terça-feira, 19 de janeiro de 2010

The Burning Land, A Novel by Bernard Cornwell

“[Bernard Cornwell] may well be the best historical novelist writing today.” —Vince Flynn, author of Extreme Measures

With The Burning Land, New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell returns with the fifth volume of his brilliant Saxon Tales series. This installment continues where Sword Song left off, as King Alfred of Wessex—the only English king ever called “The Great” —again calls on his reluctant warlord Uhtred to defend England from Danish and Viking hordes intent on conquering the island. Cornwell “tells Alfred’s story with wit, intelligence, and absolute narrative authority,” (Washington Post Book World) and continues in the tradition of his bestseller Agincourt, “a must-read for fans of authentically detailed historical fiction.” (Booklist)

Book Description

In a clash of heroes, the kingdom is born.

At the end of the ninth century, King Alfred of Wessex is in ill health; his heir, an untested youth. His enemy, the Danes, having failed to conquer Wessex, now see their chance for victory. Led by the sword of savage warrior Harald Bloodhair, the Viking hordes attack. But Uhtred, Alfred's reluctant warlord, proves his worth, outwitting Harald and handing the Vikings one of their greatest defeats.

For Uhtred, the sweetness of victory is soon overshadowed by tragedy. Breaking with Alfred, he joins the Vikings, swearing never again to serve the Saxon king. Instead, he will reclaim his ancestral fortress on the Northumbrian coast. Allied with his old friend Ragnar—and his old foe Haesten—he aims to invade and conquer Wessex itself.

Yet fate has different plans. The Danes of East Anglia and the Vikings of Northumbria are plotting the conquest of all Britain. When Alfred's daughter pleads with Uhtred for help, he cannot refuse her request. In a desperate gamble, he takes command of a demoralized Mercian army, leading them in an unforgettable battle on a blood-soaked field beside the Thames.

In The Burning Land, Bernard Cornwell, "the reigning king of historical fiction" (USA Today), delivers a rousing saga of Anglo-Saxon England—an irresistible new chapter in his thrilling Saxon Tales, the epic story of the birth of England and the legendary king who made it possible.

Critical Praise for The Burning Land

For Margaret Flanagan, Booklist , “Cornwell, a master of martial fiction, makes history come alive with his rousing battlefield scenes.”