The Last Kingdom

Fear may be able to influence a man, but confidence fights fear. Volume 1 of the series Uhtred of Bebbanburg

Uhtred of Bebbanburg came into the world in the 9th century, when his native Britain was ravaged by marauding Vikings. His life was turned upside down after his brother and father, a Northumbrian grandee, were killed by the bloodthirsty Danes. The fearless orphan was forcibly adopted by the murderer of his loved ones - Count Ragnar the Fearless - and raised in the spirit of Viking customs. Although the young man has never broken ties with his compatriots, he has long hesitated about where he belongs. At first he fights in the ranks of the Danes, but eventually enters the service of King Alfred the Great, the last British monarch who still resists the onslaught of the invaders from the north. With the British troops in tow, he faces the biggest attack yet from the sea marauders and his toughest task yet: for the first time to stand within the walls of the shields and face the mightiest Viking, Ubbe.

The BBC made a successful series of the same name based on the book, starring Alexander Dreymon.