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Lords of the North: A Novel
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2009
142 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Cornwell
537 books19.2k followersCornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother, who was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his birth mother's maiden name, Cornwell.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 10, 2025
The best of the series so far, it benefits from the build up of the previous books and tells a tight story of climactic revenge. The lowest of lows and the highest of heights are equally represented here, and both familiar characters and new faces shine brightly.
December 10, 2024
⚔️🛡️👑
This is the best in the series so far, Uhtred has a ton of character development in this book. England with the Saxons and Danes is developing for the future, and I can’t wait for more in the story!
This is the best in the series so far, Uhtred has a ton of character development in this book. England with the Saxons and Danes is developing for the future, and I can’t wait for more in the story!
November 15, 2025
Lords of the North is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve ever read. Cornwell hits a perfect balance here: sharp, relentless storytelling paired with stunning prose that sticks with you long after you’ve put the book down.
What surprised me most was just how beautiful the writing could be. Cornwell’s descriptions of the world feel almost mythic at times…
“At sea, sometimes, if you take a ship too far from land and the wind rises and the tide sucks with a venomous force and the waves splinter white above the shield-pegs, you have no choice but to go where the gods will.
“The sail must be furled before it rips and the long oars would pull to no effect and so you lash the blades and bail the ship and say your prayers and watch the darkening sky and listen to the wind howl and suffer the rain’s sting, and you hope that the tide and waves and wind will not drive you onto rocks.”
Passages like that made me stop reading just to take them in. They felt philosophical without ever becoming abstract - grounded, vivid, and full of weight.
Cornwell also weaves in sharp bits of truth:
“but what chance does truth have when priests tell tales?”
And then, just as naturally, the book will swing into these perfectly timed moments of humor. The banter had me grinning more than once:
“I watched a goat vomit yesterday,” he said, “and what it threw up reminded me of you” … “I watched a goat shit yesterday,” I retorted, “and what it dropped reminded me of you.”
and
“When you are dead… I shall have your skin tanned and made into a saddle so I can spend the rest of my life farting on you.”
It’s that mix - lyrical prose, philosophical bite, and dark, grounded humor - wrapped inside a gripping story of revenge, loyalty, and survival, that makes this one stand out.
This book reminded me why I love historical fiction: when done right, it’s as immersive and emotionally charged as anything else out there. Lords of the North was a phenomenal experience, and easily one of my favorites.
What surprised me most was just how beautiful the writing could be. Cornwell’s descriptions of the world feel almost mythic at times…
“At sea, sometimes, if you take a ship too far from land and the wind rises and the tide sucks with a venomous force and the waves splinter white above the shield-pegs, you have no choice but to go where the gods will.
“The sail must be furled before it rips and the long oars would pull to no effect and so you lash the blades and bail the ship and say your prayers and watch the darkening sky and listen to the wind howl and suffer the rain’s sting, and you hope that the tide and waves and wind will not drive you onto rocks.”
Passages like that made me stop reading just to take them in. They felt philosophical without ever becoming abstract - grounded, vivid, and full of weight.
Cornwell also weaves in sharp bits of truth:
“but what chance does truth have when priests tell tales?”
And then, just as naturally, the book will swing into these perfectly timed moments of humor. The banter had me grinning more than once:
“I watched a goat vomit yesterday,” he said, “and what it threw up reminded me of you” … “I watched a goat shit yesterday,” I retorted, “and what it dropped reminded me of you.”
and
“When you are dead… I shall have your skin tanned and made into a saddle so I can spend the rest of my life farting on you.”
It’s that mix - lyrical prose, philosophical bite, and dark, grounded humor - wrapped inside a gripping story of revenge, loyalty, and survival, that makes this one stand out.
This book reminded me why I love historical fiction: when done right, it’s as immersive and emotionally charged as anything else out there. Lords of the North was a phenomenal experience, and easily one of my favorites.
February 21, 2025
best one yet. hands down. This book is just fun, with long awaited revenge, brutal besiegement and bloody warfare. Uhtred feels invincible now, but not void of defeat which keeps the reader on their toes. Great novel and I look forward to the next.
August 21, 2025
The Continuing Saga
I have to say that there were surprises in the storyline. I loved the loyalty of some of the main characters. The ruthlessness of some was astounding. There was many an instant where I could visualize the scene.
Thank you for the entertaining read.
I have to say that there were surprises in the storyline. I loved the loyalty of some of the main characters. The ruthlessness of some was astounding. There was many an instant where I could visualize the scene.
Thank you for the entertaining read.
February 12, 2025
Uhtred is so cool. And the beginning of his friendship with Finan was genuinely heartbreaking
September 28, 2025
The deeper I get into the series, the more I fall in love with Uthred all over again. This book really feels like the show, and I'm getting so excited for every next page!
January 6, 2026
Best of the series so far!
January 18, 2026
Already been said but yes, best of the series so far. Fate is inexorable. 🗡️
February 3, 2025
This is the best one yet!! The characters are becoming so much more complex and intriguing. The tension Uhtred feels between his Saxon heritage and his Danish upbringing is really starting to be fleshed out and drive the story. And the writing is just top notch. So vivid. It’s very easy to like these books and this one has captured me the most so far of the series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews