Returning to his northern home, Uhtred of Bebbanburg finds himself caught up in the takeover crusade of a self-proclaimed ruler of Northumbria, a situation that culminates in a midnight siege on a seemingly impregnable city.

"As the ninth century wanes, Alfred the Great lies dying, his lifelong goal of a unified England in peril, his kingdom on the brink of chaos. Though his son, Edward, has been named his sucessor, there are other Saxon claimants to the throne -- as well as ambitous pagan Vikings to the north. Torn between his vows to Alfred and the desire to reclaim his long-lost ancestral lands in the noth, Uhtred, Saxon-born and Viking-raised, remains the king's warrior...

It is a time of political turmoil once more in the 10th century as the fading King Edward begins to lose control over his successors and their supporters. There are two potential heirs --possibly more -- and doubt over whether the once separate states of Wessex and Mercia will hold together. Despite attempts at pulling him into the political fray, Uhtred of Bebbanburg cares solely about his beloved Northumbria and its continuing independence from...

"Britain, early tenth century AD: a time of change. There are new raids by the Vikings from Ireland, and turmoil among the Saxons over the leadership of Mercia. A younger generation is taking over. AEthelred, the ruler of Mercia, is dying, leaving no legitimate heir. The West Saxons want their king, but Uhtred has long supported Athelflaed, sister to King Edward of Wessex and widow of Aethelred. Widely loved and respected, Athelflaed has all the makings...

Alfred the Great (849-899), King of Wessex, defended his realm against the Vikings and so became "King of the Anglo-Saxons." The author of Tom Brown's School Days brings a novelist's eye to this 1871 biography of the king he considered a model of what a ruler should be, in contrast to conquerors like Caesar or Napoleon.

"England is under attack. Chaos reigns. Northumbria, the last kingdom, is threatened by armies from all sides, by land and sea -- and only one man stands in their way. Torn between loyalty and sworn oaths, the warrior king Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg faces his greatest ever battle -- and prepares for his ultimate fate..." --

Describes the history of Britain during the violent era of Viking raids between 789 and 954, which ultimately led to the creation of the modern kingdoms of England, and highlights the important influence of Alfred the Great.

Several stories that tell and illustrate courage, responsibility, and perseverance.

Latest book in 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...

Ten years on from the events of the last season, King Edward is still forging ahead with his ambitions to unite the Saxon Kingdoms to fulfill his late father's dream. Although a long-standing peace between Danes and Saxons now exists, that harmony is under threat. Not only by a new Danish invasion but a Saxon rebellion. Uhtred has been entrusted with protecting Edward's illegitimate son, the future King of England, Aethelstan. But the treacherous...