hedop
Sword Song
The Last Kingdom Series, Book 4
Autor: Bernard Cornwell
Sprecher: Jonathan Keeble
The fourth in the best-selling Alfred series from number-one historical novelist, Bernard Cornwell. The year is 885, and England is at peace, divided between the Danish kingdom to the north and Alfred's kingdom of Wessex in the south. But trouble stirs, a dead man has risen and new Vikings have arrived to occupy London. It is a dangerous time, and it falls to Uhtred, half Saxon, half Dane, a man feared and respected the length and breadth of Britain, to expel the Viking raiders and take control of London for Alfred.
It's always bitter sweet to say goodbye
Von hedop Am hilfreichsten 23.03.2019
Unfortunately this is the last of the Keeble books. Jonathan Keeble is THE voice of Uthred. No one comes close and what comes next (for 2 books only thank god) is dreadful. He makes Uthred sound like Uthred and gives every place it's proper name with the right pronounciation and gives every character their proper feel with his stellar voice work. I always dread having to go without him from this book on.
The book itself is one of the inbetweeners that Cornwell makes us go through every since the great Trilogy. Book 1, 2 and 3 are stellar, Book 4 is probably one of the weakest. Book 5 is decent while not stellar, Book 6 is very good again, Book 7 is again a bit of a dud, Book 8 is pretty good because it has some really nice B story plots, Book 9 is again fairly strong. Book 10 is decent simply because we finally reach a sort of end and Book 11 again is dreadful. What holds this up is Keebles voice work. So treat yourself because you won't hear Uthred as convincing as this again for the next 7 books.
The Lords of the North
Enter a world where bloody battles and heroic deeds combine in the historic struggle to unite Britain in the face of a common enemy. The third instalment in Bernard Cornwell's King Alfred series, follows on from the outstanding previous novels The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman. The year is 878 and the Vikings have been thrown out of Wessex. Uhtred, fresh from fighting for Alfred in the battle to free Wessex, travels north to seek revenge for his father's death, killed in a bloody raid by Uhtred's old enemy, renegade Danish lord, Kjartan.
Hattrick for Jonathan Keeble
Third time in a row that he absolutely nails Uthred and all the supporting cast with his stellar voice acting. Absolutely brilliant. On top of that this is probably the best story out of all the books so far (11 by my last count). So you get the total package. The best voice of Uthred and probably the best story Cornwell has churned out over the last 20 years (which includes Sharpe).
The Pale Horseman
A Saxon raised by Vikings. A pagan fighting for a Christian King. The conflict at the heart of a hero will be played out in the fight for England. It is 877. Across the kingdoms of Britain the Danes are gaining strength. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a pagan warrior, must decide who he will align with: the Vikings who raised him or Alfred, King of the West Saxons.
Another Master Class by Jonathan Keeble
Jonathan Keeble does it again. As with the first book Keeble breathes live into the book and gives every character a distinct voice. It's really amazing and well worth listening too. He sounds like what the TV Uthred should have been like and I always dread having to go without him after book 5 as to me, he is the real Uthred. If you are listening to this than you already know you like the story, so no point in discussing it.
The first book in a brand-new series, The Last Kingdom is set in England during the reign of King Alfred. Uhtred is an English boy, born into the aristocracy of ninth-century Northumbria. Orphaned at 10, he is captured and adopted by a Dane and taught the Viking ways. Yet Uhtred's fate is indissolubly bound up with Alfred, King of Wessex, who rules over the only English kingdom to survive the Danish assault. The struggle between the English and the Danes and the strife between christianity and paganism is the background to Uhtred's growing up.
Great first book in the whole series but best of all the man reading it is the real deal. He makes Uthred sounds like Uthred, pronounces the Old Saxon correctly, names all the places correctly and gives every character a unique feel. It's a pleasure to hear someone be on the top of his game and breath real life into a book.
The Burning Land
Sprecher: Stephen Perring
In the last years of the ninth century, King Alfred of Wessex is in failing health, and his heir is an untested youth. The Danes, who have failed so many times to conquer Wessex, smell opportunity.... First comes Harald Bloodhair, a savage warrior leading a Viking horde. But Alfred still has the services of Uhtred, his unwilling warlord, who leads Harald into a trap and, at Farnham in Surrey, inflicts one of the greatest defeats the Vikings were ever to suffer.
Avoid it like the plague if you can help it!
I have absolutely no idea why they thought changing the narrator from Jonathan Keeble to this clown. He mispronounces every name. Uthred hails from Northumbria and this takes place in Saxon England so certain vowels have to be pronounced Germanic, that includes Uthred which is pronounced like the present day northern U is pronounced. He also doesn't use the historic names that Cornwell is using in the book but instead uses the modern equivalent which Bernard Cornwell gives in a sort of addendum at the beginning of each book. Perring is absolutely dreadful in every other regard as well. There is zero effort put into making characters sound distinct. When Keeble did his father Pyrlig, Finan, Uthred, Steappa and Beocca you would instantly know who is talking here? Nothing. No inflections or change of voice... nothing. It's dreadful.
The story itself is great and absolutely stunning as always but I wish they would go back and re-record all the books with Jonathan Keeble. He is the master. So unless you absolutely need the two books that are read by Perring... skip them. Matt Bates isn't as good as Keeble but he is fine.