Book Review - The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell

   The Burning Land is the latest in the historical fiction series about Alfred the Great written by Bernard Cornwell.  The series of books features the life and career of Uthred, a Saxon captured by the invading Danes as a child and raised in a Danish home.  As a young man, he found himself orphaned by the death of his adopted Danish family and goes to the Saxons in the south of England to live.  His fighting abilities bring him to the attention of Alfred, the sickly but well-educated King of Wessex.  In spite of his pagan beliefs, Uthred rises to be one the principle warlords of Christian King Alfred, being instrumental in many of the major battles between the Saxons and the invading Danes.

   In this, the fifth book of the series, Uthred sets out to counter the invasion of Harald Bloodhair, a savage warrior leading the Danish invaders, who is encouraged to cruelty by his evil woman, Skade. But Uhtred, the unwilling warlord of an aging and ailing King Alfred, has to take the lead in the battle against Harald.  Alfred’s heir is too weak to lead the army, but is quick to take credit for Uthred’s work.  The Danes are finally led into a trap at Farnham in Surrey, where the Saxons inflict one of the greatest defeats they ever won over the Danish invaders.

   I have loved every one of the Saxon series of stories written by Cornwell.  He writes the stories as though they are being dictated right from the lips of Uthred himself.  You find yourself drawn into the plot quickly and can almost feel the sword in your hand as Uthred raises it to battle another foe bent on the conquest of Wessex.

   The author weaves much historical fact with fiction to tell these stories about what was perhaps England’s most desperate time. 

   I give this book 5 stars!  But if you’ve never read any of these stories, start with “The Last Kingdom” and follow Uthred’s life from the beginning. 

   And the good news is that this book leaves the door open for at least one more installment in Lord Uthred's odyssey.

Stephen Cram

North Baltimore Public Library