Lords of the North

The Saxon Chronicles, Book 3

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Tom Sellwood

Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

The year is 878, and the Saxons of Wessex, under King Alfred, have defeated the Danes to keep their kingdom free. Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, helped Alfred win that victory, but now he is disgusted by Alfred's lack of generosity. Uhtred flees Wessex, going north to search for his stepsister in the formidable stronghold of Dunholm.

Uhtred arrives in the north to discover rebellion, chaos, and fear. His only ally is Hild, a West Saxon nun fleeing her calling, and his best hope is his sword. Needing other allies, he chooses Guthred, a seemingly deluded slave who believes he is a king. Together they cross the Pennines to where a desperate alliance of fanatical Christians and beleaguered Danes form a new army to confront the terrible Viking lords who rule Northumbria. Instead of victory, Uhtred finds betrayal. But he also discovers love and redemption as he is forced to turn once again to his reluctant ally, Alfred the Great.

A breathtaking adventure, Lords of the North is also the story of the creation of modern England, as the English and Danes gradually become one people, adopting each other's languages and fighting side by side.

Ready for battle? Don't miss the rest of the Saxon Chronicles Series, including The Last Kingdom (Book 1), The Pale Horseman (Book 2), and Sword Song (Book 4).

©2007 by Bernard Cornwell (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"Cornwell...breathes life into ancient history with disarming ease, peppering it with humor and even innocence." (Publishers Weekly)

what happen to Jonathan Keeble,

What does Tom Sellwood bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jonathan Keeble, performed the first 4 books and nailed the voices of all the characters for me. why would you change performers in the middle of this epic series?I cant listen to the other performers not because they are not good, but because im now use to Jonathan Keeble's reading and voices. please bring him Back!!!!

Any additional comments?

please bring Back Jonathan Keeble.

Sellwood is AWFUL! Bring back KEEBLES!!!

Tom Sellwood has absolutely NO business narrating this series PERIOD!!! He is very well spoken but utterly lacks the deep, raw, throaty, strong, authoritative, passionate, GRITTY & MASCULINE voice necessary to convincingly portray a 9th century Viking Warlord and the battle hardened men around him!!!!! His voice/voices is/are shamefully weak and his portrayal is truly nothing shy of disastrously flat and impotent. Thoroughly and totally disappointed after having started the first two books in the series read by the amazingly talented and powerful John Keebles, whose voice is the PERFECTION for this series!! But for whatever horrible reason the John Keebles version from book 3 and on are not available in the U.S. to purchase so I had been forced to settle for the awful Sellwood version to continue Uhtrid's mighty tale... Dear god I beg you please fix this awful mess and give us Keebles versions right this moment!!! And my money back for the god awful version I just muscled my way through!!! Please help!!!

Different reader

Any additional comments?

The author needs to keep the same reader from the first 2 books. It is very distracting to have another Utred voice. Especially one much less masculine.

Good story, didn't like the change of narrator

The narrator of the first two books was a lot better. The story was as gripping as the other books in the series, however, the change of narrator spoilt it for me.

I can't listen to this guy

After two books with Jonathan keeble, it's impossible to start, much less finish this book with anyone else.

narrator is the worst. Johnathan Keeble is the man

wow! quite possible the worst narration I've heard yet!!. he just about ruined the whole series for me. Keeble is in the next book but I'm stopping after that until Keeble does the whole series. Tom Sellwood should go read children's books and leave these novels to real men!

Bring back Johnathan Keeble

the story is by far the most rewarding in the Last Kingdom series. However the audio book suffers from bland and lack luster delivery. This is especially disappointing after recently listening to Johnathan, who completely sells the books for me.

They need to stop changing the narrator

Would you listen to Lords of the North again? Why?

No. It's a great novel. I'll probably read it before I listen to it again.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The only thing the narrator could have done better is be the original narrator: Jonathan Keeble. Please STOP changing narrators. Once you get used to a voice over the course of three novels, it is really hard to associate that character with another voice.

Especially in a book that told in the 1st person perspective.

What were they thinking?

A great story continuing the "Saxon Series" ruined by the poor choice of narrator. Sellwood has emasculated Uhtred, reducing the grizzled, feared shield wall warrior of Keeble to a wimpy, petulant schoolboy. Should have heeded the reviews and read the print version.

I miss Jonathan Keeble

What made the experience of listening to Lords of the North the most enjoyable?

I am enjoying the Saxon series and enjoy hearing further adventures of Uthred.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I am sure he would have been a good narrator for any other adventure series. However the only narrator that can really do justice to this series is Jonathan Keeble.

Any additional comments?

If you ever have the rest of the Saxon series narrated by Jonathan Keeble I am sure I will purchase them again. He is does an amazing job with this series.