Book Description
From Bernard Cornwell, the undisputed master of historical fiction, hailed as "the direct heir to Patrick O'Brien,"* comes the third volume in the exhilarating Saxon Chronicles: the story of the birth of England as the Saxons struggle to repel the Danish invaders.
The year is 878, and as Lords of the North begins, the Saxons of Wessex, under King Alfred, have defeated the Danes to keep their kingdom free. Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, helped Alfred win that victory, but now he is disgusted by Alfred's lack of generosity. Uhtred flees Wessex, going north to search for his stepsister, who was taken prisoner by Kjartan the Cruel, a Danish lord who lurks in the formidable stronghold of Dunholm.
Uhtred arrives in the north to discover rebellion, chaos, and fear. His only ally is Hild, a West Saxon nun fleeing her calling, and his best hope is his sword, Serpent-Breath, with which he has made a notable reputation as a warrior. He needs other partners if he is to attack Dunholm, and chooses Guthred, a seemingly deluded slave who believes he is a king. Together they cross the Pennines, where fanatical Christians and beleaguered Danes have formed a desperate alliance to confront the terrible Viking lords who rule Northumbria.
Instead of victory Uhtred finds betrayal. But he also discovers love and redemption as he is forced to turn once again to his reluctant ally, Alfred the Great. It is Alfred who sees opportunity in Northumbria's chaos, and Alfred who looses Uhtred and his stepbrother, Ragnar, onto Dunholm, the invincible fortress on its great spur of rock. A breathtaking adventure, Lords of the North is also the story of the creation of England, as the English and Danes fight against each other, but also find common cause and create a common language. In the end they will become one people, but as Uhtred will discover, their union is forged through the white heat of battle.
* The Economist
Customer Reviews:
Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell.......2007-09-19
In Lords of the North (coming January 23rd), the wonderful writer of great historical periods and characters brings us the third in his increasingly popular Saxon Chronicles series, as he tells the story of King Alfred the Great's life and his work in unifying the many kingdoms into the country we know today as England.
We continue with our hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who has just helped Alfred save and maintain control over the land of Wessex, therefore preventing the complete invasion by the Danes. Angered with Alfred's piousness and making every decision according to God, Uhtred flees north to Northumbria, still hoping one day to defeat his uncle and take back his beloved Bebbanburg. It is here that he meets old Danish friends and before he realizes what's going on, a deal has been brokered to maintain peace in Northumbria in return for Uhtred's enslavement. With his blood-stained blade - Serpent-Breath - the many lords of the region are happy to get rid of this formidable warrior.
Uhtred, stripped of his title and power, then spends most of the book suffering the abuse and torture of a slave on a trading traveling along the Flemish coast, and back and forth between Britain and the mainland. On a number of occasions they face off again this "red ship" that is a trader like them. Upon returning to the original place where Uhtred was sold - so that more slaves can be bought - the red ship appears out of nowhere and beaches the shore. Foreign Danes stream out and Uhtred soon finds himself face to face with an even older friend who raised him.
Eventually he discovers that it is thanks to Alfred's help that he has received his emancipation. With his title, weapons, and armor restored, along with more allies from the south forming a considerable army, they set out to defeat these lesser heathen lords and regain control of the kingdom of Northumbria. The book ends with the reader contemplating what is next for Uhtred in the further Saxon Chronicles: Will he regain control of his land? Will he remain a lone pagan among the many determined Christians? Sadly, we will have to wait another whole year before we can read more about Uhtred of Bebbanburg, slayer of the great Ubba Lothbrokson, and his adventures with the pious Alfred the Great.
For more book reviews, and other writings, go to www.alexctelander.com
Just when you thought the saga could not get better..........2007-09-18
It gets better. This book finds Uhtred as not only a man and a warrior, but as a humbled (as much as the Dane in him will allow) crafty leader. He has recovered from his trials and is on his way to his destiny. His allegiance to Alfred has him hamstrung a bit...regarding his goal of re-taking his rightful lands of Bebbenburg...but he can see the future, and he knows that the tide is slowly turning in his favor. He will crush his enemies, and reign triumphant. This book is about Uhtred the man...and I believe is the FIRST step into his world as a Lord and warrior...with the first 2 novels having been merely an exciting prologue.
The Best of Uhtred's Saga, Not to be missed.......2007-08-11
If you've read books one and two in the Saxon Chronicles, it goes without saying that this is not to be missed. This is also the best of the series, and that's saying quite a lot. No, we're not talking literary masterwork -- although as always Bernard is engaging, often amusing, certainly disarming as a writer -- but there's just something about he way Bernard can bring to life the dark ages. Sure, I enjoy Sharpe novels, but where Bernard shines is in the dark ages, the time before we have "reliable histories." He manages to make everything from King Arthur to the "Vikings" -- which he explains just means "raiders" not Northmen -- come alive. It feels right. Sure, the dialogue is very twentieth-century, but it has to be for us to stay interested. Uhtred is, perhaps, his best hero yet, larger-than-life yet human and vulnerable at times, and Uhtred is a hero for both men and women to relate to, where perhaps some of Bernard's other protagonists are "macho man" heroes. This is a period in history very rarely touched in literature, and perhaps that's the charm of it. There are moments of satire as well, (anyone familiar with my work will know I thrive on satire), humor, adventure. What more can you ask in a yarn. Who else can make a slave a king, and a hero a slave then back to a hero all in one story? Who else can come across as a lover of all things British, yet create a character who is more Danish and Northman than Saxon or British? Just a lot of fun, great pace, humor, characters that you'll want to come back to. I'd say his best yet.
NOOOO!!!!! 6 months wait for the next book. This was GREAT!.......2007-08-06
Book three in the Saxon Chronicles is the best book by Bernard Cornwell that I have read. I had read his "Grail Quest Trilogy" before coming to this series, which I thought was a trilogy, but now know could go on much longer (it will be at least 4 books and I certainly hope for more).
"Lords of the North" continues the fantastic, emotional tale of Uhtred, the fictional Saxon-born, Dane-adopted and raised warrior, that is fated to fight for England and a king that he does not like, Alfred.
Uhtred lost his family when he was a boy and was adopted by a Danish Viking warrior, Earl Ragnar, who he loved as a father, and from whom he learned of the pagan deities, especially the spinners, the three mythical creatures that weave the fate of every man; hence his repeated statement through the entire series, "Fate is inexorable".
Uhtred, after assisting Alfred the Great with the defense of Wessex against the Danes, marches north to regain his birthright which was taken by his uncle when Uhtred's birth father died in battle. But fate has other plans for Uhtred, including assisting another king, killing priests, killing Saxons, killing Danes, loving a woman who becomes a nun, loving another woman who is betrothed to another, betrayal, slavery and revenge. Not bad for six months in the life of a Saxon/Danish warrior in the ninth century.
