The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Uhtred of Bebbanburg is the hero of all flawed heroes—glorious and human, innocent and cunning. You root for him, cheer for him, cry for him, but at the same time, want to spank his bottom for being so irritating and arrogant. In short, Mr. Cornwell did a fantastic job in creating an unforgettable, complex fictional protagonist in a world where the Vikings fought the Saxons over what is now England.
In this book, we meet a young Uhtred, who was kidnapped/adopted by the equally unforgettable Dane, Ragnar the Fearless. Ragnar loved him like a son, and we see in Uhtred's relationship with his adoptive family that the Vikings, often portrayed as raping and pillaging heathens, also had a culture and religion as rich as the Christian Saxons'. The love between "father and son" was communicated so well in Mr. Cornwell's writing that you could almost hear your heart breaking as a grieving Uhtred shouts Ragnar's name after a pivotal battle.
The book is funny as well; Uhtred's narrating voice is as witty and sardonic as they come. I particularly enjoyed his repartees with Father Beocca, whom he secretly loves and respects.
I spent Christmas Eve reading this book. And boy, was it worth it.
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