Bernard Cornwell Libri

Wessex meridionale, fine del IX secolo. Uhtred di Bebbanburg ha perso tutto: non ha più la sua amatissima moglie, morta durante il parto. Non ha più le sue terre, usurpate tempo addietro. Non ha più un re per cui combattere, perché Alfredo il Grande ormai è vecchio e malato, incapace di respingere gli invasori vichinghi e ossessionato dall'idea di convertire il mondo alla fede cristiana. Uhtred di Bebbanburg non ha più nulla per cui vivere, eppure c'è qualcosa che gli impedisce di lasciarsi morire. Qualcosa che da sempre è dentro di lui. È la furia del guerriero. Una furia pagana, nata fra i danesi che lo hanno addestrato all'arte della guerra e coltivata sugli innumerevoli campi di battaglia che ha calcato. Ora la sua furia ha un obiettivo preciso: reclamare Bebbanburg, la fortezza che gli spetta di diritto e che suo zio possiede in spregio alla legge e agli dei. Ora Uhtred combatterà per se stesso e per il suo destino, il destino di un guerriero nato.

Wessex meridionale, fine del IX secolo. Uhtred di Bebbanburg ha perso tutto: non ha più la sua amatissima moglie, morta durante il parto. Non ha più le sue terre, usurpate tempo addietro. Non ha più un re per cui combattere, perché Alfredo il Grande ormai è vecchio e malato, incapace di respingere gli invasori vichinghi e ossessionato dall'idea di convertire il mondo alla fede cristiana. Uhtred di Bebbanburg non ha più nulla per cui vivere, eppure c'è qualcosa che gli impedisce di lasciarsi morire. Qualcosa che da sempre è dentro di lui. È la furia del guerriero. Una furia pagana, nata tra i danesi che lo hanno addestrato all'arte della guerra e coltivata sugli innumerevoli campi di battaglia che ha calcato. Ora la sua furia ha un obiettivo preciso: reclamare Bebbanburg, la fortezza che gli spetta di diritto e che suo zio possiede in spregio alla legge e agli dei. Ora Uhtred combatterà per se stesso e per il suo destino, il destino di un guerriero nato.

Nono secolo dopo Cristo. La terra degli Angli è dominata da un fragile regno di guerrieri sassoni retto dal pio re Alfredo. Uhtred, erede legittimo del titolo di aldermanno di Bebbanburg, ha combattutto duramente per il suo re. Ma la gloria, la famiglia, l'onore acquisiti non lo soddisfano e, forse, stregato dalla bella Iseult, vorrebbe tornare a solcare i mari. Punito dal suo re, Uhtred si ritrova in un continuo sovvertimento di fronti, tra amici che diventano nemici e spietati rivali ancora più feroci. Davanti a una nuova invasione danese, però, l'onore gli impone di tornare accanto ad Alfredo. Si scatena così il conflitto finale per riconquistare il Wessex e porre le fondamenta per quel Paese che diventerà l'Inghilterra.

È il 1807 e un tenente torna in Inghilterra dopo aver combattuto a Trafalgar,dove l'eroismo dimostrato gli è valso una promozione: la sua carriera sembra comunque essere giunta a punto morto, tanto che il giovane tenente sta meditando di lasciare l'esercito. Poi, improvvisamente, un vecchio amico gli propone un'insolita missione: la consegna di una cospicua somma di denaro al principe di Danimarca. Ufficialmente neutrale, il Paese è minacciato da Napoleone che, dopo la disfatta di Trafalgar, mira a impadronirsi della flotta danese. Pur di impedire che quella flotta finisca ai francesi, gli inglesi sono pronti a tutto, e l'incarico del tenente è il primo passo di una manovra ben più complessa.

Richard Sharpe milita nell'esercito di Wellesley, futuro duca di Wellington. L'esercito inglese sta marciando da Lisbona verso Madrid, affiancato dalle truppe spagnole, che si rivelano subito avide e inette. Sharpe viene aggregato al battaglione di Sir Henry Simmerson, che ha ottenuto il grado di colonnello nella milizia, non ha alcuna esperienza militare, ma è tronfio, saccente e severo con i suoi uomini fino a sfiorare, e talvolta superare, i limiti del sadismo. Purtroppo Simmerson ha anche potenti alleati politici. Entrato subito in conflitto con il ricco tenente Gibbons, nipote di Simmerson, e con il suo amico tenente Berry, Sharpe si distingue in una brillante azione militare che gli vale la promozione a capitano. Ma Simmerson, che nella stessa azione ha perso la bandiera, disonorando così il battaglione, scrive subito a Londra chiedendo l'annullamento della promozione e l'immediato invio di Sharpe nelle Indie occidentali, pronunciando così una sorta di condanna a morte, viste le condizioni di vita di quelle guarnigioni. L'unica speranza di salvezza per Sharpe è compiere un'impresa tanto eroica da annullare gli effetti negativi dell'ostilità di Simmerson: impadronirsi di una delle aquile dorate che Napoleone in persona consegna ai battaglioni francesi, un'azione che prima d'ora non è mai stata compiuta.

Sopravvissuto alla terribile battaglia di Assaye, Richard Sharpe è stato promosso. Ma, sebbene la guerra contro i Maratta sembri quasi conclusa, un'altra sfida attende il nuovo ufficiale. Uno dei suoi nemici giurati, il sergente Obadiah Hakeswill, sta infatti tramando contro di lui e mira addirittura a ucciderlo. Tuttavia, mentre Sharpe schiva trappole mortali e pianifica la sua vendetta, l'esercito lo chiama ancora una volta a combattere: l'impenetrabile fortezza di Gawilghur, dove si sono nascosti gli ultimi nemici, sta infatti strenuamente resistendo all'assedio inglese. E sarà proprio davanti a quella fortezza che Sharpe rischierà tutto.