The author admits in his historical note at the end of the book that this tale is more fiction than fact, mainly because not much is known about the history of the Northumbria, the northern Saxon province. Using the name of the king, Guthred, and the characters he created in books 1 & 2,(which I highly recommend you read before coming to this; not because you need to in order to understand this book, but because the entire series is fabulous and why skip the salad and appetizer to get to the main course when the entire meal should be savored?) to weave a more fictional tale that is still most definitely anchored in fact, so far as the customs, trials, dangers, life, religions and battles would have been in the ninth century; that is to say that, despite the fact that none of the characters are real (except Guthred of whom not much is known) the entire story is told in accordance with the period and should be taken as an authentic description of fictional people. The world which Cornwell writes is wonderful, historically accurate and vivid.
This book is the best of the "Saxon Chronicles" by far and I eagerly await the release of book 4, "Sword Song" which is slated for release early 2008.
Another great book in a fun, fast-paced series.......2007-08-02
Lords of the North is the third volume of Bernard Cornwell's "Saxon Tales", set in ninth-century England, and is every bit as enjoyable as the preceding books in the series.
In this entry, Uhtred goes north to settle a long-standing bloodfeud. With his customary flair for the dramatic, he disguises himself as the Dead Swordsman and heads toward Dunholm, the fortress of his enemy, Kjartan the Cruel. Along the way he frees a slave who turns out to be Guthred, king of Northumbria. Uhtred swears loyalty to Guthred and soon learns that, despite his congenial manner, Guthred will do whatever is necessary to preserve his kingdom.
While Lords of the North does not deal with any significant historical event, it does have political intrigue, betrayal and lots of swordplay. As always, Cornwell's battle scenes are visceral. Having been bitten by a dog as a child, I found his descriptions of attacking dogs particularly unsettling.
The book's main strength is Uhtred, an extremely likable and unexpectedly complex character. Born English, but raised by Danes, he is continually torn between his adopted people and his oath, given unwillingly, to King Alfred. Irreverent and insightful, Uhtred tells his story in the first person, describing moments of brutish violence and tender emotion with a slightly sardonic flair.
I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to the next installment in the series. Thank you, Mr. Cornwell, for helping me release my inner Valkyrie!
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
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History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Customer Reviews:
"We would not let ourselves be burned to death for our opinions: we are not sure enough of them for that.".......2007-10-14
Nietzsche has been interpreted to represent the last word in a line of thought which begins with Socrates, generally referred to as the era of Western classical philosophy. Like enormous bookends, Nietzsche and the object of so much of his thought, Socrates, sit, at the crucial intersections of the flow and development of ideas, and adjudicate, with all that came between and after somehow in the radius of their influence. Nietzsche, father of existentialism, intellectual father of the 20th century.
The battle will always rage (Nietzsche, true to the fire of his Herakleitian habit, would have liked that): which is better, the Penguin Hollingdale anthology, A Nietzsche Reader, or Kaufmann's anthology, the venerable Viking Portable Nietzsche? I'll cop on that one. But, for the prospective buyer, I'll attempt a brief, opinionated comparison.
1) Translation: I was nurtured on the Kaufmann, which I used to carry around with me in my high school days, 40 years ago. Thus, for me, the Kaufmann translation rings truer to my tinny ear and limited knowledge of German. Besides, Kaufman was German. But, as Nietzsche gets down on the Germans at least as much as the English (a fact to which his Nazi misinterpreters liked to turn a blind eye), and, as Hollingdale's translations are accepted in the academic world to be at least as accurate as the revered Kaufman, pas differance there, or one merely of taste.
2) Organization: The Hollingdale is far better organized for quick reference or for the first time reader who wants an easily accessed guide to Nietzsche "from the horse's mouth" (with Nietzsche - this way is best, for so much of Nietzsche's power is in his enormous literary gifts). The creme de la creme of much of Nietzsche's most powerful work is arranged under the key rubrics: Philosophy and Philosophers; Logic, Epistemology, Metaphysics; Morality; Art and Aesthetics; Psychological Observations; Religion; Nihilism; Anti-Nihilism; Will to Power; Superman; Eternal Recurrence. The book ends with a truly neat 20 page collection of many of Nietzsche's best aphorisms and summary statements.
The Kaufmann, on the other hand, sprawls, and weaves a tapestry of the man's conceptions, which coalesce finally into a remarkably comprehensive summation of Nietzsche's basic positions. One could say that if the Hollingdale is the digital approach, the Kaufmann is the analog. The Kaufmann, however, has one insurmountable advantage: included are the complete texts of Twilight of the Idols, The Antichrist, Neitzsche Contra Wagner, and Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The Kaufmann translation of the latter is widely regarded as the best ever, and the book is an awesome masterpiece, at once hilarious and deep, a classic among classics, which says almost all that Nietzsche wishes you to hear in one loud shot.
3) Construction: Both have useful introductory sections, the Kaufmann is a bit better, including a helpful chronology. Neither has a particularly huge Bibliography, but the Kaufmann has been updated fairly recently by Viking. The Hollingdale is svelte, 285 pages, in the time tested Penguin format, tightly bound, light in the pack. The Kaufmann is chunky, 700 pages, a number of which are falling out of my 1968 edition bought for a pittance at a good, old fashioned, independent used bookstore.
My advice: Take the Hollingdale to school, but take the Kaufmann to that proverbial desert island.
Aphoristic truths.......2007-08-13
When Wagner became a cult, Nietzsche left him. Nietzsche resigned from the university in 1879. He went to Italy and Switzerland and had his breakdown in 1889.
Nietzsche tried to be empirical, to deepen the enlightenment. He felt that Spinoza had been a precursor. Aphorisms spring from the dialectic method of Nietzsche's thinking. The editor advises that ZATHUSTRA is the work of an utterly lonely man. Nietzsche heard about Kierkegaard too late to become acquainted with his work. He felt that Dostoevski was a great boon.
Write in blood, learn by heart, do not be tender--such notions are brought out in ZARATHUSTRA. Men want danger and play. They should fear women when they love. Out of victory and freedom one should long for a child. Man needs to be delivered from revenge. Nietzsche believed his greatest danger was pity. Dante and Spinoza accepted solitude. Writing to his sister, he states he adamantly opposes anti-Semitism.
Wagner has reflected on redemption, Nietzsche contends. Everything about Socrates is exaggeration, buffo. Use of the dialectic arouses mistrust. Morality and religion fall under the heading of imaginary causes. Educators are required because one must be able to see, to speak, to write. This is the goal of a noble culture.
