But trouble stirs, a dead man has risen and new Vikings have arrived to occupy London. It is a dangerous time, and it falls to Uhtred, half Saxon, half Dane, a man feared and respected the length and breadth of Britain, to expel the Viking raiders and take control of London for Alfred.

His uncertain loyalties must now decide England's future.

A gripping tale of love, rivalry and violence, Sword Song tells the story of England's making.

Listening Length

12 hours and 12 minutes
Author

Bernard Cornwell
Narrator

Jonathan Keeble
Audible release date

8 May 2014
Language

English
Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ASIN

B07D4RBW9M
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	12 hours and 12 minutes
Author	Bernard Cornwell
Narrator	Jonathan Keeble
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	08 May 2014
Publisher	HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07D4RBW9M
Best Sellers Rank	2,423 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 10 in War & Military Action Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) 12 in Historical Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals) 23 in World Literature (Audible Books & Originals)

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Come in spinner

Another fine historical fiction piece

Reviewed in Australia on 4 May 2016

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Cornwell writes fine storyline-driven historical fiction and this novel, fourth in the series of novels about a once Saxon dominated England, is no exception. What I perhaps most enjoyed in the series is Cornwell's debunking of certain 'Viking' mythologies.

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Peter Boland

This is a great romp battle fest of historical fiction

Reviewed in Australia on 20 July 2015

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This is a great romp battle fest of historical fiction. I think Bernard Cornwall may be a Robert E Howard fan. His hero of this series of books Uhtred of Bebbanburg - has to my mind a similar disposition to Conan although with some slightly more nuanced feelings around fear, compassion. That said, Uhtred is a hard man, enjoys "the battle joy" multiple women and is the Ninth Centuries version of Conan. Both being warriors from the North. I love the settings of these books. Ninth century Britain. Not yet England but divided between Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex and East Anglia. The Scotts to the North, The Irish over the Sea and the ever present Danes who have invaded and taken large swathes of Britain for themselves.
Cornwall handles the factual history brilliantly, painting vivid characterisations of Alfred (the Great) of Wessex, his family and historical figures from Denmark such as Harold.
I cant stop reading this series. It is the best thing I have read since the entire Robert E Howard collection.

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Carol

And so it goes

Reviewed in Australia on 3 March 2017

Another brilliant instalment to this series. Preparing to read the next book now, so I shall not delay. Read this it's wonderful!

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Top reviews from other countries

Clemens A. Schoonderwoert

A Brilliant Sword Song!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 September 2021

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Read this book in 2007, and this the the 4th episode of Uhtred in the "Last Kingdom" series.

This book is set in the year AD 885, and Eng(la)land is at peace with King Alfred of Wessex in the south and a Danish Kingdom in the north.

But that peace is broken when a supposed dead man has risen and his Vikings are occupying London.

It falls to Uthred, half Dane, half Saxon, to show his true loyalties, and thus he should be the one to expel these Vikings from that place and win London back for King Alfred.

What is to come is an action-packed tale about loyalty, bravery, rivalry and violence, and this great Sword Song will make Uhtred and England formidable to enemies wherever they come from, whether its from within and without.

Very much recommended, for this is another exciting addition to this great series, and that's why I like to call this wonderful episode: "A Brilliant Sword Song"!

Chris

Another wonderful mix of history and fiction

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 April 2020

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I have said this for the previous three books,but it still stands true, Bernard's mix of historical events with fiction is marvellous. Although this book may have been more fiction than fact, it still held the integrity and believability that these events could have happened as portrayed. This is just further testament to how well written these books are, and how inviting Bernard's writing style is.

This book sees the kings daughter wed, beaten by her husband behind closed doors, and kidnapped, while our protagonist watches, fights to secure lundene as a wedding gift then have to go and rescue said daughter from the Danes, all while following Alfred's orders.

Book 5 awaits me, and I will dive into that very soon, and those after it.

One person found this helpful

Margaret Bale

Fantastic!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 February 2020

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A great story. I have read it’s three predecessors and they are all great. This author is a wonderful writer - a terrific imagination and splendid use of the English language, of which he has a solid grasp. His research is beyond excellent and his knowledge (and fictional inventions) of the history of a period so instrumental in the unifying of what is now England, is exceptional. His characters, fictional and historical, are very well drawn and thoroughly engaging, keeping the reader interested in their lives and actions . His prose fairly rips along at a terrific rate, even making the battle scenes gripping (which I do not normally care for). Thoroughly enjoyed and recommended!!

carolyn j

Compelling, addictive, intelligent blood and guts swashbuckling historical adventure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2016

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I read book 1 - 8 of the Last Kingdom series back to back as if they were one omnibus through a wet and miserable January. I had seen the BBC 2 series which covered book 1 and book 2 and found The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman such good reads I was glad that I had not read them before seeing the series. I was impressed by the explanations of the internal struggle Uhtred has to establish his identity,, and the uniqueness into which he forges his experiences , philosophy and education into the warrior and man he grows into. I was also impressed by the historical integrity Conwell brought to the background of Uhtred's adventures. Definite page turners all the way through. Loved every minute spent reading 1-8.
Although one should not bring 21st century thinking, morals and mores to 10th century life, one could not help thinking that 'everything changes and nothing changes.' Cornwell does encourage the reader to stop and think beyond the swashbuckling thoughout.
I am not sure whether Uhtred's forewords are a good or bad thing - whether they telegraph the ultimate outcome of the scrapes and adventures or whether they enhance the enjoyment of the finer points of the tale...
I was disappointed at the Kindle price of book 9- Warriors of the Storm, which at the present time is more than the hardback edition. Although I am hooked enough to want to read it very badly, principle prevents me following on at this time.

3 people found this helpful

The Keen Reader

More death and mayhem with Uhtred

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 May 2011

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In this, the fourth of the chronicles of Uhtred and the birth of the English nation under Alfred, the year is now 885 and the Danes appear to have been subdued. The treaty with Guthrum has the Danes settled in their own area of the Danelaw and the remainder of the Anglo Saxon kingdoms are apparently quiet; Alfred is now looking to consolidate his hold over the whole kingdom. This should be the high point for Alfred and all to look forward to from here; if he can keep his nephew Aethelwold from causing trouble, and hold off any more potential Dane incursions, hopefully he can bring Christianity to the whole country and start to rebuild under his own dynasty.

But for Uhtred things are not so straightforward, as the Norse under the Thurgilson brothers arrive in Lundene from Frankia. Alfred wants Uhtred's cousin Aethelred to be King of Mercia so tasks Uhtred with tidying up the problem in Lundene. While Uhtred is, as always, happy to fight and kill, he's not so happy to be involved in Alfred's schemes. All Uhtred really wants is to go home to Bebbanberg and reclaim his inheritance. But, he is a warrior and must do as a warrior does. I didn't count up the number of who died in this book, but I think it was a lot! Life sure was hard, short and brutal in those days.

Other reviewers of this book have complained that it lacks action, and that the story is stretched beyond its limits. I think that this story stands quite well in the series of five books about Uhtred, as in this one some years have passed since the last book, and relationships have settled. Uhtred finds himself content with his wife, Alfred's children are growing and demanding attention, the Danes are shifting their attention and their allegiances. I think that this book really acts as a stepping stone from the action that filled the first three books to the settlement of the many threads of the story hopefully in the fifth book. I guess we'll just have to see when I get to it. Still, recommended.

18 people found this helpful

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