Verso la metà del XIV secolo, minacciosi venti di guerra soffiano sull’Europa: Inghilterra e Francia stanno per scatenare quel che sarà chiamata la guerra dei Cent’anni. La vigilia di Pasqua del 1342, una banda di mercenari bretoni devasta il piccolo villaggio di Hookton sulla costa inglese, penetra nella chiesa e s’impadronisce di una preziosa reliquia: la lancia di san Giorgio. Nulla può contro la violenza dei soldati il giovane Thomas, che, terminata la razzia, giura vendetta e fa voto di recuperare la santa lancia. Il ragazzo ancora lo ignora, ma quella promessa lo porterà molto lontano: protetto solo dalla sua integrità, e da una straordinaria abilità con l’arco, Thomas affronterà un mondo nuovo, popolato di cavalieri, principi e sovrani, feroci guerrieri e donne belle e pericolose, e finirà col trovarsi sulle tracce di una reliquia ancora più importante, il simbolo più alto della cristianità: il Sacro Graal.

Settembre 1810. Determinato a conquistare il Portogallo, Napoleone manda il proprio esercito oltre la frontiera spagnola. L'ultima cosa che i francesi si aspettano di trovare è un territorio depredato e spoglio: l'esercito britannico, infatti, alleato dei portoghesi, oppone un'ostinata resistenza, mirando a fare terra bruciata per affamare il nemico e infliggergli la sconfitta definitiva presso l'inespugnabile linea di difesa di Torres Vedras, ideata dal generale Wellington. Per Richard Sharpe, valoroso capitano della compagnia South Essex, la situazione è più che mai difficile: non solo deve tener testa ai soldati francesi, ma anche guardarsi dalle trame del proprio colonnello, intenzionato a favorire la carriera di un ufficiale incompetente ma con importanti legami famigliari. E fuori dall'esercito le cose non vanno meglio: Sharpe deve vedersela con due fratelli portoghesi corrotti, che hanno intessuto una subdola trama per arricchirsi. A Sharpe, prigioniero dei due traditori, non resta che tentare una fuga rocambolesca per raggiungere il teatro della battaglia...

Siamo a metà del XIV secolo e l'Europa è minacciata da spaventosi venti di guerra: Francia e Inghilterra stanno infatti per scatenare la guerra dei Cent'anni. Il villaggio del giovane Thomas Hookton è stato saccheggiato da mercenari bretoni capitanati dall'Harlequin, misterioso cavaliere franco. Figlio naturale del prete del villaggio, ucciso durante il saccheggio, Thomas promette a Dio di recuperare la santa reliquia di san Giorgio, la lancia con cui il santo uccise il drago. È un voto che porterà il giovane molto lontano: protetto solo dalla sua integrità, e da una straordinaria abilità con l'arco,affronterà un mondo nuovo abitato da feroci cavalieri, donne belle ma pericolose, principi e sovrani vendicativi.

È il 1805 e Richard Sharpe, forte della fama di valoroso soldato conquistata in India, sta per tornare in Inghilterra per entrare nel 95° reggimento fucilieri. Il viaggio da Bombay a Londra dovrebbe essere un periodo di riposo, ma il vascello su cui viaggia, vittima di un ammutinamento, viene dirottato da una nave corsara francese, la "Revenant". Dopo un rocambolesco sbarco a Mauritius, Sharpe riesce a riprendere il viaggio a bordo di una nave inglese, la cui missione è quella di lanciarsi all'inseguimento della Revenant. La caccia si conclude quando la nave francese ha ormai raggiunto il resto della flotta franco-spagnola, che sarà affrontata da quella inglese al largo di capo Trafalgar.

Alla fine del XVIII secolo, l’India è teatro di conflitto tra francesi e inglesi, che cercano di indebolirsi a vicenda alleandosi con fazioni locali. Nel regno del Mysore, il sultano Tippu Sahib ha rovesciato la dinastia indù e i soldati inglesi, considerati “carne da cannone”, sono sotto il comando di un sergente sadico, Hakeswill, che perseguita il giovane Richard Sharpe. Disperato, Sharpe pensa di disertare, ma la sua sorte cambia quando il tenente Lawford lo sceglie per una missione di spionaggio a Seringapatam, dove gli inglesi stanno preparando l’assedio. Fingendosi disertori, Sharpe e Lawford accedono alla reggia del sultano, circondato da servitori crudeli e tigri feroci. Con astuzia, Sharpe guadagna la fiducia di Tippu, scoprendo un grave pericolo per le truppe inglesi. Tuttavia, la cattura di Hakeswill complica i loro piani, lasciandoli in balia del vendicativo sultano. La loro sorte sarà decisa da una sfida mortale con una tigre, un momento cruciale che segnerà il loro destino.

Agosto 1810. L'esercito di Napoleone assedia Al-meida, ultimo baluardo prima della conquista del Portogallo. Con la Spagna già caduta e le ultime truppe disperse, l'Europa sembra pronta a cedere. Richard Sharpe, giovane capitano inglese, è l'unico a non arrendersi. Dopo aver guadagnato il rispetto di Lord Wellington, riceve un incarico che appare disperato: infiltrarsi in Spagna per recuperare l'oro spagnolo, nascosto prima dell'esilio del governo a Cadice. Sebbene Wellington affermi di voler restituirlo agli spagnoli, in realtà intende usarlo per creare una colossale linea di difesa attorno a Lisbona e tentare di ribaltare le sorti della guerra. Sharpe deve affrontare la sfida con un manipolo di uomini poco affidabili e l'ostilità dei guerriglieri spagnoli, guidati da un uomo noto come el Católico. La situazione si complica ulteriormente quando Teresa, la promessa sposa di el Católico, sviluppa un'attrazione per Sharpe. La missione si trasforma in una lotta non solo contro il nemico, ma anche contro le tensioni personali e le difficoltà di un contesto bellico disperato.