Nietzsche holds that Sainte Beuve knows how to mix praise with poison. In idealizing the main features are brought out. Thomas Carlyle had a craving for a strong faith. Emerson possessed natural and gracious cheerfulness. Schopenhauer, like Goethe, Hegel, and Heine, represents a European event, not just a local one. The fight against purpose in art is always a fight against a moralizing tendency. Complaining comes from weakness. Read Thucydides between the lines.
This philosopher is a lifetime project. Thank goodness for the editorial and translating activities of Walter Kaufmann.
It's Nietzsche...only portable!!!.......2007-08-05
If you're anything like me, and if you're intelligent then you are, you can't get enough of Nietzsche. The only bad part is, I'll be walking around and I'll see some wimp in a christian T-shirt and I'll think of all those great lines from the books, but I can never remember them! I walk up to the kid and be like, "Hey Xtian(that's the cool thing to call christians) did you know that..." and I'll just trail off because I've forgotten. That happens to me all the time. That is, that USED to happen to me. Not anymore thanks to "The Portable Nietzsche." It's some of Nietzsche's greatest works in a condensed power-book! It also included the complete Zarathustra" which I admit is over my head. I like the simple meat and potatoes christian bashing that Nietzsche excels in. I like "The Anti-christ" the best because every page is just him making fun of christians. Well, actually that's how all his books are, that's why he was such a brilliant man. I just think it was so cool how he dedicated his life to attacking christians and I would like to be a person like that too.
PS: I've been trying to practice that menacing look he has on the cover of this book. I call this the Anti-christian gaze and I do it to every Christian I see. I'm getting better.
amazing.......2006-09-18
i cant say anythinng others havent said, if you like nietzsche then this is a must have. contains nietzsches best!
This is it.......2006-09-08
This is where you have to start if you're going to start reading Nietzsche. And you have to read the whole of Walter Kaufmann's introduction, front to back. It's an indispensible gateway into the work of this big, profound, tortured, hilarious, flawed, sensitive and misunderstood genius, and something you must read if you're going to say you really read Nietzsche.
Don't be like the myriad fascist creeps and pompous egomaniacs who latch onto a few of his provocative catch-phrases and controversial declarations to bolster their own sloppy philosophies. Read Nietzsche with a clear head and an open heart and take advantage of the excellent historical and personal contextualization Kaufmann provides. You'll find a lifetime's worth to think about in Nietzsche's work and be glad someone as intelligent and compassionate as Walter Kaufmann made it so easy to access.
Book Description
In the middle years of the ninth-century, the fierce Danes stormed onto British soil, hungry for spoils and conquest. Kingdom after kingdom fell to the ruthless invaders until but one realm remained. And suddenly the fate of all England—and the course of history—depended upon one man, one king.
From New York Times bestselling storyteller Bernard Cornwell comes a rousing epic adventure of courage, treachery, duty, devotion, majesty, love, and battle as seen through the eyes of a young warrior who straddled two worlds.
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"
From Bernard Cornwell, the
New York Times bestselling author whom the
Washington Post calls ""perhaps the greatest writer of historical adventure novels today,"" comes a saga of blood, rage, fidelity, and betrayal that brings to center stage King Alfred the Great, one of the most crucial (but oft-forgotten) figures in English history. It is King Alfred and his heirs who, in the ninth and tenth centuries, with their backs against the wall, fought to secure the survival of the last outpost of Anglo-Saxon culture by battling the ferocious Vikings, whose invading warriors had already captured and occupied three of England's four kingdoms.
Bernard Cornwell's epic novel opens in
A.D. 866. Uhtred, a boy of ten and the son of a nobleman, is captured in the same battle that leaves his father dead. His captor is the Earl Ragnar, a Danish chieftain, who raises the boy as his own, teaching him the Viking ways of war. As a young man expected to take part in raids and bloody massacres against the English, he grapples with divided loyalties -- between Ragnar, the warrior he loves like a father, and Alfred, whose piety and introspection leave him cold. It takes a terrible slaughter and the unexpected joys of marriage for Uhtred to discover his true allegiance -- and to rise to his greatest challenge.
In Uhtred, Cornwell has created perhaps his richest and most complex protagonist, and through him, he has magnificently evoked an era steeped in dramatic pageantry and historical significance. For if King Alfred fails to defend his last kingdom, England will be overrun, and the entire course of history will change.
"
Customer Reviews:
Action-packed, enthralling tale of the Danish and English ..........2007-10-14
Against the backdrop of the Danish invasion of England during the 870's, Cornwell introduces the fictional Uhtred - the latest son in several generations of sons by that name, who claim the right to rule Bebbanburg (Bamburgh Castle today). Uhtred is 10 when his father dies in battle and he is kidnapped by the Danes.
Eventually coming to love the family who kidnapped him, Uhtred stays with them until he is kidnapped again - this time by Alfred, King of the West Saxons - at around age 15/16. Through a series of manipulations, Alfred secures Ultred's loyalty. He becomes a warrior fighting for the king, but still dreaming of securing Bebbanburg.
While the fictional story takes precedence, Cornwell provides an overview of the history. Alfred is a sickly, pious man determined to hold his ground. The Danes are blood-thirsty warriors equally determined to conquer all the land they can. Other rulers throughout what is now England are weak. They fall to one or the other leaders.
THE LAST KINGDOM is the first in a promising series of books on the Saxons.
The Danes Commeth .......2007-10-10
What would you do if your lands were stolen, your father killed, and were taken prisoner by an invading barbarian army? I believe when doing the immense amount of research for this book, and the latter ones, Bernard Cornwell asked himself some of these questions.
I had read some really excellent historical fiction novels about the crusades when Amazon suggested The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell. Bernard Cornwell does an incredible job of pulling the reading immediately into the story, right in the prologue. The story is told in the first person by Uthred, son of Uthred, and so forth. He comes from the north, where his lands are taken, and his father slain, and his throne usurped by his uncle.
This novel, although told about the early life (This is part of a continuating series which is up to book 4) of Uthred, the story is really about King Alfred, later known as Alfred the Great, as he defends The Last Kingdom of England, Wessex. At the time England was divided into 4 kingdoms; which are each being invaded by the Danes from the North. Uthred gives in great, but flowing detail, his life growing up his new family, and "adopted" father Ragnar. As Uthred grows up, we see what is is like to be Pagan, and how literal God and Christianity was at the time. (I have no dissprect for anyone today, but at the time Faith was much more in Gods hands than I believe it is in our scientific times, today).
The story is extremely easy to read, and I find that I have a lot in common with Uthred. While Christianity is very boring from Uthred's eyes, being 10 years old, a boy does not wish to be on his knee's all day, but going out and seeing the world, learning how to fight, forge and shape steal, and learn about the Pagan Gods.
