The Last Kingdom

By Bernard Cornwell
Performed by Jamie Glover

     In “The Last Kingdom” a Danish chieftain sets out to conquer England’s four kingdoms. The Viking warrior’s name is Ragnar. Ragnar captures a ten-year-old English boy named Uhtred after he kills the boy’s father. Ragnar notices Uhtred’s strong spirit and trains him to be a Viking warrior as his tribe rapes and pillages the English country. Uhtred eventually experiences an odd loyalty for the pagan warrior -- a loyalty destined to be tested.

    “The Last Kingdom” is a literary blend of fact and fiction. Through historical and fictional events and characters readers experience action, adventure, and raw human nature in A.D. 866. The storyline is a powerful witness to the common and cruel sides of two historical cultures. “The Last Kingdom” is one of Cornwell’s best. Fair warning: a ten-year-old may be the lead character, but this novel is not for the young - or the sensitive.

    Narrator of the audio version is Jamie Glover. His reading increases the drama of an already riveting novel, so to get the best of “The Last Kingdom” consider picking up HarperCollins’ audio version. Highly Recommended.