È il 1803 e sir Arthur Wellesey, futuro duca di Wellington, forte dell'alleanza con la Compagnia delle Indie e con alcuni sovrani locali, dirige il suo esercito verso la città fortificata di Ahmadnagar, nell'ovest dell'India. Tra le fila dei soldati inglesi c'è un giovane sergente che si distingue, Richard Sharpe, cui è stato assegnato il compito di catturare il maggiore William Dodd, traditore dell'esercito di Sua Maestà. Sharpe è l'unico che può riconoscere Dodd e il suo lungo inseguimento si concluderà sul campo della battaglia di Assaye...

Nel 1809, l'esercito di Napoleone ha invaso, dopo la Spagna, il Portogallo. E mentre la campagna militare francese attraversa una fase critica, il tenente Richard Sharpe sembra l'uomo giusto al posto giusto nel momento giusto. Insieme a un gruppo di fedeli Fucilieri, è incaricato di raggiungere una sperduta località a nord di Oporto. Tagliato fuori dalle linee inglesi, cerca l'aiuto dell'esercito locale, male addestrato e non sempre disposto a collaborare. Ma il problema più grave è, manco a dirlo, una donna. Kate Savage, figlia di un nobile inglese ed erede di una fortuna, è fuggita per amore rifugiandosi in una tenuta di famiglia assediata dai Dragoni francesi. La bella Kate sta per cadere nella trappola tesale da un tenente colonnello dell'esercito britannico, che vuole sposarla per mettere le mani sul suo patrimonio. In realtà Christopher - questo il nome dell'ambiguo e ambizioso ufficiale - fa anche il doppio gioco: è un uomo del Foreign Office e sta tramando con i francesi per fomentare una rivolta tesa a insediare un governo militare in Portogallo. Un grave pericolo per la stabilità dell'intera Europa, già gravemente compromessa. Sharpe cerca allora di aprire gli occhi alla fatua fanciulla, ma ignora di essere al centro di un piano che vede proprio lui e i suoi soldati come vittime sacrificali.

Un'impresa destinata al fallimento sembra quella di un manipolo di arcieri e uomini d'arme inglesi che si avventurano nelle terre ostili della Francia meridionale per riconquistare un castello e trovare il Santo Graal. Al comando c'è l'intrepido arciere Thomas di Hookton, affiancato dal fedele Robbie Douglas e dal nobile normanno Sir Guillaume d'Evecque. In una notte, il castello viene espugnato con astuzia, ma un imprevisto ostacolo si presenta: Geneviève, una giovane accusata di eresia e condannata al rogo, è prigioniera. Le sue ferite e la luce indomita nei suoi occhi spingono Thomas a liberarla, una scelta che avrà conseguenze fatali. La diffidenza nei confronti dell'eretica cresce tra gli uomini della guarnigione, mentre la gelosia di Robbie, innamorato di Geneviève, si trasforma in rancore verso Thomas. La punizione più dura arriva dal vescovo, che lo scomunica. Con l'episodio conclusivo della trilogia sulla ricerca del Graal, l'autore offre ai lettori un'avventura avvincente nel cruento periodo della guerra dei Cent'anni, ricca di colpi di scena e conflitti personali.

Nono secolo dopo Cristo. La terra degli Angli è dominata da un fragile regno di guerrieri sassoni retto dal pio re Alfredo. Uhtred, giovane erede legittimo del titolo di aldermanno di Bebbanburg, allevato dai danesi ma tornato tra le braccia della fede cristiana, ha combattuto duramente per il suo re. Ma la gloria, la famiglia, l'onore acquisiti non lo soddisfano. Tradimenti, intrighi di corte, meschinità minano il suo animo avventuroso e, forse stregato dalla bellezza della fattucchiera Iseult, vorrebbe persino tornare a battere i mari sulle lunghe navi danesi. Punito dal suo re, Uhtred si trova protagonista di un continuo sovvertimento di fronti, tra amici che diventano nemici e spietati rivali ancor più feroci. Di fronte a una nuova invasione danese però l'onore gli impone di tornare accanto a re Alfredo, un uomo molto diverso, che non stima ma al quale non può non riconoscere la propria fedeltà. Si scatena così, con il riapparire di amici e amori creduti morti, fosche leggende magiche e battaglie epiche, un conflitto finale per riconquistare il Wessex e porre le fondamenta per quel paese che un giorno sarà chíamato Inghilterra.

Thomas di Hookton, il valoroso “arciere del re”, è sopravvissuto alla battaglia di Crécy per accogliere la missione che il suo sovrano ha in servo per lui: la ricerca della reliquia più importante della cristianità, il cui possesso, si dice, può garantire l’immortalità e l’invincibilità, quel Santo Graal che forse in passato è stato custodito proprio dal padre di Thomas. La sua missione lo conduce dapprima nell’Inghilterra del nord, devastata dal conflitto con gli scozzesi, poi nel villaggio natale, tra le rovine della casa che lo vide bambino, e infine al di là della Manica, dove Thomas ritorna, cedendo inevitabilmente al richiamo della battaglia… Ma c’è qualcuno che lo sta seguendo, nemici misteriosi e spietati che uccidono e torturano e sono pronti ad abbracciare il Male pur di rintracciare il simbolo del supremo Bene.

IN THE FINAL RECKONING, CHOOSE YOUR SIDE CAREFULLY... The epic conclusion to the globally bestselling historical series. After years fighting to reclaim his rightful home, Uhtred of Bebbanburg has returned to Northumbria. With his loyal band of warriors and a new woman by his side, his household is secure - yet Uhtred is far from safe. Beyond the walls of his impregnable fortress, a battle for power rages. To the south, King AEthelstan has unified the three kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia and East Anglia - and now eyes a bigger prize. To the north, King Constantine and other Scottish and Irish leaders seek to extend their borders and expand their dominion. Caught in the eye of the storm is Uhtred. Threatened and bribed by all sides, he faces an impossible choice: stay out of the struggle, risking his freedom, or throw himself into the cauldron of war and the most terrible battle Britain has ever experienced. Only fate can decide the outcome. The epic story of how England was made concludes in WAR LORD, the magnificent finale to the Last Kingdom series.

