Quick Answer
The first novel is The Last Kingdom, and it begins the long story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon-born warrior raised by Danes. The television series draws on the books’ central character, historical setting, and major conflicts, but it does not follow every event in the same order.
If you want to begin with the source material, start with The Last Kingdom. It is the first part of a continuous saga, not a standalone novel.
What Book Is The Last Kingdom Based On?
The screen series takes its title from Cornwell’s first novel, The Last Kingdom. The books follow Uhtred as he moves between Saxon and Danish worlds during the struggle for control of early medieval England.
Cornwell mixes real rulers, battles, and political events with Uhtred’s fictional account. Because the novels are told in Uhtred’s first-person voice, they spend far more time inside his head than the television series can. His loyalties, resentments, ambitions, and judgments of the people around him are a major part of the reading experience.
Here is the complete series in reading order:
| Order | Novel | What it continues |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Last Kingdom | Uhtred’s early life and the beginning of the larger conflict |
| 2 | The Pale Horseman | The immediate aftermath of book one |
| 3 | The Lords of the North | Uhtred’s continuing place in the struggle between kingdoms |
| 4 | Sword Song | The next stage of Uhtred’s service and rivalries |
| 5 | The Burning Land | The consequences of earlier loyalties and conflicts |
| 6 | Death of Kings | A direct continuation of the political and personal story |
| 7 | The Pagan Lord | Uhtred’s later campaign and changing position |
| 8 | The Empty Throne | The next chapter in the long-running saga |
| 9 | Warriors of the Storm | Continuing conflicts over land, power, and allegiance |
| 10 | The Flame Bearer | Uhtred’s story moves toward its later arc |
| 11 | War of the Wolf | The continuing struggle in later life |
| 12 | Sword of Kings | The penultimate novel |
| 13 | War Lord | The conclusion of the series |
Publication order is the right reading order. Each book builds on earlier relationships, political changes, and unresolved conflicts.
Should You Read or Listen Before Watching?
You can watch The Last Kingdom without reading the books first. The series introduces Uhtred, the Saxon-Dane divide, and the political struggle clearly enough for new viewers.
Read first if you enjoy long historical fiction and want more time with the setting. The novels give greater attention to:
- Uhtred’s private thoughts and first-person narration
- Religious and political tensions behind major decisions
- Travel, warfare, landholding, and personal loyalty
- Secondary characters and long-running rivalries
- The historical events surrounding the formation of England
A simple way to choose:
| If you want… | Start with… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A fast-moving version of the story | The TV series | The screen adaptation moves quickly through major events |
| Uhtred’s full voice and more historical context | The Last Kingdom novel | The books are told directly from Uhtred’s perspective |
| Something to listen to over time | The audiobooks, beginning with book one | The series follows one continuous storyline |
| More after finishing the show | The Last Kingdom novel | The books are not a scene-for-scene recap of the adaptation |
If you have already watched the show, do not try to find the exact book that matches your last season or film. The adaptation changes the timing, combines material, and rearranges events. Starting with book one gives you the clearest version of Cornwell’s story.
Readers who do not enjoy long series may prefer the television version first. Thirteen novels are a substantial commitment, and the books work best when read in sequence.
How Close Is the Adaptation?
The Last Kingdom is faithful to the books’ main premise and historical atmosphere, but it is not a page-by-page adaptation.
Both versions center on Uhtred’s divided identity, his connection to both Saxon and Danish cultures, and the long conflict over England’s future. They also share many major characters, historical figures, and turning points.
The differences are most noticeable in pacing and structure. The show moves through years of story quickly, while the novels have more room for the aftermath of battles, changing alliances, family disputes, and shifts in power. Some plotlines are shortened, some characters have smaller or larger roles, and events do not always happen in the same sequence.
| Element | Books | TV series |
|---|---|---|
| Uhtred’s perspective | First-person narration throughout | Seen from the outside through performance and dialogue |
| Pace | More time for political fallout, travel, and relationships | Faster movement through major conflicts |
| Story structure | Thirteen connected novels | Condenses and rearranges material for television |
| Historical background | More space for context and explanation | Focuses on the most immediate dramatic stakes |
| Best for | Readers who want the fullest version of Uhtred’s story | Viewers who want a direct, visual introduction to the world |
Light spoiler note: The later seasons and follow-up screen story draw from material spread across the later novels rather than adapting one final book on its own. Reading the full series is the most straightforward way to follow Cornwell’s intended progression.
Best Way to Experience the Original Story
Start with The Last Kingdom and continue in order. The series is one long character journey, so skipping around can spoil major changes in Uhtred’s life and the kingdoms around him.
Print and ebook editions suit readers who like to slow down over place names, rulers, and historical details. The novels contain a large cast and a long timeline, but the story itself keeps moving through conflicts, journeys, and shifting loyalties.
Audiobooks are a natural option for anyone who prefers listening during commutes, walks, or household tasks. Since Uhtred narrates the story, the first-person format carries over especially well to audio.
A useful reading plan is:
- Begin with The Last Kingdom.
- Read through The Lords of the North, the third book, before deciding whether you want to continue through the entire saga.
- Continue in order if the series has drawn you in.
- Avoid jumping ahead to match the television timeline.
The first three books give a solid sense of the series’ voice, historical setting, and long-term direction without asking you to commit to all 13 novels immediately.
What to Read or Listen to Next
After The Last Kingdom, continue with The Pale Horseman. It picks up Uhtred’s story directly and develops the pressures around faith, family, kingship, and survival.
After finishing the Saxon Stories, these Bernard Cornwell and historical-fiction series offer related territory:
- Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles — A darker retelling of Arthurian legend, beginning with The Winter King.
- Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series — Military historical fiction set during the Napoleonic Wars. Begin with Sharpe’s Tiger if reading in chronological story order.
- Conn Iggulden’s Conqueror series — A fictionalized saga about the rise of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire.
- Ken Follett’s historical novels — Large-scale stories with long timelines, broad casts, and social change alongside personal drama.
- Giles Kristian’s Viking-era fiction — A fitting direction for readers who want more warfare, seafaring, and early medieval settings.
For the closest continuation of The Last Kingdom, though, continue through Cornwell’s complete 13-book series. The novels give Uhtred’s life and the changing world around him far more room than the screen adaptation.
FAQ
Is The Last Kingdom series based on a book?
Yes. The TV series is based on Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories, also called The Saxon Tales. The first novel is The Last Kingdom.
Is The Last Kingdom book a standalone?
No. The Last Kingdom is the first novel in a 13-book series following Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
Should I read the books before watching The Last Kingdom?
No. The show works well as an introduction. Read the books first if you want more historical detail, a longer version of the story, and Uhtred’s first-person narration.
How many The Last Kingdom books are there?
There are 13 novels in Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Stories series, beginning with The Last Kingdom and ending with War Lord.
Do the books and TV show tell the same story?
They share Uhtred, the historical setting, and the broad conflict over England, but the show condenses, rearranges, and changes parts of the novels.
What is the right order to read The Last Kingdom books?
Read in publication order: begin with The Last Kingdom, follow with The Pale Horseman, and continue through War Lord.