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The Burning Land

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The Burning Land

By: Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by: Matt Bates
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The fifth novel in Bernard Cornwell’s epic and bestselling series on the making of England and the fate of his great hero, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

BBC2’s major Autumn 2015 TV show THE LAST KINGDOM is based on the first two books in the series.

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, who is encouraged to cruelty by his woman, Skade. 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.

This novel, the fifth in the magnificent series of England's history tells of the final assaults on Alfred's Wessex, that Wessex survived to become England is because men like Uhtred defeated an enemy feared throughout Christendom.

 Action & Adventure Genre Fiction Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Thriller & Suspense War & Military World Literature Fiction Royalty England Middle Ages Viking Mystery
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Critic reviews

Praise for The Burning Land:
‘Cornwell draws a fascinating picture of England as it might have been before anything like England existed’
The Times
Praise for AZINCOURT:
'This is a magnificent and gory work' Daily Mail
'The historical blockbuster of the year' Evening Standard
‘If Bernard Cornwell was born to write one book, this is it. No other historical novelist has acquired such a mastery of the minutiae of warfare in centuries past.’ Daily Telegraph
‘A runaway success’ Observer
Praise for Bernard Cornwell:
‘The characterisation, as ever, is excellent…And one can only admire the little touches that bring the period to life. He can also claim to be a true poet of both the horror and the glory of war.’ Sunday Telegraph
This is typical Cornwell, meticulously researched, massive in scope, brilliant in execution’. News of the World
‘He’s called a master story-teller. Really he’s cleverer than that.’ Telegraph
All stars
Most relevant
Where’s Jonathon keeble gone !!!! I hate it when this happens, Uhtred sounds like a wet wipe

Honestly Bates isn’t even trying
He mixes between American accents, some sort of wierd Middle Eastern accent for Danes

He hasn’t put ANY effort into pronunciation

Truly gutted
This is not acceptable
Imagine watching a 2 hour film and every single character is replaced 60mins in with people who can’t act
This has ruined the series....

Matt who ?

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Just buy the paper copy and read yourself. New narrator has ruined this series for me. Mispronounced names, no shred of accents to differentiate characters. Just reads the words with no acting of any kind. The main character no longer sounds like a battle hardened warrior. Wholely unbelievable and hard to follow.

Gutted.

Not the same with new narrator

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Okay so I hold my hands up. When I first listened to this book I was disappointed. I thought that Matt Bates wasn’t as good Jonathan Keeble, I thought his accents were lacking, his pronunciation seemed off and overall just didn’t give the reading the passion that it deserves. I came to the review section and saw like myself many felt the same. However, some months later I’m just about the start War Lord (the final book) and I promise you it is worth every minute. Matt Bates gets better, he develops accents for each character, he brings the story to life much more and the adventure just gets bigger and better.

Please persevere! You won’t be upset if you do!

Please don’t give up on this series!

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I really enjoyed this book, I love this period of history. The new narrator is as good as the previous narrator. I look forward to listening to the rest of the series.

Excellent. book, excellent narration.

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Nowhere near as good with Matt Bates :-( please bring back Jonathan Keeble he was the perfect voice in sound and the way he delivered it.

New narrator not good

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