In this latest installment of Bernard Cornwell’s bestselling series, the saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg unfolds against the backdrop of a fragile peace in Britain. Northumbria’s Viking ruler, Sigtryggr, and Mercia’s Saxon Queen Aethelflaed have established a truce, providing Uhtred with a rare opportunity to reclaim his ancestral home, Bebbanburg, which was taken from him by his treacherous uncle and is still occupied by his cunning cousin. However, Uhtred's quest is complicated by the enemies he has made and the oaths he has sworn, which divert his focus from his goal. As new adversaries emerge, including the formidable Constantin of Scotland, the stability of England hangs in the balance. Uhtred’s determination to reclaim his birthright is unwavering, but he must navigate a landscape filled with both old foes and new threats. With the specter of war looming, Uhtred, the Lord of Bebbanburg, must rely on the skills he has honed through years of battle to turn his dream into reality. The stakes are higher than ever as the fate of England's kingdoms hangs in the balance.

In "The Winter King "and "Enemy of God "Bernard Cornwell demonstrated his astonishing ability to make the oft-told legend of King Arthur fresh and new for our time. Now, in this riveting final volume of The Warlord Chronicles, Cornwell tells the unforgettable tale of Arthur's final struggles against the Saxons and his last attempts to triumph over a ruined marriage and ravaged dreams. This is the tale not only of a broken love remade, but also of forces both earthly and unearthly that threaten everything Arthur stands for. Peopled by princesses and bards, by warriors and magicians, "Excalibur "is the story of love, war, loyalty, and betrayal-the work of a magnificent storyteller at the height of his powers.

The eighth novel in Bernard Cornwell s number one bestselling series on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. In the battle for power, there can be only one ruler. The ruler of Mercia is dying, leaving no apparent heir. His wife is a born leader, but no woman has ever ruled over an English kingdom. And she is without her greatest warrior and champion, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. An empty throne leaves the kingdom exposed to rival West Saxons and to the Vikings, who are on a bloody rampage once more. A hero is needed, a hero who has been in battle all his life, who can destroy the double threat to Mercia. A hero who will ultimately decide the fate of a nation "

Thomas of Hookton, having survived the battle of Crécy, is sent by the king on a mission to discover more about his father's strange inheritance, which rumored to be connected to the Holy Grail. But he is not the only person pursuing it and his rivals will stop at nothing. Now the holder of great knowledge, he is in even greater danger, facing at last his enemy and cousin, the elusive Guy of Vexille.

In this latest installment of Bernard Cornwell's bestselling series, the saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg continues against the backdrop of a fragile peace in Britain. Northumbria's Viking ruler, Sigtryggr, and Mercia's Saxon Queen Aethelflaed have established a truce, providing Uhtred with a rare opportunity to reclaim his ancestral home, Bebbanburg, stolen by his uncle and currently held by his cousin. However, Uhtred's quest is complicated by the enemies he has made and the oaths he has sworn, which divert his focus from his goal. As new threats emerge, including the ambitious Constantin of Scotland, who seeks to expand his territory, the stability of England hangs in the balance. Uhtred is resolute in his determination to reclaim his birthright, but he must navigate a landscape filled with both old adversaries and new foes. To succeed, he will rely on the combat skills and cunning he has honed throughout his tumultuous life. The stakes are high as Uhtred confronts the challenges that threaten to derail his ambitions and plunge England into chaos.

The balance of King Arthur's unified kingdom is threatened by Merlin's quest for the last of Britain's 13 Treasures; by the conflict between the ancient religion and the new Christianity; and by Britain's war with the Saxons. A master storyteller continues his retelling of the Arthurian legend.

The new novel in Bernard Cornwell s number one bestselling series on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. BBC2 s major Autumn 2015 TV show THE LAST KINGDOM is based on the first two books in the series. A fragile peace is about to be broken King Alfred s son Edward and formidable daughter, AEthelflaed, rule Wessex, Mercia and East Anglia. But all around the restless Northmen, eyeing the rich lands and wealthy churches, are mounting raids. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the kingdoms greatest warrior, controls northern Mercia from the strongly fortified city of Chester. But forces are rising up against him. Northmen allied to the Irish, led by the fierce warrior Ragnall Ivarson, are soon joined by the Northumbrians, and their strength could prove overwhelming. Despite the gathering threat, both Edward and AEthelflaed are reluctant to move out of the safety of their fortifications. But with Uhtred s own daughter married to Ivarson s brother, who can be trusted? In the struggle between family and loyalty, between personal ambition and political commitment, there will be no easy path. But a man with a warrior s courage may be able to find it. Such a man is Uhtred, and this may be his finest hour."

The year is 885, and England is at peace, divided between the Danish kingdom to the north and the Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the south. Warrior by instinct and Viking by nature, Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, has land, a wife and children—and a duty to King Alfred to hold the frontier on the Thames. But a dead man has risen, and new Vikings have invaded the decayed Roman city of London with dreams of conquering Wessex... with Uhtred’s help. Suddenly forced to weigh his oath to the king against the dangerous turning tide of shifting allegiances and deadly power struggles, Uhtred—Alfred’s sharpest sword—must now make the choice that will determine England’s future.

The master of historical fiction presents the iconic story of King Alfred and the making of a nation. As the ninth century wanes, England appears about to be plunged into chaos once more. For the Viking-raised but Saxon-born warrior, Uhtred, whose life seems to shadow the making of England, this presents him with difficult choices. King Alfred is dying and his passing threatens the island of Britain to renewed warfare. Alfred wants his son, Edward, to succeed him but there are other Saxon claimants to the throne as well as ambitious pagan Vikings to the north. Uhtred's loyalty - and his vows - were to Alfred, not to his son, and despite his long years of service to Alfred, he is still not committed to the Saxon cause. His own desire is to reclaim his long lost lands and castle to the north. But the challenge to him, as the king's warrior, is that he knows that he will either be the means of making Alfred's dream of a united and Christian England come to pass or be responsible for condemning it to oblivion. This novel is a dramatic story of the power of tribal commitment and the terrible difficulties of divided loyalties. This is the making of England magnificently brought to life.

In Bernard Cornwell's latest historical novel, Major Richard Sharpe faces a brutal winter as Britain prepares to invade France during the Napoleonic Wars. With the fiercest French army ahead, Wellington's forces must confront a bloody path forward. Readers praise the series for its non-stop action and compelling storytelling.

Major Sharpe leads a small force into the mountains in order to rescue a woman held hostage by deserters.

The seventh installment of Bernard Cornwell’s New York Times bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, “like Game of Thrones, but real” (The Observer, London)—the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit television series. At the onset of the tenth century, England is in turmoil. Alfred the Great is dead and Edward, his son, reigns as king. Wessex survives, but peace cannot hold: the Danes in the north, led by Viking Cnut Longsword, stand ready to invade and will not rest until the emerald crown is theirs. Uhtred, once Alfred’s great warrior but now out of favor with the new king, must lead a band of outcasts north to recapture his old family home, that great Northumbrian fortress, Bebbanburg. In The Pagan Lord, loyalties will be divided and men will fall, as every Saxon kingdom is drawn into the bloodiest battle yet with the Danes: a war that will decide the fate of every king, and the entire British nation.

In the last years of the 9th century, King Alfred is in failing health and his heir an untested youth. The Danes who have failed to conquer Wessex smell an opportunity and Harald Bloodhair leading a Viking horde is led into a trap by the warlord Uhtred inflicting the greatest defeat ever suffered by the Vikings thus saving Alfred's Wessex.

As the ninth century wanes, England appears about to be plunged into chaos once more. For the Viking-raised but Saxon-born warrior, Uhtred, whose life seems to shadow the making of England, this presents him with difficult choices.King Alfred is dying and his passing threatens the island of Britain to renewed warfare. Alfred wants his son, Edward, to succeed him but there are other Saxon claimants to the throne as well as ambitious pagan Vikings to the north.Uhtred's loyalty - and his vows - were to Alfred, not to his son, and despite his long years of service to Alfred, he is still not committed to the Saxon cause. His own desire is to reclaim his long lost lands and castle to the north. But the challenge to him, as the king's warrior, is that he knows that he will either be the means of making Alfred's dream of a united and Christian England come to pass or be responsible for condemning it to oblivion.This novel is a dramatic story of the power of tribal commitment and the terrible difficulties of divided loyalties.

June 1815: The Duke of Wellington, the Prince of Orange, and Napoleon will meet on the battlefield...and decide the fate of EuropeWith the emperor Napoleon at its head, and enormous French army is marching toward Brussels. The British and their allies are also converging on Brussels - in preparation for a grand society ball. And it is up to Richard Sharpe to convince the Prince of Orange, the inexperienced commander of Wellington's Dutch troops, to act before it is too late. But Sharpe's warning cannot stop the tide of battle, and the British suffer heavy losses on the road to Waterloo. Wellington has few reserves of men and ammunition; the Prussian army has not arrived, and the French advance wields tremendous firepower and determinaiton. Victory seems impossible...

An oath of loyalty. Two warring kings. A destiny he didn't choose...

The balance of King Arthur's unified kingdom is threatened by Merlin's quest for the last of Britain's 13 Treasures; by the conflict between the ancient religion and the new Christianity; and by Britain's war with the Saxons. A master storyteller continues his retelling of the Arthurian legend.

Richard Sharpe is once again at war and this time it is more than just duty, it is a personal vendetta.

At the fortress of the eagles, three kings will fight ... Uhtred of Bebbanburg has won back his ancestral home but, threatened from all sides by enemies both old and new, he doesn't have long to enjoy the victory. In Mercia, rebellion is in the air as King Edward tries to seize control. In Wessex, rival parties scramble to settle on the identity of the next king. And across the country invading Norsemen continue their relentless incursion, ever hungry for land. Uhtred - a legendary warrior, admired and sought as an ally, feared as an enemy - is once again torn between his two heritages. But when he finds himself fighting on what he considers the wrong side, facing one of his most fearsome enemies and cursed by misfortune and tragedy, only the most astute cunning, the greatest loyalty and the most spectacular courage can save him ...

In the winter of 1809 the French are winning the war in Spain & Britain's forces are retreating towards Corunna, with Napoleon's victorious armies in pursuit. Sharpe & a detachment of Riflemen are cut off from the British army & surrounded by troops.

Major Richard Sharpe awaits the opening shots of the army's new campaign with grim expectancy. Victory depends on the increasingly fragile alliance between Britain and Spain, an alliance that must be maintained at all cost. But Sharpe's enemy, the French intelligence officer Pierre Ducos, seizes a chance to destroy the alliance and take personal revenge on Sharpe. And when the lovely spy, La Marquesa, takes a hand in the game, Sharpe finds himself caught in a web of deadly intrigue and becomes a fugitive, hunted by enemy and ally alike...

The Last Kingdom is set in the England of the ninth and tenth centuries. These were the years when the Danish Vikings had invaded and occupied three of England's four kingdoms, and when King Alfred, his son and grandson fought back and won the freedom of the country again. The story is seen through the eyes of Uhtred, a dispossessed English nobleman. Captured as a child and raised by the Danes, he now finds his allegiances divided. But the one thing he knows is that he wants to recover his father's land, the fort by the wild northern sea that we now know as Bamburgh. Bernard Cornwell is a master of historical fiction and this new series looking with a fresh light at Alfred the Great, his kingdom and his legacy will be as outstanding and as popular as the Grail Quest and the Warlord Chronicles

In Dark Age Britain, a land from which Arthur has been banished and Merlin has disappeared, a child-king sits unprotected on the throne, and it is up to Arthur, a courageous and honorable man, to preserve the lonely embers of civilization in a barbaric world. 100,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo.

SHARPE This novel is infused with the authenticity, the rich characterization, and throat-grabbing intrigue that one relished in Alexandre Dumas - FAIR LADY MAGAZINE The invasion of France is underway, and the British Navy has called upon the services of Major Richard Sharpe. He and a small force of Riflemen are to capture a fortress and secure a landing on the French coast. It is to be one of the most dangerous missions of his career. Through the incompetence of a recklessly ambitious naval commander and the machinations of his old enemy, French spymaster Pierre Ducos, Sharpe finds himself abandoned in the heart of enemy territory, facing overwhelming forces and the very real prospect of defeat. He has no alternative but to trust his fortunes to an American privateer - a man who has no love for the British invaders. SHARPE'S SIEGE ...the same combination of thorough research and narrative drive that distinguished is predecessors. It is a gripping read - INDEPENDENT

It was a hard winter. For Richard Sharpe it was the worst he could remember. He had lost his command to a wealthy man - a man with money to buy the promotion Sharpe coveted. And from England comes his oldest enemy - the ruthless, indestructible Hakeswill - utterly determined to ruin Sharpe. But Sharpe is determined to change his luck. And the surest way is to lead the bloody attack on the impregnable fortress town of Badajoz, a road to almost certain death - or unimagined glory... SHARPE'S COMPANY another magnificent, breathtaking adventure.

THE FIRST THREE SHARPE NOVELS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. THESE STORIES ( SHARPE'S TIGER, TRIUMPH AND FORTRESS ) ARE SET IN INDIA AND FOLLOW HIS CAREER FROM THE RANKS TO BECOME AN OFFICER.

The new novel in Bernard Cornwell's number one bestselling series The Warrior Chronicles, on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Alfred the Great is dead and Edward his son reigns as king. Wessex survives but peace cannot hold. The Danes in the north, led by Viking Cnut Longsword, stand ready to invade and will never rest until the emerald crown is theirs. Uhtred, once Alfred's great warrior but now out of favour with the new king, must lead a band of outcasts north to recapture his old family home, that great Northumbrian fortress, Bebbanburg. Loyalties will be divided and men will fall, as every Saxon kingdom is drawn into the bloodiest battle yet with the Danes; a war which will decide the fate of every king, and the entire English nation.

The eighth book in the epic and bestselling series that has gripped millions. A hero will be forged from this broken land. As seen on Netflix and BBC around the world.

In the thrilling conclusion of Nathaniel Starbuck's Civil War saga, Nate leads a punishment battalion of misfits to join General Lee's army. They participate in key battles, including the capture of Harper's Ferry and the infamous Sharpsburg, where their bravery is put to the ultimate test.

As Napoleon threatens to crush Britain on the battlefield, Lt. Col. Richard Sharpe leads a ragtag army to exact personal revenge against a French general known for his acts of terror. Sharpe's Battle takes Richard Sharpe and his company back to the spring of 1811 and one of the most bitter battles of the Peninsular War, a battle on which all British hopes of victory in Spain will depend. Sharpe is given responsibility to lead an Irish battalion of the king of Spain's household guard, ceremonial troops untrained and unequipped for battle. While quartered in the crumbling fort of San Isidro, they are attacked by murderous Brigadier General Guy Luop's elite French brigade. Sharpe has witnessed General Loup's despicable was crimes before; to put an end to them, and to settle another more personal score, Sharpe must lead his company into the blood-gutted streets of Fuentes de Oñoro, where thousands of French troops have amassed, in a battle to the death.

An extraordinary and dramatic depiction of the legendary battle of Azincourt from the number one historical novelist

At dawn on Easter morning 1343, a marauding band of French raiders arrives by boat to ambush the coastal English village of Hookton. To brave young Thomas, the only survivor, the horror of the attack is epitomized in the casual savagery of a particular black-clad knight, whose flag three yellow hawks on a blue field presides over the bloody affair. As the killers sail away, Thomas vows to avenge the murder of his townspeople and to recapture a holy treasure that the black knight stole from the church. To do this, Thomas of Hookton must first make his way to France; So in 1343 he joins the army of King Edward III as it is about to invade the continent the beginning of the Hundred Years War. A preternaturally gifted bowman, Thomas quickly becomes recognized as one of England's most deadly archers in King Edward's march across France. Yet he never stops scanning the horizon for his true enemy's flag. When Thomas saves a young Frenchwoman from a bloodthirsty crowd, her father French nobleman Sir Guillaume d'Evecque rewards his bravery by joining him in the hunt for the mysterious dark knight and the stolen holy relic. What begins as a search for vengeance will soon prove the beginning of an even higher purpose: the quest for the Holy Grail itself.

This novel continues the story of a nation torn apart by civil war, and the life of Nathaniel Starbuck, a Northerner fighting for the Southern cause.

The rascally Thomas of Hookton, aka Le Batard, and his band of not-so-merry mercenaries are bidden by the Earl of Northhampton to unearth the lost sword of Saint Peter in this recreation of the Battle of the Poitiers in 1356 wherein a severely outnumbered English army defeats the French and captures the Poitiers and French King John II

Richard Sharpe and the defence of the Tormes, August 1812It is the summer of 1812 and Richard Sharpe, newly recovered from the wound he received in the fighting at Salamanca, is given an easy duty; to guard a Commissary Officer posted to an obscure Spanish fort where there are some captured French muskets to repair. But unknown to the British, the French are planning a lightning raid across the River Tormes, and they reckon the obscure Spanish fort, which guards an ancient bridge across the river, will be lightly guarded. Sharpe is in for a fight.

The eighteenth novel in this bestselling series takes Sharpe to battle in Copenhagen.

It was a hard winter. For Richard Sharpe, it was the worst he could remember. He had lost his command to a wealthy man. And from England comes his oldest enemy - the ruthless Hakeswill - utterly determined to ruin Sharpe.

Fresh from his heroic adventures in India (in "Sharpe's Fortress"), Richard Sharpe faces a new enemy when the ship carrying him home is attacked by a formidable French warship. With the help of a Royal Navy captain, Sharpe learns the French ship carries a treaty that could ignite renewed hostilities against the British in India.

A Powerful and evocative story of the civil war's first battle and the men who fought itWhen Richmond landowner Washington Faulconer snatches young Nate Starbuck from the grip of a Yankee-hating mob, Nate is both grateful and awed by his idealistic rescuer. Turning his back forever on the life he left in Boston, Nate agrees to join the newly formed Flaulconer's Legion, even though it means fighting against his native North. But Nate's dilemma is only one of many within the Legion. Faulconer's own son cannot bring himself to fight, while his daughter's cheating fiancé plots for control of the family fortune. As they come together to march into battle, the men are prepared to start a war ... but they aren't ready for how they -- and the nation -- will be forever changed by the oaths they have sworn for their beloved South.

From New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell, the sequel to The Archer's Tale —the spellbinding tale of a young man, a fearless archer, who sets out wanting to avenge his family's honor and winds up on a quest for the Holy Grail. In 1347, a year of conflict and unrest, Thomas of Hookton returns to England to pursue the Holy Grail. Among the flames of the Hundred Years War, a sinister enemy awaits the fabled archer and mercenary soldier: a bloodthirsty Dominican Inquisitor who also seeks Christendom's most holy relic. But neither the horrors of the battlefield nor sadistic torture at the Inquisitor's hands can turn Thomas from his sworn mission. And his thirst for vengeance will never be quenched while the villainous black rider who destroyed everything he loved still lives. "Cornwell writes the best battle scenes of any writer I've read past or present."—George R.R. Martin

It is 1814 and after a series of battles the British and Spanish armies are pushing into south-western France. But Sharpe's war is not over. Accused of stealing a consignment of Napoleon's treasure, Sharpe must elude his captors and track down the unknown enemy who has tried to incriminate him. From the author of BATLE FLAG.

Copperhead was the name given to Northern sympathisers of the Confederacy, after a venomous species of North American snake. It is a name that sticks to Nathaniel Starbuck, a preacher's son who has run away from family, college and a foolish love affair, taking shelter in the Falconer legion.

The acclaimed twenty-first novel in the number one bestselling series featuring Richard Sharpe. In the winter of 1811, the war seems lost. All Spain has fallen to the French, except for Cadiz, now the Spanish capital and itself under siege. In Cadiz, Richard Sharpe discovers more than one enemy. One of them, a baleful priest, finds a weapon to break the British alliance and Sharpe must find ways to defeat him in a sinister war of knife and treachery in the dark alleys of the city. As a small British force is trapped by a French army, their only hope lies with the outnumbered redcoats who, on a hill beside the sea, refuse to admit defeat. And there, in the sweltering horror of Barrosa, Sharpe finds his old enemy Colonel Vandal once again.

In the winter of 1811, the war seems lost. Spain has fallen to the French, except for Cadiz, now the Spanish capital and itself under siege. Inside the city walls, an intricate diplomatic dance is taking place and Richard Sharpe faces more than one enemy. The small British force is trapped by a French army and their only hope lies with the outnumbered redcoats outside refusing to admit defeat. There, in the sweltering horror of Barrosa, Sharpe will meet his old enemy Colonel Vandal once again.

It is 1807 and Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, newly returned to England, now wants to leave the army. One last job is offered to him. Go to Copenhagen, help the Honourable John Lavisser deliver a bribe and so stop a war. It seems very easy.

SHARPE IS BACK. The brand new novel from Bernard Cornwell in the global bestselling Sharpe series. If any man can do the impossible it's Richard Sharpe . . . And the impossible is exactly what the formidable Major Sharpe is asked to do when he's dispatched on an undercover mission behind enemy lines, deep in the Spanish countryside. For a remote village is about to become the centre of a battle for the future of Europe. Sitting high above the Almaraz bridge, it is the last link between two French armies, one in the north and one in the south; if they meet, the British are doomed. Only Sharpe's small group of men - with their cunning and courage to rely on - stand in their way. But they're rapidly outnumbered, enemies are hiding in plain sight, and time is running out . . . SHARPE'S COMMAND is the brand new novel in the bestselling historical series that has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. READERS LOVE SHARPE'S COMMAND: 'Bernard is a great storyteller and historian' - reader review 'Once again this is a page turner. Loved it!' - reader review 'What a fantastic book . . . another great adventure for Richard Sharpe' - reader review 'Sharpe alongside Patrick, Teresa and Hogan up to their necks in French men and Spanish treachery' - reader review 'Sharpe is back, bashing Napoleon's lot in the mountains of Spain . . . classic Sharpe!' - reader review

A fascinating hero, the pursuit of a sword of mythical power and one of England's greatest and least known battles - a remarkable novel by Britain's master storyteller . Thomas of Hookton, a veteran of Crecy and many other battles, is the leader of a mercenary company of bowmen and men-at-arms who ravage the countryside east of Gascony. Edward, Prince of Wales, later to be known as the Black Prince, is assembling an army to fight the French once more but before Thomas can join, he must fulfil an urgent task. La Malice, a sword of mythical power guaranteeing victory to its owner, is thought to be concealed somewhere near Poitiers. With signs that a battle between the English and the French is looming others are seeking the treasure too, and some - French, Scots and even English - are pursuing their private agendas against Thomas. But all - Thomas of Hookton, his enemies and friends and the fate of La Malice - become swept up in the extraordinary confrontation that follows, as the large French army faces the heavily outnumbered English to battle.

