What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Kingdom #1-4
The Saxon Tales 4 Book Collection
A collection of the first four installments of Bernard Cornwell’sseries chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit BBC America television series.
This ebook collection includes The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman, Lords of the North, and Sword Song.
This ebook collection includes The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman, Lords of the North, and Sword Song.
1502 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2014
632 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Cornwell
537 books19.1k 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 8, 2024
We watched the television series based on these books, but, as is almost always the case, the books are better. Cinematic creations cannot compare with the visions in our heads as we read.
January 4, 2020
WONDERFUL SERI3S
I must add this series to my home library. Such wonderful characters and world building. I may have to read these again in the future.
I must add this series to my home library. Such wonderful characters and world building. I may have to read these again in the future.
April 1, 2020
So, I’m just gonna make this short and sweet...Un-F’n-believable...💯%. Thank you for your time 😆😊
April 22, 2023
I recommend reading this series of books while on vacation. The stories move fast, they are well written and vaguely have something to do with the history of the British isles, the Vikings, Danes and Norsemen in the 9th and 10th centuries. The author has a sense of humor and is a naughty boy, poking fun at the Christian religion which he clearly does not think highly of. I enjoyed every minute of it. Pagans are admired in the book as are the Vikings despite causing endless mayhem. That's to be expected, though, they are after all fierce warriors, almost to a man. There is no shortage of tall tales, manly talk, womenly women and fierce battles. I'm on vacation for three weeks and have been highly entertained by Cornwell's vivid imagination. Don't waste time on the Netflix series which is not nearly as much fun.
March 5, 2021
We have collected the entire series and go back to them to refresh the memories of the stories. The writing is coherent, the historical events are legitimate, and the characters are compelling. We have also enjoyed the Netflix series but the books are richer and more complex. For what it is worth, we have also read a number of Cornwell's other series and enjoyed them as well. While I am pretty sure some of this time period was covered in high school, Cornwell's narration brings it all to life. and who can resist tales of kings, vikings, and heroes, all mixed up and making a nation?
November 2, 2025
I like this series. Funny how I came to know about it. I discovered on social media that Andy Stanley the founder of Northpoint Church in Atlanta like this series. I read the first one, which was excellent. and now I finished book 4. I love the main character.
The storyline in this book was filled with great battle scenes and touching relationships.
The storyline in this book was filled with great battle scenes and touching relationships.
April 7, 2019
I loved this series. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it. I saw the Netflix series and fell in love with the characters. Based loosely on history, I really enjoyed the adventures of all the characters. I loved the humor and voice of the author.
May 6, 2025
“Absolutely amazing…”
Absolutely amazing the boys loved the fighting but the girls loved the tiny hints of romance as well. After they saw the series all the seasons. I risked it but now the books are scattered between houses being read.
Absolutely amazing the boys loved the fighting but the girls loved the tiny hints of romance as well. After they saw the series all the seasons. I risked it but now the books are scattered between houses being read.
September 10, 2017
Stunning and Addictive
Not much to say other than these books are truly PHENOMENAL! I binged these books in a week....now on to books 5-10.
Not much to say other than these books are truly PHENOMENAL! I binged these books in a week....now on to books 5-10.
January 7, 2022
Ohh… if you Want Bang for your Buck this is for you. Full blown blast from the past. I loved the adventures and the glimpses of history. Cornwell is an excellent storyteller.
February 22, 2023
Viking stories just really do it for me. I love reading this series over the past few years because it really allows me to just keep returning to Uthred and the gang.
February 23, 2023
Love the Saxon tales
I like nooks where the heroes have flaws and struggles. Hatred fits this in Spades. Love all of his books.
I like nooks where the heroes have flaws and struggles. Hatred fits this in Spades. Love all of his books.
April 17, 2023
Fantastic
The characters are breathtaking, the history is superb and the pages fly by. What aseries!!! I have purchased the next 2 books already.
The characters are breathtaking, the history is superb and the pages fly by. What aseries!!! I have purchased the next 2 books already.
August 15, 2023
Historical fiction
This story is so interesting because of the foundation of history. Alfred and his line and t he birth of England.Utred thrown in is great.
This story is so interesting because of the foundation of history. Alfred and his line and t he birth of England.Utred thrown in is great.
sff-ok-ab-r
April 6, 2025Rokp
April 14, 2021
Riveting
This book lived up to the promise of the Series, and surpassed it. Great character development and plot lines kept me turning pages furiously until the end.
This book lived up to the promise of the Series, and surpassed it. Great character development and plot lines kept me turning pages furiously until the end.
June 21, 2017
I loved the whole Saxon Tales collection (aka The Last Kingdom series). Bernard Cornwell creates the most vivid battle scenes throughout the books. It's pretty gruesome at times, but I loved it! Good humor, great characters, great read and listen!
I would read and listen to audiobooks on and off throughout the series. I wasn't a fan of the audiobook narrated by Tom Sellwood (Book 3 Lords of the North).
Johnathan Keeble is awesome! He narrated the first two books.
I would read and listen to audiobooks on and off throughout the series. I wasn't a fan of the audiobook narrated by Tom Sellwood (Book 3 Lords of the North).
Johnathan Keeble is awesome! He narrated the first two books.
January 7, 2017
Intriguing
The tale of Uhtred is exciting both in the telling as well as in the richness of the history behind the tale.
The tale of Uhtred is exciting both in the telling as well as in the richness of the history behind the tale.
Read
January 19, 2019relatively straightforward yet very entertaining. towards the end of the series, the outcome is very obvious but the adventures are still enjoyable.
Read
August 15, 2018Great book
Loved it. The whole series is wonderful. I am on book 7 now. Can’t stop reading. Would definitely recommend the series.
Loved it. The whole series is wonderful. I am on book 7 now. Can’t stop reading. Would definitely recommend the series.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews