The first book in Bernard Cornwell's number one bestselling series The Warrior Chronicles, on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Uhtred is an English boy, born into ninth-century aristocracy. Orphaned at ten, he is captured by the Danes and taught the Viking ways. But when Alfred, King of Wessex, leads an English army to fight the Viking warriors Uhtred's struggle to know where his loyalties lie must be resolved. In the bloodiest of battles he will discover his true allegiance and the conflict at the heart of a hero will be played out in the fight for England.