While the story is told from Uthred's point of view, about half way through we're introduced to Alfred, and it is from this point that we see the destinies of Uthred and Alfred are closely tied.
Readers will not be disappointed, as this story flows easily, and naturally, and once started, you won't be able to put it down.
A fascinating fictionalized portrayal of the Danish invasions and Saxon response.......2007-10-01
This is the first book in Cornwell's Saxon Chronicles, which consists of four books and has at least one more coming. The Last Kingdom features warfare, cross-cultural encounters, romance, humor, religion, politics, and revenge. We meet our hero, Uhtred, when he is a child. He becomes involved in the wars between his own people and the Danes. This leads to his being raised by the Danes and with their values, but he never forgets his homeland; he is the rightful king of othe area in which he grew up but his uncle has usurped the position for himself.
Uhtred meets Alfred, who is determined to unite the Saxons against the Danes. Uhtred doesn't think much of him, but for various reasons finds himself entering Alfred's service even though his primary loyalty at this point is to the Danes and their gods. Arthur hopes to save his soul. For all of Uhtred's disrespect towards Alfred and Christianity, Alfred respects Uhtred as a warrior and thinks he is vital to saving the Saxon lands from the Danes. Uhtred, therefore, frequently has to re-evaluate his loyalties.
The characters are well written--so well that when characters mentioned in the first chapters are reintroduced towards the end, they are instantly recognizable and remembered. While many characters--such as Uhtred--are Cornwell's invention, many of the warlords who appear are historical and their engagements fit well within the historical context in which they actually occurred.
The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell.......2007-09-19
I've been working on a novel for the last four years or so that's been going pretty slowly. I've been doing it in chunks, mainly because it's historical fiction and involves a lot of research and I've essentially been getting stuck at some point and needing to research more before I can get started writing again. Now I'm at a point where I need to read a few books to complete the current research. The book was called The Ruin, though I recently changed the title to Wyrd, which is Anglo-Saxon for destiny. While the book is set in the fifth century in England and has characters that may turn out to be Arthurian (I'm not sure yet), the intention of the novel is to encompass the feel and texture of the Early Middle Ages, at a time when society was essentially beginning anew for this forgotten island.
When I started reading The Last Kingdom by one of my favorite authors I got the chilling feeling that Cornwell had done what I was trying to do with my book. And after finishing it, there's a lot in it that I can see coming out in my novel, and yet Wyrd will go in different directions and achieve different goals. Nevertheless, The Last Kingdom was a great book for anyone wanting to get a feel of the ninth century and what it was like for the Anglo-Saxons living there and having to deal with the invading Vikings who were trying to settle and do essentially what the Anglo-Saxons had done a couple of centuries before to the Britons. While the main character, Uhtred, is but a boy at the beginning and the narrator, our hero is Alfred the Great (the only British king ever to be called "the Great") and while I'm not sure how long the series is going to be, the reader will see Alfred grow up and become the great king that earned him the title. I'm quite familiar with Alfred's history and life and how he emulated Charlemagne in a lot of ways, and it's really enjoyable to see this fictionalized account from one of my favorite authors, which has been well researched, and to see these historical characteristics in the people in the book.
I will freely admit that Bernard Cornwell isn't exactly the most in depth and complex historical fiction writers, and his characters aren't always the fully developed real people they should be, but he still does the job well and gets his point across in giving the reader a look into this life, just as he did with his Grail series set in the Later Middle Ages, and his Arthur series. It's also the kind of book that anyone can pick up and get fully sucked into without getting confused or lost along the way with heavy history and jargon. Cornwell is also sure to point out as much of the native languages as he can, with plenty of translations, to clarify it all.
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Dervel's return..........2007-08-27
Cornwell takes the old stones of history and fills in the gap with a mortar of boyish fantasy. Ever wonder what the steps in making a medieval sword were? Ever wonder how they got the charcoal? Ever wonder how the Danes constructed their ships? Well, that last one is the only one not answered or described in (too much?) detail. Nice for history addicts (ie me) but the general audience might tend to yawn through those parts of the story.
This first book is okay but Uhtred resembles Dervel in too many ways. And the story seems to drag. The Warlord series consisted of 6 shield walls, 2 in each book. It feels like this is book 4.
That said the action picks up at the end of the book but again, Uhtred's coming to Alfred who has been given a bogus story from Odda resembles Dervel's return to Arthur who has been given Lancelot's bogus story about St. Michel or whatever it was called in Warlords. Anyway, the beginning of the second book makes up for this short coming where we get to see a young noble start to build up his forces starting with nothing but debt. It's fun. In fact, it is every boy's fantasy of being a knight, lord, pirate, arrogant bastard nicknamed 'the Wicked'. And it is a little more realistic that this is how a man would develop having been taught to murder as a child and it is a pleasant deviation from the nauseatingly perfect Dervel.
That said, Alfred wasn't named 'Great' for nothing and Cornwell seems to question whether he deserved the title. There is a possibility that Alfred had Crohne's disease, however, honestly, how would a man accomplish so much with such a debilitating disease (I've known people who have suffered from Crohne's) in a time when it couldn't be treated at all (I'm pretty sure they didn't know to remove the scarred parts of his digestive tract let alone be able to prescribe anti-inflammatories). That said Alfred was a fan of the Christian church so of course Cornwell will make him into being a sniveling pansie while most of those priests around him are money grubbing careerists. I'm guessing the Hammer and the Captain were also sniveling men in Cornwell's eyes, because no where in the five books I've read has there been a character resembling the popular characterization of those men. *shrugs*
Book Description
A lively portrait of a tumultuous period replete with conflict and strife, political intrigue and shifting alliances, assassinations and coronations.
Emma, one of England's most remarkable queens, made her mark on a nation beset by Viking raiders at the end of the Dark Ages, a period often neglected by conventional history. At the center of a triangle of Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans all jostling for control of England, Emma was a political pawn who became a power broker and an unscrupulous manipulator. By birth a Norman, Emma spent the majority of her life on English soil. She was married to two kings of England and outlived both; she was twice driven into exile; while mourning the untimely loss of one son, she was devastated by the murder of another; she saw two of her sons crowned; she was stripped of her powers when her eldest son became king; and she eventually retired from public life as a dowager queen whose land and wealth had been restored. Regarded by her contemporaries as a generous Christian patron, a regent admired by her subjects, and a Machiavellian mother, Emma was, above all, a survivor: hers was a life marked by dramatic reversals of fortune.
