The Winter King: A Novel of Arthur (The Warlord Chronicles Book 1)

It takes a remarkable writer to make an old story as fresh and compelling as the first time we heard it. With The Winter King, the first volume of his magnificent Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell finally turns to the story he was born to write: the mythic saga of King Arthur. The tale begins in Dark Age Britain, a land where Arthur has been banished and Merlin has disappeared, where a child-king sits unprotected on the throne, where religion vies with magic for the souls of the people. It is to this desperate land that Arthur returns, a man at once utterly human and truly heroic: a man of honor, loyalty, and amazing valor; a man who loves Guinevere more passionately than he should; a man whose life is at once tragic and triumphant. As Arthur fights to keep a flicker of civilization alive in a barbaric world, Bernard Cornwell makes a familiar tale into a legend all over again. Library Journal The Arthurian legend has seen countless renditions over the centuries. The Winter King is a retelling that is reminiscent of Mary Stewart's "Crystal Cave" series (e.g., The Crystal Cave: The Legend of Merlin, Dove Audio, 1989). Characters are rearranged, resulting in a vain and unpopular Lancelot, an ambitious and scheming Guinevere, a Merlin who is more absent Druid than mystic magician, and a Mordred who is Uther's grandson and legitimate heir. The tale is told by the Saxon-born monk Derfel Cadarn for Igraine, a young queen. He relates his childhood in Merlin's compound, his years soldiering with Arthur, and the deeds he witnesses. This gritty tale is well read by Tim Pigott-Smith. Author Cornwell is perhaps best known for his Sharpe military fiction series. Recommended.Denise A. Garofalo, Mid-Hudson Lib. System, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. FROM THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WAR LORD COMES AN EPIC RETELLING OF THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND 'THE BEST King Arthur adaptation I've ever read' 5***** Reader Review 'An absolute winner from the master of historical fiction ' 5***** Reader Review 'Outstanding. The best take on the iconic Arthur story I've read or watched' 5***** Reader Review In the Dark Ages, a legendary warrior arises to unite a divided land . . . _________ Uther, the High King of Britain, is dead. His only heir is the infant Mordred. Yet each of the country's lesser kings seek to claim the crown for themselves. While they squabble and spoil for war, a host of Saxon armies gather, preparing for invasion. But no one has counted on the fearsome warlord Arthur. Handed power by Merlin and pursuing a doomed romance with the beautiful Guinevere, Arthur knows he will struggle to unite the country - let alone hold back the Saxon enemy at the gates. Yet destiny awaits him . . . From the epic and bestselling author who has gripped millions. _________ PRAISE FOR BERNARD CORNWELL: 'Strong narrative, vigourous action and striking characterisation, Cornwell remains king of the territory he has staked out as his own' SUNDAY TIMES 'Like Game of Thrones, but real' OBSERVER 'Blood, divided loyalties and thundering battles' THE TIMES 'The best battle scenes of any writer I've ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive' GEORGE R.R. MARTIN 'He's called a master storyteller. Really he's cleverer than that' TELEGRAPH 'A reminder of just how good a writer he is' SUNDAY TIMES 'Nobody in the world does this better than Cornwell' LEE CHILD Set in Britain's Dark Ages, this story of Arthur journeys beyond the usual tales of chivalry and romance to introduce Arthur as a man of honor, loyalty, amazing valor, and a man who loves Guinevere more passionately than ever before. It takes a remarkable writer to make an old story as fresh and compelling as the first time we heard it. With The Winter King, the first volume of his magnificent Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell finally turns to the story he was born to write: the mythic saga of King Arthur. The tale begins in Dark Age Britain, a land where Arthur has been banished and Merlin has disappeared, where a child-king sits unprotected on the throne, where religion vies with magic for the souls of the people. It is to this desperate land that Arthur returns, a man at once utterly human and truly heroic: a man of honor, loyalty, and amazing valor; a man who loves Guinevere more passionately than he should; a man whose life is at once tragic and triumphant. As Arthur fights to keep a flicker of civilization alive in a barbaric world, Bernard Cornwell makes a familiar tale into a legend all over again From Bernard Cornwell, The International Bestselling Author And Master Of Historical Fiction. In The Dark Ages, A Legendary Warrior Arises To Unite A Divided Land . . . Uther, The High King Of Britain, Is Dead. His Only Heir Is The Infant Mordred. Yet Each Of The Country's Lesser Kings Seek To Claim The Crown For Themselves. While They Squabble And Spoil For War, A Host Of Saxon Armies Gather, Preparing For Invasion. But No One Has Counted On The Fearsome Warlord Arthur. Handed Power By Merlin And Pursuing A Doomed Romance With The Beautiful Guinevere, Arthur Knows He Will Struggle To Unite The Country - Let Alone Hold Back The Saxon Enemy At The Gates. Yet Destiny Awaits Him . . . The First Of Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles, The Winter King Is A Brilliant Retelling Of The Arthurian Legend, Combining Myth, History And Thrilling Battlefield Action. 'of All The Books I Have Written These Are My Favourites' Bernard Cornwell 'spellbinding Realism' The Times Uther, the High King of Britain, has died, leaving the infant Mordred as his only heir. His uncle, the loyal and gifted warlord Arthur, now rules as caretaker for a country which has fallen into chaos - threats emerge from within the British kingdoms while vicious Saxon armies stand ready to invade. As he struggles to unite Britain and hold back the Saxon enemy, Arthur is embroiled in a doomed romance with beautiful Guinevere. In the dark ages, a legendary warrior struggles to unite Britain ...Uther, the High King of Britain, has died, leaving the infant Mordred as his only heir. His uncle, the loyal and gifted warlord Arthur, now rules as caretaker for a country which has fallen into chaos. A novel on King Arthur, the legendary 6th Century hero, as he battles the Anglo-Saxons in defense of the Celts. Off the battlefield his sidekick, the magician Merlin, does his best to save Druid gods from invading Christianity -- WAR LORD -- From the epic and bestselling author who has gripped millions. ___________ -- The Times