War of the Wolf

Historical Note (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Also by Bernard Cornwell (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

PLACE NAMES (#u9ac2bba6-4dfe-543b-a4b9-963d7a7d2d90)

The spelling of place names in ninth- and tenth-century Britain was an uncertain business, with no consistency and no agreement even about the name itself. Thus London was variously rendered as Lundonia, Lundenberg, Lundenne, Lundene, Lundenwic, Lundenceaster and Lundres. Doubtless some readers will prefer other versions of the names listed below, but I have usually employed whichever spelling is cited in either the Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names or the Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names for the years nearest or contained within Alfred’s reign, AD 871–899, but even that solution is not foolproof. Hayling Island, in 956, was written as both Heilincigae and Hæglingaiggæ. Nor have I been consistent myself; I have preferred the modern form Northumbria to Norðhymbralond to avoid the suggestion that the boundaries of the ancient kingdom coincide with those of the modern county. So this list, like the spellings themselves, is capricious.

Bebbanburg — Bamburgh, Northumberland

Berewic — Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland

Brunanburh — Bromborough, Cheshire

Cair Ligualid — Carlisle, Cumbria

Ceaster — Chester, Cheshire

Cent — Kent

Contwaraburg — Canterbury, Kent

Dunholm — Durham, County Durham

Dyflin — Dublin, Eire

Eoferwic — York, Yorkshire (Saxon name)

Fagranforda — Fairford, Gloucestershire

Farnea Islands — Farne Islands, Northumberland

Gleawecestre — Gloucester, Gloucestershire

Heagostealdes — Hexham, Northumberland

Heahburh — Whitley Castle, Alston, Cumbria

(fictional name)

Hedene — River Eden, Cumbria

Huntandun — Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

Hwite — Whitchurch, Shropshire

Irthinam — River Irthing

Jorvik — York, Yorkshire (Danish/Norse name)

Lindcolne — Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Lindisfarena — Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Northumberland

Lundene — London

Mædlak — River Medlock, Lancashire

Mærse — River Mersey

Mameceaster — Manchester

Monez — Anglesey, Wales

Ribbel — River Ribble, Lancashire

Ribelcastre — Ribchester, Lancashire

Snæland — Iceland

Spura — Birdoswald Roman fort, Cumbria (fictional name)

Sumorsæte — Somerset

Tamweorthin — Tamworth, Staffordshire

Temes — River Thames

Tine — River Tyne

Usa — River Ouse, Yorkshire

Wevere — River Weaver, Cheshire

Wiltunscir — Wiltshire

Wintanceaster — Winchester, Hampshire

Wirhealum — The Wirral, Cheshire

PART ONE (#u9ac2bba6-4dfe-543b-a4b9-963d7a7d2d90)

The Wild Lands (#u9ac2bba6-4dfe-543b-a4b9-963d7a7d2d90)

One (#u9ac2bba6-4dfe-543b-a4b9-963d7a7d2d90)