Customer Reviews:
VERY INTERESTING. IT MEET MY NEEDS. .......2007-06-05
There are a couple of facts we need to remember when reading this particular book. First, and this is important, it, the book, is not a Doctorial Thesis and it is not written as such. This is a popular historical work, meant to inform, but at the same time, to entertain. Secondly, I too, like a couple of other reviewers, was a bit disappointed that more was not written about the main character, Emma, her personal life, etc. This leads to the second fact we must remember. Source documents from this era, in particular personal histories, are very, very hard to come by. Most documents from this time have simply disappeared, have been destroyed, or are lost in some historical black hole. This being said and this being remembered, as the book is being read, might help.
The author has given us a fascinating look into the life and politics during the latter part of the first century. A very troubled time for England, and indeed, most of Europe. True, she, the author, does not go into the depth of her subject as many of us would like, but as I have stated, the author had very few source documents of refer to. This work is done in the "popular mode," and is quite readable. The author has taken great pains to let us know when she is stating documented facts and when she drifts into the realm of speculation. This is important to understand what the author is trying to do. I found the author's style far from dry, considering the subject matter. Queen Emma was indeed a complex and fascinating woman and the author has gone to great lengths to bring this across.
This is one of those book I like to call a "tickler," or "seed book." It gives information to those who are interested in a subject, but not fanatical about it. My primary interest is in New World History, but I do like to know where we came from. Works such as this give me as much information as I need for my purposes. Granted, if I were doing a research paper, or was extremely interested in the subject, I would indeed want more. As it stands though, this work gave me a wonder glance into those days and times. Now that I have this information, I find I do have an interest and this work has "tickled" me into checking other works out. This is a good thing. Perhaps one day I could land a nice juicy government grant, travel to England, and check out some of the source documents myself. Would not that be fun!
All in all, I found the work to be very well done, enjoyable to read and quite helpful. I do recommend this one for any individual interested in those days and times and the Queen Emma.
High quality popular history-biography.......2007-06-04
Emma of Normandy was the daughter of Richard I and his Danish "handfast" wife, Gunnor, whose origins are obscure. She married Aethelred II of England, was widowed, and married the Danish invader, Canute the Great the next year. One of her sons by each husband subsequently ruled England. She also became the mother-in-law of Henry III of Germany and was the great-aunt of William the Conqueror. But Emma wasn't the typical royal spouse. She learned how to wield power, played an expert political game, and suffered the failings of greed and scandal. Because of her wide and deep connections between the conquering Danes and Normans and the conquered English, this lively, well-written volume is more than a biography. Though the author is a journalist rather than an academic, she has produced a popular history with thorough source citations that is well worth the reading.
The Title Contains the Name EMMA, But Where's EMMA??.......2007-06-02
If you like Medieval history and the history of continuous Viking raids on England, maybe you'll find this book enjoyable. For me, it was a huge disappointment. The author appears to have no concrete evidence about Queen Emma's public or private life, reign, whereabouts during specific periods in British history, children, marriages, or anything else surrounding the book's main topic. Although a short read, it is dry and without enthusiasm. The book's main subject, Emma, is incidental throughout the entire "biography." Emma happened to be the English queen during Viking raids and that's about it. There is plenty of guess-work on the part of the author about what Emma might have done, might have seen, might have said or read, but there's nothing solid or concrete. There are, however, some interesting insights into Medieval life at the time of Emma's reign but that's about it.
Very enjoyable -- could have been deeper.......2006-12-23
The century or two leading up to the Norman Conquest is a favorite historical period for me, and I've read a number of books balanced roughly on the fulcrum of the year 1000, give or take. And Ms. O'Brien's was a very worthwhile addition to them. Like another reviewer, though, I wished for more on Emma -- or Aelfgifu as the Anglo-Saxons called her. Still, the book was quite a worthwhile and well-written portrait of the times and the characters involved in those fateful years.
And I still say Harold got a raw deal. Arrow in the eye (at least, according to the Bayeux Tapestry) -- that's gotta hurt! ;)
Twice Crowned Queen; Twice a Queen Mother.......2006-12-11
It's clear that Emma didn't passively attain this distinction. How did she do it? The records for the era are hardly extensive, so the biographer has a lot of work to do.
O'Brien did the work and has produced a solid bio. I particularly liked the parts on how Emma commissioned her book and how the assigned monk may have constructed her spin on history. I also liked the chronological chart at the end which sets Emma and her time within not just a European timeline, but also a worldwide framework.
The amount of research that goes into a volume like this is to be respected, but I held back a star because the question of how Queen Emma made her comebacks is only technically answered. You do not get the feeling you understand Emma the way you come to understand the central characters in a Fraser or Weir biography.
Book Description
Uhtred is a Saxon, cheated of his inheritance and adrift in a world of fire, sword, and treachery. He has to make a choice: whether to fight for the Vikings, who raised him, or for King Alfred the Great of Wessex, who dislikes him.
In the late ninth century, Wessex is the last English kingdom. The rest have fallen to the Danish Vikings, a story told in The Last Kingdom, the New York Times bestselling novel in which Uhtred's tale began. Now the Vikings want to finish England. They assemble the Great Army, whose one ambition is to conquer Wessex. A dispossessed young nobleman, married to a woman who hails from Wessex, Uhtred has little love for either, though for King Alfred he has none at all. Yet fate, as Uhtred learns, has its own imperatives, and when the Vikings attack out of a wintry darkness to shatter the last English kingdom, Uhtred finds himself at Alfred's side.
Bernard Cornwell's The Pale Horseman, like The Last Kingdom, is rooted in the real history of Anglo-Saxon England. It tells the astonishing and true story of how Alfred, forced to become a fugitive in a few square miles of swampland, fights his enemies against overwhelming odds. The king is a pious Christian, while Uhtred is a pagan. Alfred is a sickly scholar, while Uhtred is an arrogant warrior. Yet the two forge an uneasy alliance that will lead them out of the marshes to the stark hilltop where the last remaining Saxon army will fight for the very existence of England.
Enthralling as both a historical and personal story, The Pale Horseman is a novel of divided loyalties and desperate heroism, featuring a cast of fully realized characters, from a king in despair to a beguiling British sorceress. And always, beyond the spearmen and the swordsmen are the folk who suffer as the tides of war sweep over their farmlands. From Bernard Cornwell, the New York Times bestselling author whom the Washington Post calls "perhaps the greatest writer of historical adventure novels today," The Pale Horseman is yet another masterpiece of historical and battle fiction that gives life to one of the most important and exciting epochs in the history of the English people and culture.
Customer Reviews:
The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell.......2007-09-19
In The Pale Horseman (sequel to The Last Kingdom), Bernard Cornwell surges on with his series on the life of Alfred the Great, but not simply with a furthering of the plot, but some clear development in both story, character, and the whole point Cornwell is trying to make with this series.
