Nick talks us through Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom, soon to be a BBC Two TV series…
So it seems Vikings are in this season.
Whats it all about?
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Is it worth reading?
If youre a fan of Cornwells then its a given youll like this.
Is it right for TV?
Cornwell is no stranger to his work being put on screen.
I likedSharpe, will I like this?
Brutal, conflicted and untrustworthy, hes more of an anti-hero than any jot down of traditional heroic lead.
Youll see him cheat, murder, and enjoy being bad.
His revenge story ultimately drives the plot, and revenge always makes you want to keep reading/viewing.
What about the other characters?
Ragnar the Fearless and his son Ragnar Ragnarsson represent the joyous and destructive nature of Vikings.
And of course, the main man on which the entire historical novel hangs on plays a major part.
However, he gradually becomes the deeply devout battle commander that history records him as.
Hes basically the Stannis Baratheon of the piece.
People are saying this is the BBCs answer toGame Of Thrones(andVikings) any truth in this?
The similarities are there.
The Viking time-frame is also a great draw, and theres plenty of raiding action to be had.
There are plenty of set-pieces to look forward to in the series.
Its going to be great.
If this is a success then expect to see the next few novels swiftly adapted.
Lastly, who should be in it?
What do you think?
