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  • The Lords of the North

  • The Last Kingdom Series, Book 3
  • By: Bernard Cornwell
  • Narrated by: Jamie Glover
  • Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (125 ratings)
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The Lords of the North cover art

The Lords of the North

By: Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by: Jamie Glover
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Summary

The third instalment in Bernard Cornwell’s King Alfred series, following on from the outstanding previous novels The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman, both of which were top ten bestsellers.

The year is 878 and Wessex is free from the Vikings.Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, helped Alfred win that victory, but now he is disgusted by Alfred's lack of generosity and repelled by the king's insistent piety. He flees Wessex, going back north to seek revenge for the killing of his foster father and to rescue his stepsister, captured in the same raid. He needs to find his old enemy, Kjartan, a renegade Danish lord who lurks in the formidable stronghold of Dunholm.

Uhtred arrives in the north to discover rebellion, chaos and fear. His only ally is Hild, a West Saxon nun fleeing her calling, and his best hope is his sword, with which he has made a formidable reputation as a warrior. He will need the assistance of other warriors if he is to attack Dunholm and he finds Guthred, a slave who believes he is a king. He takes him across the Pennines to where a desperate alliance of fanatical Christians and beleaguered Danes form a new army to confront the terrible Viking lords who rule Northumbria.

‘The Lords of the North’ is a powerful story of betrayal, romance and struggle, set in an England of turmoil, upheaval and glory. Uhtred, a Northumbrian raised as a Viking, a man without lands, a warrior without a country, has become a splendid heroic figure.

©2006 Bernard Cornwell (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers, London, UK.

Critic reviews

'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail

What listeners say about The Lords of the North

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Bit of a let down

Not sure if it was because I am sure sure this is an Abridged version, but this to me lacked the detail of both character and surroundings of the first two novels. But the biggest disapointment of all was that Tom Sellwood was not narrating and this was a real let down as Tom's voice was instrumental in making me believe in Uhtred, his place in time and his cause, where as Jamie Glovers narration wasn't spoke with a Northern Accent and at the end of every sentance was full of 'He said' or 'she replied' which I found very annoying. Leaves it all open for a fourth book so fingers crossed maybe Tom will be back for a fourth installment or even just an Unabridged version of this edition with Tom Sellwood's voice would be enough for me to re-purchase this.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series but this audio book isn't as good. First of all it is abridged (and the book isn't a long one)and secondly I don't think this narrator is a patch on the narrator of the first two. I am currently reading the paperback of this book because this way I get the full version and I can "hear" the narrator from the first two in my mind. This narrator hasn't captured the scorn Uhtred has for Alfred and anything that doesn't agree with his philosophy. Also in my opinion, giving Uhtred a northern accent in the first two really captured the character. It is a cracking yarn though.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Better Version

Not only is this an abridged version, but the reader is not really suited to the subject. I was eventually bought, as a present, the Unabridged version read by actor Richard Armitage. Suffice it to say that if you had offered this version it would have been far and away your best-selling audio book of the year.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

ok

this series gets more formulaic as it gets longer

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Disappointing reading

I was really looking forward to this next episode following on from the Pale Horseman which was brilliantly read and really made you believe in the strong stubborn character. But sadly this reader isn’t suited to this character or story at all and it lets the whole book down. I shall have to look and think as to whether I want to spend more on the rest of the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

enthralling

i Can't wait for the next one. its enthralling and exciting. Not just for male readers

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

What's going on?

Two superbly narrated unabridged books - and then this. This and the next novel Sword song are only available abridged. The two novels after that are unabridged. This annoying for those who want either format. Lords of the North and Sword song are both available unabridged on CD from the BBC.
I purchased this in March 2010 but found the abridging spoilt the flow of the story. I was hoping that an unabridged version would have appeared by now.
The narrator change does not help matters but that is outside audiable’s control. Disappointing.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Still loving this tale....

I have to start by saying what a terrible shame this one is brought to us in abridged form. As horrifically cruel some of Bernard's tales can be, they form a proper part of the story and should not be missed out. I would hazard a guess that some of the more gorey bits were left out of this one and although the tale certainly is another good one, I desperately want the whole story. It left me wanting more at the end and I can't wait to start the next one. The only reason this one has the four stars is because of the abridged version, but that does not detract from the brilliant story telling and writing - I really hope an unabridged version arrives at some point in the near future.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Very disappointed!!!

After the brilliant first two stories (largely down to the excellent narrator (Tom Selwood) who brought the whole story to life) I have to say how very disappointed I am with this third book. I don't think it is the story itself but just the way it is narrated - flat and boring with no attempt to create individual characters through language, accents, etc - result - uninteresting to the point I don't think I will listen to it all nor download books 4 & 5. Bring back Tom Selwood and I will certainly listen to them all!!!!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

rowangarth reviews lords of the north

the abridged version is a massive disappointment and is made the more so when contrasted to the bbc version of lords of the north read by richard armatige, the characteriasation of this version so missing in the abridged version makes it an outstanding audio book carrying on the tradition of books one and two read by tom

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