In Pale Horseman we now learn that our hero from the last book, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, while just as skilled in his knowledge of languages, way with words, as well as his ability with his trusty sword - Serpent-breath - is actually not that great of a guy. When he has to spend time at home with his child and pious wife who wants him to be a good Christian, he treats them with disdain and instead goes off with his buddies on one of Alfred's ships, kills a lot of people, and steals considerable amounts of wealth, as well as kidnapping his very own pagan sorceress. While the pathetic excuse for this case can be made that "it's what men did back then," I find it an admirable move by Cornwell to make the protagonist out to be a character that most would find at the least disreputable. But ultimately these facets of Uhtred's character only serve to make him more believable, which is certainly a critique of the characters in Cornwell's other works.
At the same time, he magnificently captures the feel of the period. Here you have the Saxons trying to defend their country (which they invaded just four hundred years before and occupied) against the Vikings and Danes who all but succeed in their conquering of Britain. Cornwell even goes on to say in his elucidating "author's note" that if it weren't for Alfred's decision, when all seemed lost, to still fight back and win, that Cornwell would be telling this story in Danish. Whether you're a Saxon, a Viking, or a Briton; identity was something both questioned and sought after in this melting pot of a country. Cornwell cleverly reveals this with Uhtred's ability to speak many languages, as well as being often thought a Viking or a Briton, but not a Saxon, which he considers himself.
At the end when all that remains of Saxon Britain is a small area of marsh in Wessex, Alfred unites his people who end up banding together from all areas of the surrounding country, and manages to defeat and push the Vikings out of his land, making Wessex the one strong remaining Saxon place left in all Britain. It was with this victory that Alfred earned the title "great." The book ends with the future knowledge and hope that Alfred the Great will begin taking back the rest of Britain and pushing the Vikings out for good.
For more book reviews, and other writings, go to [....]
Big disappointment...Big.......2007-09-12
This thing just ain't cut out from the same cloth as the Last Kingdom. It starts out with Uhtred losing a lifetime opportunity b'coz he wants to go home and shag his wife, who he dumps for the nunnery later anyway. I like Uhtred and his attitude, but this book is really uneventful.
Take my advice. Don't buy it. Bernie's rich. Doesn't need our charity. I donated the book to a kid in Afghanistan.
Intense, involving and brilliant.......2007-08-12
Bernard Cornwell has that unique gift--a gritty, hard-hitting, involving ability to credibly place a reader back in another time. He does this by driving exciting stories with well-drawn, complex and growing characters. I enjoy all of Bernard's work, but in particular feel the intensity of his first-person POV novels, notably the fabulous "Arthur" books -- The Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur -- and now in magnificent form in the "Saxon Chronicles" or the "history" of Alfred the Great. In this second book he brings classic Cornwell form by involving us in the great one's life through a flawed, conflicted main character Uhtred, rather than choosing the point of view of Alfred the Great. Where Uhtred was a boy in the first book, who grew to manhood -- an equally compelling story -- here, Uhtred is the man who must struggle with his love of the Northmen who raised him versus his birth-loyalty to his countrymen (the Saxons) and their driven King Alfred. The characters drive the action, not the other way around, and we truly come to enjoy being around Uhtred. First person is not a handicap in this tapestry, it is the secret of the success of this series, just as it was with the Arthur cycle. I'll read anything by Bernard Cornwell, but this has to be my favorite. Perhaps it's the period. This is the time when "civilization" emerged from the "dark ages" yet oddly the reader cheers for the "barbarians." The author holds nothing back, conveying the violence of the period, a convincing portrait of the religious confusion of the time, an oddly convincing portrayal of the great king who here, at least, is drawn as a bit of a religious fanatic who in spite of his weaknesses wins out. Brilliant story-telling.
Vikings Meet Saxons in Medieval England.......2007-07-18
For those with a liking for adventure, freebooting and viking raids, The Pale Horseman, Cornwell's second installment in his tale of the formation of England under King Alfred (known to posterity as "the Great") has it all. It's an energetic and fast paced narrative of the Saxon nobleman, Uhtred Uhtredsson, out of the old Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, who, after losing his freedom to Danish vikings and his ancestral holdings to a perfidious uncle, re-establishes himself, albeit with no little resentment, in the camp of King Alfred of Wessex, the last Saxon king still fighting the Danish invaders. England's history is rich with invasion and war, particularly at this early time, and Cornwell successfully mines it for good material.
Uhtred is not a highly sympathetic character, having been raised a viking by his Danish captors and being more interested in getting his own back than in the well being of those around him. Still, he is a convincingly realistic one. We have little reason to think that he would have been any less self-interested or brutal than the people and culture around him warranted. This tale, of course, is set in the early part of the viking age, at its height in fact, when Danish and Norse freebooters were swarming across the British Isles, grabbing what they could and killing whatever they couldn't take away with them. For those familiar with the later Icelandic saga literature which actually reflects a very different era, the level of violence and cruelty may come as a bit of a shock. But there's little reason to doubt that that's how it was and Cornwell presents it with panache. One may not like seeing Uhtred turn on his "allies" in a pinch but its believable and, as a character, he does maintain a kind of internal consistency and a certain sense of personal honor.
Essentially the hero of the tale is at odds with everyone at the outset though he will eventually find himself thrown into uncomfortable alliance with, and allegiance to, the dyspeptic Saxon king who is intent not only on hanging onto his own kingdom (for which he must defeat the predatory Danes) but in expanding his rule to unify the shattered remnants of the other broken Saxon kingdoms. This is as much a book about English history as about vikings and if you like fast paced adventure with well-drawn characters, Cornwell has provided it. It's a little weak in the seriousness department, being mostly a tale of action and scheming and fighting, but it is as tightly woven a narrative as one is likely to see, with nary a moment to take a breath. I liked this one better than its predecessor, The Last Kingdom, and based on this alone I'll probably read the third installment when I get the chance. On the other hand, I didn't much care for Uhtred because of his brutality and bloodlust, but he sort of grows on you -- and he is, after all, a creature of his times. More, it pays to remember that the Angles, Saxons and Jutes in their day weren't much better to the native Britons than the Danes were in this era to them. So, as they say, what goes around comes around.
Anyway, I'm not always a fan of Cornwell (I didn't like Winter King, the first installment in his three part Warlord Chronicles, based on the Arthurian era) but this time he's sold me and I'll be the one doing the buying after this, at least as far as the sequel to this one is concerned.
