The Burning Land

The Burning Land
Bernard Cornwell

The fifth novel in Bernard Cornwell’s epic and bestselling series on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.BBC2’s major Autumn 2015 TV show THE LAST KINGDOM is based on the first two books in the series.To King Alfred he is the ‘lord of battles’. He has gained riches, loyal men and a beloved wife. But Uhtred is dogged by betrayal and tragedy.The ailing Alfred presses Uhtred to swear loyalty to his son and heir Edward, preventing the warrior lord from taking vengeance on those who stole his home at Bebbanburg. Now Uthred will once again defend the Christian kingdom – in a battle which could smash the growing power of the deadly Danes.In so doing he meets a woman more dangerous than any warlord. A killer, a schemer with a dark power over men’s hearts: Skade.Uhtred of Bebbanburg’s mind is as sharp as his sword. A thorn in the side of the priests and nobles who shape his fate, this Saxon raised by Vikings is torn between the life he loves and those he has sworn to serve.

THE BURNING LAND

BERNARD CORNWELL

Copyright (#ulink_e6a1a603-c830-5328-9e43-11cc8fe4b94f)

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it, while at times based on historical figures, are the work of the author’s imagination.

Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2009

Copyright © Bernard Cornwell 2009

Map © John Gilkes 2009

Family Tree © Colin Hall 2009

Bernard Cornwell asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication

Source ISBN: 9780007219742

Ebook Edition © OCTOBER 2009 ISBN: 9780007290017

Version: 2017-05-05

THE BURNING LAND

is for

Alan and Jan Rust

CONTENTS

Cover (#u28aa3fe9-b420-51ab-a178-f671e22fa80c)

Title Page (#ud15446b8-38f2-557e-8711-1ade7348c69d)

Copyright (#u960cf68f-558a-5ccc-9075-1a77404ef0a5)

Dedication (#u5bd44c55-4661-5108-b24c-8e66b0d34f7d)

Place-names (#udd20c2d1-31c1-50c1-8cbc-dfc44804b7f1)

Map (#u760ef0d2-d237-5923-bf88-9336c9f5c9ca)

Family Tree (#u9e85eb04-e90e-5258-8e97-df8afbd62a16)

Part One: THE WARLORD (#u033a7233-cbf3-57d2-9b9b-328d4d053c3c)

Chapter One (#u7a93d53e-58bf-5219-b0a1-fecdacd9e877)

Chapter Two (#uebad6f44-e77a-5c85-b487-1c3b0be594ec)

Chapter Three (#ub20aef7b-cf21-5d6b-9017-a705a8b23cbd)

Chapter Four (#u26ab3d08-cf7c-559c-9451-a869f5c04a4e)

Part Two: VIKING (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Part Three: BATTLE’S EDGE (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Keep Reading (#litres_trial_promo)