Uhtred — Man of the Middle Ground.
Winter fell upon Sisters Country yesterday and took us up in her icy grip. It was -5 degrees at the hall of Clan Cornelius this morning, with about three inches of snow on the ground. The trees are flocked with white and the light of dawn was a glorious blend of gold and purple.
I spent a couple of hours on the wood pile, splitting stove wood for a winter camping excursion next week and to leave the women well-supplied while I am gone. Then the Frontier Partisan Biathlon — iron and lead.
All of this earned a couple of hours on the couch, finishing off The Last Kingdom. Based on Bernard Cornwell’s Warrior Chronicles, it is an eight-episode BBC series, which has been picked up for a second season by Netflix. The Last Kingdom of the title is 9th Century Wessex under King Alfred — the only English land that has not fallen to the ravages of the Danes.
The protagonist is a Saxon named Uhtred who was captured as a youth and raised as a Dane. He’s that man of the middle ground, caught between cultures, the figure that has come to exercise so much fascination for me. He is King Alfred’s Man Who Knows Indians. It is an excellent depiction of a man stuck fighting on behalf of a culture that is in fundamental ways alien to him, and which despises him.
Uhtred’s relationship with Alfred (who will become The Great) is fraught and difficult. The young warrior is a pagan in a Christian kingdom, and a proud, impetuous and arrogant one at that.
The Last Kingdom is a well-wrought Frontier Partisan tale, for this was as wild a frontier as has ever existed. I was quite caught up in it, and you will find it a fine tale to imbibe on a frozen winter night.
Leofric is Uhtred’s only true friend.
Ragnar, Uhtred’s brother Dane.
Bridda, a fellow Saxon captive among the Danes, Uhtred’s first lover, and a hardcore pagan.
Mildrith, Uhtred’s Christian wife.
Iseult, a Celtic seer. Uhtred’s love life is complicated.
VS says
I’ve heard good reviews of the storyline, but the weapons and armor are terrible. If you want to see some great looking and accurate Anglo-Saxons (albeit from a few centuries earlier than the Cromwell series) check out the Facebook page for Wulfheodenas.
https://m.facebook.com/Wulfheodenas/
JimC says
I’m not well-versed in the period, so that stuff doesn’t jump out at me like it would for something set in the 18th-20th century. It’s very typically Cornwell — a loathsome backstabbing POS adversary in your own camp, etc. Headstrong hero who gets himself in trouble constantly and extricates himself through conspicuous heroism. He’s been telling the same story since Sharpe, but it’s a good un.
VS says
Sharpe is what got me interested in military history. Cornwell can tell a great adventure story, there is no doubt about that!
PS-I am loving your book so far!
PPS-Have you seen “Alone in the Wilderness”? It occasionally airs on PBS. Great documentary film on Dick Proenneke, a modern frontiersman (not so much a partisan) living on his own off the land in The Alaskan wilderness beginning in the late 1960s through the end of the 20th century.
JimC says
PBS piece is not familiar to me. I’ll have to run it down. Glad you like the book.
Matthew says
Got mine in the mail yesterday, but no one thought to check the mail until today. ERRR!
I read the first chapter on Simon Kenton. Very interesting.
JimC says
Cool!
VS says
Check out http://www.dickproenneke.com/
There are some links to clips from the film. I think you’ll like it.
john roberts says
Speaking of Wulfheodenas, if you can find it, get the book ” Woden’s Warriors.” It’s expensive, but worth every penny.
JimC says
Spendy he says…
Amazon has it at more than $3k. Now THAT’s some plunder!
john roberts says
I guess I’m lucky I bought it when I did (last year). It cost me $75.00 and I thought that was damned expensive.
JimC says
Investment bibliophilia. Love it!