SWM
Saga: A Novel Of Medieval Iceland
The Golden Warrior: The Story of Harold and William
Eric Brighteyes: The Works of H. Rider Haggard
Styrbiorn the Strong
Two Ravens
The King of Vinland's Saga
Book 2 continues in good form. Eager for books 3 & 4!.......2007-07-13
Uhtred, born a Northumbrian, raised a Dane, serving the king of Wessex against the Danes, some of whom who he has fought along side in his past. Such is the life of a 10th century warrior.
This book continues the SAXON CHRONICLES, following book one, "The Last Kingdom". Although I would recommend that anyone reading this should read the first book, I would not say that it is absolutely necessary; but why skip book one when the story is so good?
This book finds Uhtred, the rightful Ealdorman of a county that was taken from him when he was a boy and his father died. Uhtred was taken captive by the Danes (the Vikings) and raised by a Danish warrior named Ragnar. Uhtred grew with only two goals, to become a warrior like his adoptive father Ragnar, and to take back his land from his uncle who stole the territory when Uhtred's father died.
The entire story is actually used to tell the story of Alfred the Great, the king who saved what is now England, from the Danes who would have taken control of the entire island.
This is wonderful historical fiction and I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoyed Bernard Cornwell's ARTHUR or GRAIL TRILOGIES. Mr. Cornwell is a master storyteller, weaving historical facts with fictional characters to tell an interesting and educational tale about our oft forgotten past.
The middle ages, the dark ages, are my favorite historical period, and this captures that period beautifully; it is descriptive as needed, but not bogged down with trite details.
This, as was the first book, is wonderful. I am eager to begin book three, "Lords of the North" and know that I will be on pins-and-needles as I await the release of book four in the series, "Sword Song", which is due to be released in October 2007 in the UK and in January 2008 in the US.
Customer Reviews:
Very grateful for this book!.......2007-01-10
As a person very attracted to the colors & shapes of Viking Glass, I have enjoyed this book immensley! I have been able to identify most all pieces in my collection from this book and learned about new patterns, colors, shapes to look for in the future! I'm also looking forward to seeing a new book that covers 70's & beyond! Hope he's working on one! Thank you Dean Six!
Stunning and Informative.......2004-03-19
As a glass collecting enthusiast I have read my share of collecting books through the years, and I have to say that this is the most visually appealing and informative books I have ever read. Viking made beatiful and colorful pieces of glass, and Dean Six's book captures the beauty of the glass while putting the pieces in a logical and historical context.
I highly recommend this book not only for the serious Viking collector, but for anyone who collect glass, is interested in history or enjoys a beautiful decorative arts book.
Glorious color and design mark virtually every page.......2004-01-14
Beautifully compiled by Dean Six, the Schiffer edition of Viking Glass 1944-1970 is a superbly organized and presented collector's price guide enhanced with more 520 color photographs of the exceptional, painstakingly handmade glassware produced by the Viking Glass Company of New Martinsville, West Virginia from 1944 to 1970. Glorious color and design mark virtually every page of this beautiful display volume which will prove an invaluable reference for professional dealers and dedicated collectors.
Book Description
Our Troth is the single most comprehensive book available on the reborn religion of Heathenry -- the pre-Christian religion of the Germanic peoples. First published in 1993 but out of print for years, Our Troth is back in print, featuring updates and additions from its original compiler, Kveldulf Gundarsson, and from many other Heathen writers, all edited by well-known author Diana L. Paxson. Volume 1 covers the history and lore of Heathen religion, from its deepest Stone Age roots to its flowering today, with information on the Gods, Goddesses, and other beings that receive honor and worship, and the ethics of being Heathen.
Customer Reviews:
Our Troth 1.......2007-09-07
This is a great book for anyone interested in Heathenry,it covers SO MUCH and I was very impressed with how everything is sourced and the scholorly work that was put into making the book. I was also happy to be able to get exposed to so many different excellent heathen author's, as this book contains many. I just received Volume 2 in the mail today and I look forward to reading it.
Must have for those who wish to read of Northern European and Germanic Culture and religion.......2007-08-14
This book is an amazing and well thought out explanation of the Northern and Germanic culture and religions from as far back as is possible with historical data. I would personally recommend that anyone interested in History, Culture, or Religion from these areas should buy this book. It is neatly organized into sections that can be read independantly of each other but is best read all together. The amazing amount of detailed work and effort put into this is work is amazing. The detail available is great but it can sometimes feel overwhelming to read and absorb. None the less I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the topics addressed in it, it is surely a new way of looking at things.
DISAPPOINTING.......2007-07-05
I thought this was going to be an update of Teutonic Religion, or a continuation. All it is, is a re-examination of the Norse pantheon. It's well done, I admit that. It just isn't anything new.
A good investment.......2007-06-26
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in a good reference of both heathen history and worldveiw. The book takes a very indepth look at the history of the religion, from it's earliest existance to the coming of the christian conversion and into modern practice. It explores the individual gods and goddesses in great detail, and would be worth the investment just for that. It also takes a thorough look at the heathen world veiw, including the afterlife, spirits, and fate, to name a few. I found it be fair and unbaised, also very well researched, clearly siting refrences, and often quoting applicable lore. A must have for anyone seriously studying Asatru or heathenry.
Most Informative, not a lot of christian hatred. .......2007-04-05
This book is the most informative book on Asatru that I have found.
It has in depth information on each of the Gods and Goddesses compiled in an easy to read sensible manner. The history is the deepest that I have yet read, discussing indivdual words from the PIE language with variations for different areas.
There are notes on historical methods of honoring the Gods, as well as modern day practices.
Great discussion on death, afterlife, and rebirth; though I still think Thorsson's book is a little more in depth on this subject.
Excellent book.
Book Description
Modern-Day Vikings is a window into contemporary Sweden. True to its title, the book traces many of Sweden's cultural traits back to its Viking heritage: self-sufficiency, fairness, egalitarianism, and democracy. But this just scratches the surface; the authors also examine the famous "cradle-to-grave" social democracy and the social and economic challenges brought on by immigration and other twenty-first century changes. Robinowitz and Carr explore the values underlying modern Swedish culture, such as lagom (moderation), the law of Jante (personal modesty), communication styles, and business practices. A most enjoyable chapter is "The Seasons and their Power," where readers get a glimpse of the "complete Swede" as characterized by the four seasons especially the Summer Swede.
Customer Reviews:
Fun book for Swedes.......2006-03-13
I am a Swedish citizen who has lived in the US for almost 20 years. I go home to Sweden regularly and feel that I am still Swedish. This book was most enjoyable to me as I recognized many "features" of the Swede. I laughed out loud many times. My husband, who is American, knows Swedish and has also lived in Sweden. He enjoyed the book too and we found ourselves reading parts of chapter out loud to each other. One of my supervisors has Swedish ancestry and I bought the book for him. He has a slightly different take on the book. He likes it but looks at it from a more serious and investigative perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how people in the world look at the world.
