THE HISTORY BEHIND THE FICTION: THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT PRESENTED IN SAXON STORIES , BY BERNARD CORNWELL

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present the historical context of the narrative space of the literary series Saxon Stories (2004-2020), by British author Bernard Cornwell. After briefly summarizing the plot of the first three novels in the series, we aim to explore the historical backdrop by discussing the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian peoples, as well as their interactions in the 9th century British lands. Notably, the cultural exchange between these groups is significant. Moreover, the relations between these two peoples led to cultural “hybridity”, which influenced the formation of English society and identity. This aspect is particularly relevant to the historical novels comprising Saxon Stories, as the protagonist and narrator, Uhtred, embodies this hybridity. Throughout the narrative, Uhtred experiences a sense of division between the two cultures: he is not able to state whether he considers himself an Anglo-Saxon or a Dane