Anyone who spends much time trolling the Internet doing genealogical research quickly learns that once you go back a thousand years or so, just about everyone is, or claims to be, related to the leading figures of the day. Or so it seems.
Hence, Bernard Cornwell, author of the Sharpe novels (dramatized with Sean Bean as Sharpe), claims to be descended from Uhtred of Bebbanburg (the present Bamburg Castle, Northumberland), Saxon son of Uhtred; aka Uhtred Ragnarson, adopted son of Ragnar, the Dane.
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| Don't let the design fool you, around Uhtred, weapons are usually accompanied by another kind of red stuff (cover courtesy amazon.ca) |
The Lords of the North, the third instalment of Cornwell's Saxon Stories, is the continuing tale of Alfred the Great's quest to become overlord of England by uniting the various English kingdoms. Uhtred, a follower of the Norse gods, is rarely on the same wavelength as the manipulative Alfred, outwardly an almost comically pious Christian.
Lords begins in 878 with Uhtred, fresh from saving Alfred's Wessex from the Vikings, travelling north to reclaim his Northumbrian birthright. As in the series first two instalments, The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman, Uhtred, the famous warrior, is waylaid by those who either seek to benefit from his skills or exact revenge for past defeats.
As with many historical novels, several of the characters are based upon real events and people. Given the lack of unbiased evidence for what actually occurred, Cornwell has a fair amount of latitude in recounting Uhtred's story. Thus Uhtred, no better than a marauding Viking to Alfred's civilized Christian, becomes a compelling and sympathetic character. We come to trust in his advice and root for him, all the while knowing that Alfred's despised way of life will eventually win out.
In all, while far from scholarly, Cornell performs as expected, with a compelling, believable period tale.
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