Sword Song (The Saxon Chronicles, Book 4) | Bernard Cornwell

Sword Song (The Saxon Chronicles, Book 4) | Bernard Cornwell | Sword Song

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Sword Song (The Sa...

	Sword Song (The Saxon Chronicles, Book 4) Bernard Cornwell Harper, 2008 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 45 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Sword Song

SWORD SONG: THE BATTLE FOR LONDON BY BERNARD CORNWELL: We last left Uhtred, in Lords of the North, apparently an ally with King Alfred, while the Vikings were making a very successful takeover of England, making it seem like there was little hope left for Alfred and his Saxon people. But Alfred has God on his side, and feels he will be ultimately victorious; Uhtred on the other hand, a pagan, cares little for this Christian religion, but is still a little unsure of where his allegiances lie.

While the first three of the Saxon Chronicles gave little hope and direction for Uhtred, in Sword Song, he has more to fight for with a wife and child, and another baby on the way. The old Roman town of London, an important one with its link to the Thames, has been taken over by the Vikings. If Alfred gives them London, Wessex is next and soon there will be little left to defend and England will be a Viking nation. So Alfred charges Uhtred with this great task to use the Saxon army, as well as his own loyal men, and take back London.

At this point Uhtred is an warrior and a great leader in a shield wall. But with the siege of London, he must mount an attack from the Thames, using ships and men. It will involve all his previous experience of battle, as well as appeasing both the Saxon army, and his own Northmen. His plan is to appear as an ally to the Vikings upon reaching London which, with his history, is a possibility, but then to spring the trap and take back the pivotal town. The question is whether Uhtred will live up to his side of the bargain, with his loyalty being challenged. Coupled with this is Aethelflæd, Alfred's daughter, who has been recently kidnapped and is being held somewhere in London by a Viking lord; her life must be protected at all costs.

Sword Song jumps the bestselling series one big step forward, with this pivotal battle in the creation of the nation of England and its people. Ending on a cliffhanger, Cornwell skillfully leaves fans having to wait another whole year until they can get the next important chapter in the story of Alfred the Great.

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Sword Song

Bernard Cornwell yet again

1. Proves that he can still write
2. The Saxons can still fight
3. And that Uhtred still has a long way to go before he can get home.

Overall-Hope to see more of this series in the future.

' I was death come from the morning.'

'Sword Song' is set in a 9th century England divided between the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south and the Danish kingdom of the north.

As in the preceding three novels, Uhtred dominates this story. While his heroic actions are generally physical, his capacity to analyse situations and act quickly endow him with some very attractive leadership qualities. I enjoy the action in these novels and while I have a different mental picture of Alfred the Great, I can accept the picture as painted through Uhtred's eyes.

These are good novels in an historical setting, and breathe life into a time long past.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Note: this review was first posted for the hardcover edition on 26/11/2007

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Uhtred is Inexorable

Fate is Inexorable. Cornwell repeats this phrase throughout this novel; it's one of the driving themes behind all the tales in the series. And if Fate is indeed inexorable, then our hero, Uhtred, is a perfect example of a man who could easily be described in the same terms. Uhtred follows his own conscience, and he refuses to give in in the face of defeat. He is a force of nature, exasperating and determined, and always ready for a fight.

The fourth novel in the series, Sword Song follows Uhtred as he renews his oath to King Alfred, thus ensuring that Uhtred will defend Lundene (London) from the Vikings. Uhtred is definitely torn in his loyalties, but ultimately he realizes that his word is binding and he must help his baleful cousin Ethelred secure the city. Meanwhile, Uhtred worries over both his wife, Gisela, who is pregnant, and Ethelflaed, the young daughter of Alfred who has married the arrogant Ethelred. The fight scenes are plentiful and gory, and the story is enlivened with the elderly Uhtred's ruminations on the events that took place long ago.

While not quite as intense or thrilling as the previous two novels, Sword Song is a well-built action novel that ultimately has a humanistic core. Uhtred is one of the better heroes in historical fiction today; always true to himself and his ideals, sarcastic and hot-headed, a man to be counted on. I will be eagerly awaiting the next entry in this excellent series.

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