Useful for Appreciating Swedes.......2005-12-02
This one is a keeper. I bought it after living in Sweden for a bit over 4½ years. There were things about living in Sweden that I was having trouble appreciating; sometimes there was an underlying "cultural current" that wouldn't decode for me. After the first read, Robinowitz & Carr's book gave me some more pieces to the puzzle I was holding. Subsequent readings have added more pieces.
I strongly recommend purchase of your own copy of this book for reference and note-taking. Any culture is a set of unwritten rules. The authors have done an excellent job of capturing much of that which is unwritten. The book starts with a brief history of Sweden - which helps to give a perspective on modern Swedes and Swedish culture. In following chapters they go on to give a good overview of modern Sweden and some of the more visible aspects of Swedish culture. A part about the Swedish flag is typical of the kind of information they give (Swedes seem to use their flag to declare their Swedish identity in contrast, Americans might be said to give the US flag a loyalty). The chapter on a cultural value/belief/behavior called "Jantelagen" was particularly valuable as it helped me to better understand behaviors and to "release the right responses" during the course of daily living activities (Edward T. Hall writes about releasing the right responses in "Understanding Cultural Differences").
Other chapters give clear and easy to read descriptions of a number of important social and business values, beliefs and behaviors. I figure that the amount I spent on this book is nothing in comparison to the value it has returned. Time invested in reading has saved me time later as I more quickly understood unspoken parts of "messages". If you're going to have more than a superficial, touristy kind of contact with Swedes - in Sweden or anywhere else in the world - you'll likely be glad for the advice this book offers.
Long live 'Logom'!.......2005-10-02
I picked this book up when I started dating a Swede and was pleasently surprised (both by the book and the girl!). Since Swedes generally speak very good english it's often easy to forget that they do have differnt traditions and culture. The book is a great introduction to some of those differences and leads to a lot of fun conversations.
I skipped the chapter on business dealings but the rest of the book was well worth the price.
The Swedish delight of getting things in the right proportio.......2005-01-18
Lagom bok. Writing a book is easy. Getting it "just right" is the hard part. Lagom, as the authors of Modern-Day Vikings tell us is the Swedish delight of getting things in the right proportion, including what is fitting and appropriate, no more, no less, and, in this case, writing a bok about one's people without being either overbearing or falsely modest.
Not too many of us, I suspect, have learned Swedish history other than as an appendix to what other great powers were about in times past. So the authors have been kind enough to sketch on the canvas of a single chapter the flow of events that take us from prehistory through Viking times to the unique, modern day Swedish model of society.
History helps us understand culture and behavior and even allows us to see what triggers the stereotypes we acquire about others. "Sex, suicide, socialism and spirits," as the authors point out, are the false headlines most of us have absorbed about Swedes because we had so little familiarity with the real article. A Swedish friend of mine in her 50's complains that living in France she is still looked on as a svenska flicka ("loose Swedish girl") by some-not by me, of course. Too many Bergman films in my youth have left me still surprised to find so many cheery Swedes.
We learn how Modern Day Vikings value themselves and their history. Swedes appreciate modesty and above all, equality to a fault. They have wholesome homegrown virtues to bring to the marketplace of cultures, and, like all peoples in the great modern global exchange, these are being weighed and measured by the world of competition and the challenge of sustainability. In particular the Swedish smörgasbord of values is being rearranged by a new generation who are leading their country and the world in world-class digital entrepreneurship.
As for the welfare state, that has brought so many to exclaim, "It would never work here," they are probably right. There is a time and place for everything and the time and place for this unique social triumph was Sweden in the middle 1900's. The challenges of immigration and multiculturalism are taxing this system and calling for a fresh wave of creativity in Swedish politics. There are no easy solutions, but one suspects that the Swedish combination of fairness and self-sufficiency will express themselves in fresh socially responsible solutions.
Readers who want to get to the do's and don't's of living and working with Swedes will be amply rewarded in the second half of the book, particularly if they are patient with the first half. They will look at Swedish communication styles manners and business behaviors with far more insight having delved into the authors' careful descriptions and illustrations of Swedish values in action, which like the nordic seasons have both bright and equally dark sides. Going to work or going to dinner, there is no shortage of solid prescription and attention to detail. Robinowitz and Carr are careful to simplify what can be simplified, identify rules where they exist, and to point out, that, as in any culture, taking a good look at what the other guests are doing can help you figure out whether to take your shoes off or not.
Finally, you don't have to be on your way to Sweden to have an excuse to read this book. Robinowitz and Carr, whose rich experience of Swedish culture comes from both living inside of it and seeing it at a distanc have made Modern Day Vikings a good book to curl up with in any season.
really hits the mark.......2004-04-28
I know Lisa Carr from the SWEDE-L listserver discussion list so I had heard good things about it while it was being written. I got my own copy right before I visited the land of my grandparents. I read it while I was over there and it gave me excellent insights as to things I observed. It also gave me an insight into my own character because of attitudes that must have been passed down the generations. I highly recommend it for people visiting there because it will enhance their trip. It would also be useful for Swedes visiting the U.S.
Customer Reviews:
Jam-packed with great information!.......2001-11-14
You can spend five minutes or five hours at a sitting with this gem. Even a casual browse through a few pages will teach you something you didn't know about Vikings. A must for anybody studying Norse culture, and a valuable addition to their collections.
Avert Your Eyes Europhobes........2001-10-29
-
A cultural atlas presents its readers with a tremendous amount of information. Even a casual browsing through this work reveals enough information to provide the seeker of knowledge with a firm grasp on the history, geography, and culture of the efficient, effective "Warriors of the North" known as Vikings or Northmen.
This atlas explains and defines the Viking Age, beginning in the 8th century and ending in the 11th century with the creation of the Scandinavian nations of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. These tall, blonde, blue-eyed Vikings also left their mark on lands from North America, across Europe into Russia -- which was named for the Rus, a Swedish tribe -- and into the Byzantine Empire of Asia Minor and beyond. The Vikings endowed the Europeans who followed them with the Viking genes for bravery, impudence, physical beauty, and intelligence, genes which Viking warriors spread widely in the Northern Hemisphere.
The compilers of this work, edited by James Graham-Campbell, present the reader with a plethora of charts, maps, and captioned photographs illustrating and enriching cogent expository text.
Everyone on the planet, ... will recognize this book as a valuable tool in the study of a great European people.
A great resource for the big picture.......1997-07-10
I love this book. It has lots of maps and illustrations. Best of all it covers the entire gamut of the Viking universe. It is a wonderful resource for getting your head around the big picture of the Viking age. I have researched Viking Age history for years now and this is one of the BEST books I have ever found
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