Bernard Cornwell: Sharpe vs the Saxon Stories — Which Series to Read First
February 10, 2026
Bernard Cornwell is the most reliable writer of historical fiction alive. He writes men in battle with a precision and momentum that few authors match — and across his career he has built two series that stand as the peaks of the genre.
Sharpe — the definitive Napoleonic War novels. The Saxon Stories (The Last Kingdom) — the definitive Viking Age novels.
If you’re new to Cornwell, choosing between them is a good problem to have.
Sharpe: The Essentials
The Sharpe series follows Richard Sharpe, a working-class soldier who rises from the ranks to become an officer in Wellington’s army during the Napoleonic Wars. It’s a remarkable premise: Sharpe is technically outside his class in the officer corps, and the class tension is as sharp as the battles.
There are 24 Sharpe novels, written across 40 years. The publication order and chronological order differ significantly. Cornwell wrote the Waterloo novel first (Sharpe’s Eagle, set in 1809) and only later filled in Sharpe’s earlier life in India.
For new readers, start with Sharpe’s Tiger — the chronologically first novel, set in India in 1799. It shows Sharpe as a private soldier and is a better introduction to the character than the publication-first novels.
Alternatively, start with Sharpe’s Rifles — publication Book 2, chronological middle — which is the starting point for the popular ITV series starring Sean Bean.
The complete Sharpe reading order is on the Sharpe series page.
The Saxon Stories: The Essentials
The Saxon Stories series (also called The Last Kingdom series) follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon lord raised by Vikings, torn between two worlds as Alfred the Great battles to create England. Thirteen novels, ending in the 10th century.
The Saxon Stories are more unified than Sharpe — there’s a single protagonist from birth to old age, a continuous storyline, and a clear historical question driving everything: will England survive?
Start with The Last Kingdom (Book 1) — unlike Sharpe, there’s no publication vs chronological order issue. Book 1 is Book 1.
Which Should You Read First?
Read Sharpe if you:
- Are primarily interested in the Napoleonic Wars
- Enjoy a protagonist defined by class conflict
- Want a series where individual books are largely standalone
- Have watched the TV series with Sean Bean
Read The Saxon Stories if you:
- Are primarily interested in the Viking Age and early English history
- Want a series with a single continuous arc
- Have watched the Netflix/BBC series The Last Kingdom
Both series are excellent. Most Cornwell readers eventually read both.
The TV Adaptations
Sharpe (ITV, 1993–2008) stars Sean Bean and is a faithful, beloved adaptation. The films roughly follow the publication order rather than chronological. The TV Sharpe is the same character as the book Sharpe — rough, smart, resentful, brilliant in battle.
The Last Kingdom (BBC/Netflix, 2015–2022) adapts the Saxon Stories across five seasons. It’s one of the best historical adaptations of the streaming era, faithful to the books’ spirit if not always their specifics. Seven Kings Must Die (Netflix film, 2023) concludes the story.
Cornwell’s Other Series
Cornwell has also written the Grail Quest series, set during the Hundred Years War, and the Starbuck Chronicles, set during the American Civil War. Both are excellent and underrated — Grail Quest especially, which combines historical adventure with something approaching genuine mysticism.