num_pages: 335
description: The master of historical fiction presents the iconic story of King Alfred and the making of a nation. As the ninth century wanes England appears about to be plunged into chaos once more. For the Viking-raised but Saxon-born warrior Uhtred whose life seems to shadow the making of England this presents him with difficult choices. King Alfred is dying and his passing threatens the island of Britain to renewed warfare. Alfred wants his son Edward to succeed him but there are other Saxon claimants to the throne as well as ambitious pagan Vikings to the north. Uhtred's loyalty - and his vows - were to Alfred not to his son and despite his long years of service to Alfred he is still not committed to the Saxon cause. His own desire is to reclaim his long lost lands and castle to the north. But the challenge to him as the king's warrior is that he knows that he will either be the means of making Alfred's dream of a united and Christian England come to pass or be responsible for condemning it to oblivion. This novel is a dramatic story of the power of tribal commitment and the terrible difficulties of divided loyalties. This is the making of England magnificently brought to life.
language: English
title: Death of Kings
publisher: HarperCollins