Bibliography

Date first published	25/05/2023
ISBN Number	978-0-00-835292-9
Page Count	272 h/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

My name is Uhtred. I am the son of Utred, who was the son of Uhtred and his father was also called Uhtred...

So began the first ever Last Kingdom novel and now, nearly twenty years later, Bernard Cornwell completes the epic tale with three wonderful short stories accompanied by eighty fascinating recipes bringing the Anglo-Saxon world to vivid life...

The book has been co-written with Suzanne Pollak, who is a cookery expert.

Review

I am, I have to say a bit stumped by this book and who it is really aimed at. The short stories, which are very good, will appeal to the fans of Uhtred.

The receipes, however, are a bit of a mystery as to who they are aimed for. As an avid Bernard Cornwell reader, the receipes don't really interest me. I will admit I did read the first half dozen or so with interest. However beyond that they didn't really seem very appealing and I skipped through the bulk of them, knowing that I would not be cooking any of them.

The first short story is set when Uhtred is still a child, and subject to a rather harsh life, and how he beats the bully Grinden and his father Kindrick. All good standard fare and fills in a bit of Uhtreds life before it changes for ever in The Last Kingdom.

The second story is set around the time of Sword Song when Uhtred is based in and around London. It tells the tale of Uhtred accompanying Alfred to a monastery to meet with a Danish Lord - Hoskuld who he believes wants to become a Christian. However when they arrive they find the monastery in ruins and a young girl.

The final story, and the best is set after War Lord is shows us life for Uhtred as Lord of Bebbanburg. Raiders have landed, and looted a village, taking many of the adults and children to be slaves. The story tells of Uhtreds battle to find the slave trader, and his final shield wall, before returning home.

The short stories are an interesting little diversion which closes the Viking series.

The historical notes are of interest, in setting the scene, but do not add anything new to the notes that have appeared with each of the books.

The receipes are interesting, I'll leave you to decide there worth. I think it should be remmembered that the receipes have been reconstructed, and the book doesn't mention where the information has been derived from.

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