Lords of the North (Abridged)

The third installment of Bernard Cornwellamp;#8217;s bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, amp;#8220;like Game of Thrones, but realamp;#8221; (The Observer, London)amp;#8212;the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit BBC America television series.

After achieving victory at King Alfredamp;#8217;s side, Uhtred of Bebbanburg is returning to his home in the North, finally free of his allegiance to the Kingamp;#8212;or so he believes. An encounter with a vicious slave trader introduces Uhtred to Guthred, the self-proclaimed King of Northumbria. Curious about Guthredamp;#8217;s astounding claim, Uhtred follows him north. But he soon discovers fate has another incredible surprise in store, and begins an unexpected journey that climaxes in the midnight siege of a city thought impregnableamp;#8212;a dangerous seige that results in the forging of England.

Lords of the North is Bernard Cornwellamp;#8217;s finest work yetamp;#8212;a breathtaking adventure, but it also tells the story of the creation of English identity, as the English and Danes begin to become one people, appropriating each otheramp;#8217;s languages and, thrillingly, fighting side-by-side.