The Winter King

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

It takes a remarkable writer to make an old story as fresh and compelling as the first time we heard it. With The Winter King, the first volume of his magnificent Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell finally turns to the story he was born to write: the mythic saga of King Arthur.

The tale begins in Dark Age Britain, a land where Arthur has been banished and Merlin has disappeared, where a child-king sits unprotected on the throne, where religion vies with magic for the souls of the people. It is to this desperate land that Arthur returns, a man at once utterly human and truly heroic: a man of honor, loyalty, and amazing valor; a man who loves Guinevere more passionately than he should; a man whose life is at once tragic and triumphant.

As Arthur fights to keep a flicker of civilization alive in a barbaric world, Bernard Cornwell makes a familiar tale into a legend all over again.

Bernard Cornwell fan

I’ve long been a fan of Bernard Cornwell, and his version of Arthurian Legend is a gritty realism of the time period. It strips away all the chivalry that was added during the romanticism, and he brings the reader back to the reality of the hardships of early life in Britain following the fall of Rome. This is not a courtly telling of knights in shining armor, so if that is your expectation you may want to pass.
Jonathan Keeble does a good job, although some of his character voices are a little “over done” and don’t fit the personality of the character, but not anything that makes it unlistenable.

Great King Arthur Adaptation

I really did struggle with the first good chunk of this book. It was super boring in the beginning and was getting lost and I almost gave up with this book. However I’m really really glad I toughed it out because it got really good! Great action and amazing narration! On to the next book in the trilogy!!

Great fun!

Liked the Saxon Chronicles better but this was still good. And I love hearing Jonathan Keeble.

A more level-headed take on the legend we all know

Bernard Cornwell, whose excellent novels of medieval and later times of Great Britain's history, has taken on the legend of King Arthur and woven a tale that strips away most of the fantastic, magical aspects of the man - the king, and written a novel that rings more true, if still woven from the very dim time of the Dark Ages. It negates the biography that grew larger and more incredible with each successive generation of bards, which does not make this book at all dull or weak. Indeed, it is a rousing tale that rivals the King Arthur legend with a more realistic version of adventure.

If you like historical novels set in the early days of British history, treat yourself to THE WINTER KING. I am ready to listen to the second book of Cornwell's trilogy and could not be more delighted to plunge into the next phase of Arthur's life. Enjoy.

AMAZING!!!

Very well written and exquisitely read! looking forward to book 2!! One of the best stories I have encountered!