll do it themselves.
''Our gods prefer feasting. They live, Uhtred. They live and laugh and enjoy, and what does their god do? He broods, he's vengeful, he scowls, he plots. He's a dark and lonely god, Uhtred, and our gods ignore him. They're wrong.' ***
It is not all about the men, there were some strong women as well, such as King Alfred's daughter who would probably have made as good a ruler as her brother given the chance, riding out to watch while the battles raged.
It was easy to read, the details are interesting, not boring, there was a good pace to the story throughout.
This is the 5th in Cornwell's Alfred series, and several earlier events are mentioned throughout but I didn't feel as if should have read them to know what was happening in this book, though I wish I had now as I'm sure I would have enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed reading this!
If you love historical fiction you should add this series to your collection - as the blurb on the back of the book says --
'This is the making of England brought magnificently to life by the master of historical fiction'
And I certainly wouldn't argue with that!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
cornwell's alfred
Fast moving novel, full of action and suspense. Seamlessly continues the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a thoroughly believable, but very much larger than life, character. Read more
Published 12 days ago by knighthawk
more of the same, for better or worse
Fifth novel in this series. Like the others, this is a good page turner, but Uhtred remains, for me, as unsympathetic as ever. Read more
Published 4 months ago by John Hopper
present for other half
my husband has started to read this series recently and thoroughly enjoyed this one. I might give them a go myself although the place names do make it a little more difficult as I... Read more
Published 4 months ago by mgt
The Barnburning novel
A complex and deeply satisfying historical novel. Worthy of the very best in this genre. Superb characterisation and extensive research worn lightly. Read more
Published 7 months ago by John Coffey
Fine historical series
Bernard Cornwell's Alfred the Great series really form one long novel, though they are self-contained stories that are also readable separately. Read more
Published 8 months ago by reader 451
Stands up well
Bernard Cornwell's books are known for a meticulous researching of historical (involving English history in some way) events and then the weaving in of his take of the events as... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Christian
Not nearly as good as they should be
Having read all five of the Alfred books, I can see where the flaws are in this series. The characters are not really characters, just types. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Andrew Lale
Cornwell at his bestl
This is the last of the five parts that I have read, dealing with Alfred The Great!!?!! The whole popular depiction of Alfred as a Great War Leader is exploded. Read more
Published 10 months ago by keith fredericks
burning land
absolutely brilliant series, just upset its the last of series (at moment?) , didnt think Sharpe could be outdone , but Uthred is a fantastic charachter and Cornwell has to be best... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. Anthony D. Bateman
The Burning Land (The Saxon Chronicles, Book 5)
The first of the Saxon series Last Kingdom was very enjoyable. Utred his hero developed well. I was defiantly on Utred's side losing family to the Vikings. Read more
Published 12 months ago by nosyparker
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