Books

First editions, first impressions, signed by the author on the title page. The scarce supplement, Warrior's Story, in which Cornwell outlines his inspiration for the series, was originally distributed for free alongside purchases of the newly released Sword Song in 2007. Complete sets are not often encountered in commerce. Set in the ninth and tenth centuries during the birth of England, these historical novels are narrated by Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who is based on the historical Uhtred the Bold (d.1016), an ancestor of the author. As Cornwell explains, the series is "about the origins of England, how these different kingdoms come together, and it is told through the eyes of this fictitious character, bringing in ideas of revenge, identity and quest, mixing that with real history... The inhabitants of this island felt it was time to be united. I thought it had interesting echoes of today. Just a piece of history, incredibly untaught, it captured my imagination, and hopefully, it signals something new about the way historical drama will be made" (quoted in Brown). The BBC released a televised adaptation of the series in 2015; Netflix took over the production from the third season, and released the fifth and final season in March 2022. Together 14 works, octavo. Original blue boards, spines lettered in gilt, silver, or bronze, sides of War Lord stamped with gilt centrepiece encircled by the titles of each work in the series, colour or illustrated endpapers. With dust jackets. Warrior's Story issued in wrappers. Map in each vol.. Gentle lean to a few spines, couple of light bumps: a near-fine set in like dust jackets, unclipped, presenting sharply and brightly. Maggie Brown, "Bernard Cornwell: BBC made The Last Kingdom due to its 'interesting echoes of today'", The Guardian, 17 October 2015.

The Last Kingdom is the first book in The Saxon Stories series that chronicles the rise of King Alfred the Great, and his quest to unite England against Viking conquest.