The Barnes & Noble Review Heretic is the impressive third novel in the Grail Quest series by Bernard Cornwell, a masterful voice in the historical suspense subgenre. Although the first two Grail novels ( The Archer's Tale and Vagabond ) have their fair share of mystery, political intrigue, and gripping battlefield action, this sweeping epic practically explodes with nefarious schemes, grandiose conflicts, and surprising plot twists. In the year 1347, English archer Thomas of Hookton continues his search for the Holy Grail. With the Hundred Years' War raging all around, Thomas is fighting in France when he's ordered to his ancestral home of Astarac in Gascony -- the scene of the last Grail sighting. While he and a small group of loyal English archers hold a captured castle against French forces, Thomas confronts his father's murderer, the wrath of a corrupt church, and the secrets surrounding his own lineage. A well-researched and complex novel, Heretic includes beautiful imagery and intriguing plot strands woven against a detailed backdrop of war. Cornwell combines fact and myth, fusing them into vivid scenes of heroism in the face of horrific carnage. Yet in spite of so many disparate story lines, the action remains taut and compelling. Heretic is destined to become a true classic among historical action novels. Tom Piccirilli

In the summer of 1861 the armies of North and South stood on the brink of America's civil war. 'Rebel' tells how a northern boy, Nathaniel Starbuck, came to be fighting for the Southern cause.

Revised edition featuring an interactive table of contents, cross-referencing, links to external websites, downloadable resources, and optimized content for Kindle e-readers. This historical writers’ guide aims to equip aspiring writers with the essential skills for crafting historical novels and short stories. It also serves experienced writers looking to refine their craft or transition to historical fiction. The step-by-step format includes practical activities that encourage experimentation with techniques necessary for creating authentic and engaging historical narratives. Organized into seven main headings, each chapter focuses on a specific writing skill or tool, allowing for independent use to address particular challenges or reinforce concepts introduced. The guide aims to provide the necessary tools for writing in various historical subgenres, including historical crime fiction. Contributions from notable historical fiction writers offer insights that both complement and challenge the activities, providing a diverse perspective on the craft. The activities stem from innovative workshops led by Myfanwy Cook, a published author with numerous accolades. She emphasizes that mastering writing is akin to an apprenticeship, requiring practical skills, imagination, and a commitment to the craft. This guide seeks to fill gaps in knowledge and inspire aspiring writers by enhancing their confidence and skills in historical fi

A splendid thriller of skullduggery and smuggling, politics and passion, in the Caribbean waters, with a twentieth-century Sharpe at the helm.

“If you love historical drama…then look no further.” —Boston Globe The magnificent sequel to A Crowning Mercy, Fallen Angels reunites New York Times bestseller Bernard Cornwell—whom the Washington Post calls, “perhaps the greatest writer of historical adventure novels today”—with co-author Susannah Kells for a breathtaking story brimming with excitement, intrigue, danger, and passion. A tale that ranges from the splendor of a grand English estate to the streets of revolutionary Paris during France’s Reign of Terror, Fallen Angels is a novel that will equally delight followers of Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe, Nathaniel Starbuck, and other bestselling series as well as readers who love the sweeping historical dramas of Diana Gabaldon and Sharon Kay Penman.

WELCOME TO UHTRED’S FEAST The Last Kingdom is one of the most successful historical fiction series of our time, telling the epic story of the birth of England, and introducing one of the greatest ever fictional the iconic Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Saxon-born, Norse-raised, warrior and rebel. The final Last Kingdom book was published in 2020, but for the author the story felt there were some Uhtred tales he still wanted to tell, and over the course of writing the books he'd become fascinated by some elements of the Anglo-Saxon world that it wasn't possible to fully explore in the novels. When he met renowned chef Suzanne Pollak, the idea for Uhtred's Feast was born. And here Bernard Cornwell tells those additional Uhtred stories, showing us the man behind the shield – as a young boy, as Alfred's advisor, and as prince – while Suzanne brings his world to life through beautifully crafted recipes which open a door into the Anglo-Saxon home . . .

A Family . . . A City . . . A Soldier . . . Torn Across a Bloody Divide It is autumn, 1777, and the cradle of liberty, Philadelphia, has fallen to the British. Yet the true battle has only just begun. On both sides, loyalties are tested and families torn asunder. The young Redcoat, Sam Gilpin, has seen his brother die. Now he must choose between duty to a distant King and the call of his own conscience. And for the men and women of the prosperous Becket family, the revolution brings bitter conflict between those loyal to the crown, and those with dreams of liberty. Soon, across the fields of ice and blood in a place called Valley Forge, history will be rewritten, changing the lives and fortunes of these men and women forever.

A dramatic contemporary thriller focussing on the blind passion of an obsessive dream. STORMCHILD is the story of a quest, of a man's search for his missing daughter - and to prove his daughter's innocence from involvement in her mother's murder. And he is no ordinary man - for he is famous as a world-class yachtsman, but the strength of the storms he has to face at sea are nothing compared to the violence of the political campaigners who hold his daughter.

“A gifted storyteller and orchestrator of suspense.” —Philadelphia Inquirer “Bernard Cornwell is to the yachting adventure novel what ex-jockey Dick Francis is to the racetrack thriller.” —Orlando Sentinel The New York Times bestselling author of The Fort, the Saxon Tales, and the immensely popular Richard Sharpe novels, Bernard Cornwell has been called, “perhaps the greatest writer of historical adventure novels today” (Washington Post). He demonstrates another side of his extraordinary storytelling talents with Scoundrel, a contemporary tale of excitement and danger on high and treacherous seas. A gripping tale of an outlaw yacht captain who decides to cross the Irish Republican Army for a $5 million payday only to find himself pursued by intelligence agents, terrorists, and killers across perilous open waters, Scoundrel is a masterful thriller in the Tom Clancy vein—a masterwork of suspense from one of today’s most versatile and accomplished popular novelists.

Bernard Cornwell embarks on an extraordinary new adventure - taking readers to the heart of Elizabethan England. Ranging from the palace at Whitehall to the brothels of Shoreditch, Fools and Mortals tells the story of a young actor, Richard Shakespeare, struggling to make his way in a world dominated by the shadow of his hostile older brother, William.

A "New York Times" bestselling master of historical fiction and his co-author deliver a powerful story of a young Puritan woman who, as civil war tears England asunder in 1643, will risk everything to find love and a secret fortune.