- The Lords of the North
infobox Book |
name = The Lords of the North
orig title =
translator =
image_caption = Cover to the first edition
author =Bernard Cornwell
cover_artist =
country =United Kingdom
language = English
series =The Saxon Stories
genre =Historical novel
publisher =HarperCollins
release_date = 22 May 2006
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 366 pp (hardback edition)
isbn = ISBN 0-00-721968-7 (hardback edition)
preceded_by =The Pale Horseman
followed_by = Sword Song"The Lords of the North" is a novel based in
9th Century Anglo-Saxon kingdomsWessex andNorthumbria . The book starts where "The Pale Horseman " left off. It is the third book inBernard Cornwell 's "Saxon Stories". There is also a band calledLords of the North [http://www.myspace.com/thelordsofthenorth] from Seattle though the band is not related to the book in any way.Plot summary
878 -881 : Uhtred of Bebbanburg makes his way back to his native Northumbria in the hopes of regaining his father's fortress. He arrives to find formerly Danish held Eoferwic (York) has been conquered by Saxons and agrees to escort a Danish family north to safety. Along the way he encounters Sven, his old enemy, and frees the Danish King Guthred of Cumbraland from slavery. Uhtred becomes Guthred's chief warlord and advisor, and falls in love with Gisela, Guthred's sister, before being cast into slavery himself. After years spent chained to the oar of a Danish trading ship, Uhtred is finally rescued on the orders of King Alfred by his friends Ragnar and Steapa. They then return to Northumbria where he and Ragnar enact brutal vengeance upon their enemies Kjartan the Cruel and Sven the One-Eyed. The novel ends with Uthred's battle against Ivarr Ivarsson in order to secure Guthred's claim to the throne of Northumbria, and his return to Wessex to serve Alfred.Characters in "Lords of the North"
*Uhtred - the
Protagonist , narrator, dispossessed Ealdorman ofBebbanburg "'
*King Alfred of Wessex - The King of Wessex
*Guthrum/King Aethelstan - Danish and Christian King of East Anglia
*Guthred - Danish slave rescued by Uhtred and proclaimed King ofNorthumbria "'
*Gisela - Danish woman, sister of Guthred
*Hild - Saxon woman, a former nun who becomes Uhtred's companion
*Ragnar Ragnarsson - Danish Warlord, son of Earl Ragnar, and Uhtred's foster brother and close friend
*Ælfric - Uhtred's uncle and usurper of the throne ofBebbanburg "'
*Father Beocca - Alfred's priest and Uhtred's family friend
*Kjartan the Cruel - Master of Dunholm, killer of Earl Ragnar the Fearless
*Sven the One-Eyed - One-eyed son of Kjartan, enemy of Uhtred
*Thyra Ragnarsdottir - Sister of Ragnar, kidnapped by Sven
*Ivar Ivarsson - Danish Warlord, son ofIvar the Boneless "'
*Rypere - Saxon boy Uhtred trains
*Clapa - Danish boy Uhtred trains
*Sihtric Kjartansson - Kjatan's illegitimate son sworn to Uhtred
*Jænberht and Ida - Monks in the employ of Ælfric
*Abbot Eadred - Guthred's chief supporter and possessor ofSaint Cuthbert 's corpse
*Father Hrothweard - Priest in Eoferwic
*Tekil - Warrior employed by Kjartan
*Sverri Ravnsson - Danish trader who buys Uhtred as a slave fromJutland
*Hakka - Sverri's Frisian right-hand man
*Finan the Agile - Irish slave and warrior Uhtred befriendsPublication details
*2006, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-714992-1, Pub date 22 May 2006, hardback
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