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  • The Last Kingdom

  • The Last Kingdom Series, Book 1
  • Written by: Bernard Cornwell
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
  • Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (326 ratings)

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The Last Kingdom

Written by: Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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Publisher's Summary

Caught up in the power struggle between two kings, powerless to stop the bloodshed and compelled to take a side, this is a powerful tale of loyalty, war and the struggle to survive.

The first book in a brand-new series, The Last Kingdom is set in England during the reign of King Alfred.

Uhtred is an English boy, born into the aristocracy of ninth-century Northumbria. Orphaned at 10, he is captured and adopted by a Dane and taught the Viking ways. Yet Uhtred's fate is indissolubly bound up with Alfred, King of Wessex, who rules over the only English kingdom to survive the Danish assault.

The struggle between the English and the Danes and the strife between christianity and paganism is the background to Uhtred's growing up. He is left uncertain of his loyalties but a slaughter in a winter dawn propels him to the English side and he will become a man just as the Danes launch their fiercest attack yet on Alfred's kingdom. Marriage ties him further still to the West Saxon cause but when his wife and child vanish in the chaos of the Danish invasion, Uhtred is driven to face the greatest of the Viking chieftains in a battle beside the sea. There, in the horror of the shield-wall, he discovers his true allegiance.

The Last Kingdom, like most of Bernard Cornwell's books, is firmly based on true history. It is the first novel of a series that will tell the tale of Alfred the Great and his descendants and of the enemies they faced, Viking warriors like Ivar the Boneless and his feared brother, Ubba. Against their lives Bernard Cornwell has woven a story of divided loyalties, reluctant love, and desperate heroism. In Uhtred, he has created one of his most interesting and heroic characters and in The Last Kingdom one of his most powerful and passionate novels.

©2004 Bernard Cornwell (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

What the critics say

"Cornwell is a virtuoso of historical fiction." ( Sunday Telegraph)
"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)
"Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched." ( Observer)

What listeners say about The Last Kingdom

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Epic Historical Fiction

Absolutely loved this!
Great narration, amazing story, especially with nine more books to enjoy!
Following Uhtred's growth into adulthood is an enchanting adventure; full of twists and turns.

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Excellent Listen

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Jonathan Keeble has done an excellent job of narrating the story. The voice he gives to each character fits well and really brings them to life. I hope he will continue to narrate the entire series. Great story and great listen! #Audible1

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It's great!

I loved the show so figured I'd give the books a try. I was not disappointed! Great story and great performance. Great to listen to while playing Bannerlord!

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Loved it

I loved The Last Kingdom, the first book in The Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell. The author does a superb job of blending history and fiction, creating a realistic and thrilling story of a turbulent time in England’s past. Uhtred is a fascinating character who narrates his own story with humor, honesty and insight. He is torn between two cultures and two loyalties, and he has to make tough decisions that affect his life and the fate of his country. The book also features unforgettable secondary characters, such as Alfred, Ragnar, Brida and Ubba. The book is full of action, drama and intrigue, as well as historical details and descriptions. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, especially fans of Vikings and Anglo-Saxon history. This book is a fantastic introduction to a captivating series.

I also want to commend the narrator, Jonathan Keeble, who did a fantastic job of bringing the characters and the story to life. He has a clear and expressive voice that captures the emotions and personalities of each character. He also switches between different accents and tones with ease and skill. He made me feel like I was listening to a real person telling me his story, not just reading a book. He is one of the best narrators I have ever heard.

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The runes favor this reading

Great start to the saga with the perfect casting for the narrator. You can hear the din of war and the clash of cultures is a pleasure of perspectives into the history, theology and people. Hreat listen and a fun story

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Fantastic

Could not stop listening to the story. Even at work I would sneak in an ear bud for more.

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Fantastic audio book

I’ve been a super-fan of the tv show since it 1st aired. Read all 13 books in the series twice. And I’ve now listened to the audio book twice! Absolutely love it. The narration is excellent.

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Simply outstanding. Take a bow Bernard Cornwall

Absolutely amazing. Excellent narration from Jonathan Keeble. I'll never tire of listening to you! This is my 2nd time listening to this audio book, and like the first time, my imagination takes me on the journey through the voice of Jonathan Keeble. He makes me feel every emotion there is to feel whilst listening to him describing every event. Even the mundane feels epic. I truly wished he had narrated the entire series. Hats off to you Sir!

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Amazing!!!

I felt as if I was right there on the battlefield as I listened to the incredibly written and superb narration of The Last Kingdom. 100% worth the credit! I will happily listen to this book over and over!

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Fantastic Title

Love this book. The show was great and the book just adds to the love of the title.

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  • Stephen
  • 2016-05-05

New threads in an old, accurate tapestry

Where does The Last Kingdom rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I had previously read many of Simon Scarrow's fiction of Romans in Britain, and enjoyed them. These here make a good follow-on. I find the writing a little superior and the narration is good. It's interesting for anyone who finds this period before 1066 intriguing, or who has an interest in the influence of Vikings on British history.

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  • K. A. Wolstenholme
  • 2018-03-07

Cornwell at his best!

I've never been a fan of the Viking story and certainly dislike the "Hollywood style" dramatisations, so this purchase was a chance taken in a moment of boredom. However, Mr Cornwell manages to bring the characters to life in a way that makes them human and likeable. The added bonus of Jonathan Keeble and his wonderful voices makes this my new favourite. Looking forward to listening to the rest of the series!

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  • Teis
  • 2023-10-27

This had me hooked for days

Cornwell and Keeble. It’s like they were meant for each other. And the result is wonderful.

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  • Ben Vella
  • 2022-03-16

Back to another time

Enjoyed being taking back to medieval England. The writing is good and easy along with story.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2021-12-23

Brilliant

The story is strong and the narration perfect. There is action adventure and enough of everything that makes a good story. It is well worth the credit.

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  • T.F.D GRAY
  • 2021-12-05

Dramatic History story telling

Wonderful narration. The Last Kingdom lends itself to audible story telling, dramatic and compelling listening.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2020-12-15

First book I've ever returned to Kindle

Shallow characters, Pagan Danes good, Catholic English evil sexual deviants. 7 hours in was enough

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  • francisco
  • 2017-08-18

Loved it !

I could not stop ... The narrator holds our attention and every action comes to life. And although the book has a slightly different story from the bbc series I'm going to buy The Pale Horseman.

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  • Mike
  • 2017-01-23

Amazing narration, excellent story

Wow, one if the best readings I've heard. The range of distinct characters was so impressive. The story was so realistic, it really brought to life that period for me.

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  • Rui Ribeiro
  • 2016-04-19

Enthralling

An excellent book, superbly written and narrated. Before finishing it, I found myself buying the additional audiobooks on the series. Highly recommended.

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  • Bob Verzuu
  • 2023-07-29

Incredible atmosphere

The story telling is phenomenal. The story is phenomenal. Together it becomes even more than the sum of its individual parts. If you want to escape to a dangerous but adventurous time long forgotten, this is it.

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