An illustration of an ancient helmet with a book instead of a plume of feathers on an orange background

Books-Based-On-Mythology_Hero-Desktop_Penguin

Reading lists

The best novels based on mythology from around the world

A Novel of Arthur

Enemy of God

From Bernard Cornwell, the creator of the No. 1 bestselling Sharpe novels. Arthur has brought a fragile peace to Britain - but it cannot last . . . 
 
Uniting the restive British kingdoms behind him, Arthur believes he can now hold back the Saxons threatening the country. Meanwhile, Merlin sets out on a quest to uncover the sacred Treasures of Britain, hoping they will prove decisive in the coming battle. 
 
But in a country where the cult of the Christians is spreading, Merlin's quest is divisive. And the ambitions of the rival warlord Lancelot threaten the delicate peace. Could even those closest to Arthur be moved to betray him? 
 
In the second book of the Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell brilliantly retells the Arthurian legend, combining myth, history and thrilling battlefield action. 
 
'Wonderful and haunting' People Magazine 
 
'Of all the books I have written these are my favourites' Bernard Cornwell

Bernard Cornwell, bestselling author of the Warlord Chronicles and the Sharpe series, is married and lives in Cape Cod, USA.

The Warrior King has brought peace to Britain - but for how long? 
 
Following a hard-fought victory, Arthur appears to have at last won the unity of the British Kingdoms. He turns his attention towards the invading Saxons, while Merlin begins a quest to uncover the sacred Treasures of Britain, believing they will bring the might of the old Gods behind Arthur for one last decisive battle. But the quest soon unravels the fragile peace, as bitter rivalries come to the fore and threaten to undo Arthur's successes, while those closest to him move to betrayal.

Excalibur

From the No. 1 bestselling author of WAR LORD comes an epic retelling of the Arthurian legend, from the bestselling Last Kingdom series 
 
After rebellions and betrayals by those he believed loved him most, Arthur looks at his most weak. 
 
His Saxon enemies decide to strike before he regains his strength, plunging Britain into war. It will require all Arthur's leadership and military cunning to win this last battle. 
 
But in this final struggle of the warlord, the intrigues of Mordred, now the adult heir to the throne of Britain, and the dark magic of the priestess Nimue could conspire to bring about Arthur's downfall. 
 
Even his trusty blade Excaliber may not be sharp enough to save him . . . 
 
From the epic and bestselling author who has gripped millions, Bernard Cornwell concludes The Warlord Chronicles, bringing the Arthurian legend to thrilling new life. 
_______ 
 
'A powerful and dramatic retelling of the Arthurian legend' Sharon Penman 
 
'Of all the books I have written these are my favourites' Bernard Cornwell

Arthur's final test of courage is upon him . . . 
 
Arthur has crushed Lancelot's rebellion, but at a cost. Guinevere's betrayal has left him reeling, and his Saxon enemies seek to destroy him while he is weak. Chaos threatens to engulf Britain. Yet Arthur is a military genius and noble leader. As the battle draws close, he prepares to fight his way to victory at Mount Badon and also win back the woman he lost. But in the final journey of the warlord, the intrigues of Mordred, now the adult heir to the throne of Britain, and the magics of the priestess Nimue could prove to be Arthur's downfall.

Sea Lord

Johnny Rossendale has spent the last four years on the seas, away from the titled family he despises. But now he must turn his sailing cutter, the Sunflower, around and sail to Devon, where his mother lies dying. 
 
When Johnny makes landfall, though, he finds that his return is eagerly anticipated by some very sinister foes. After an attempt on his life, he realises that someone thinks a missing painting that belongs to the family is in his hands - and, worse, they are prepared to go to any lengths to get hold of it. 
 
But as Earl of Stowey, Johnny has eight centuries of robber-baron blood pumping through his veins. He won't let the family fortune fall into the hands of others without a fight . . .

Crackdown

He thought he had it easy, until he fell into the middle of a murderous drug war . . . 
 
'This one you'll have trouble putting down' New York Times 
 
Nick Breakspear thought he had opted for the easy life, but acting as nursemaid for the idle rich aboard the luxury yacht Wavebreaker in the Bahamas does have its downside. 
 
Especially when you come across a bullet-ridden boat not far from the infamous drug baron's hideaway island of Murder Cay. Most people would turn a blind eye. 
 
But Nick Breakspear isn't most people. 
 
Before long, Nick and the crew of Wavebreaker find themselves caught in the middle of a drug war between two equally matched and just as deadly forces. 
 
And neither side is taking prisoners . . .

Honour and drugs don't always mix in the Caribbean . . . 
 
Nick Breakspear thinks he's opted for the easy life, but acting as nursemaid for the idle rich aboard the luxury yacht Wavebreaker in the Bahamas does have its downside. 
 
Especially when you come across a bullet-ridden boat not far from the infamous drug baron's hideaway island of Murder Cay. Most people would turn a blind eye. But Nick Breakspear isn't most people. 
 
Before long, Nick and the crew of Wavebreaker find themselves caught in the middle of a drug war between two equally matched and just as deadly forces. And neither side is taking prisoners . . .

Stormchild

The gripping thriller about one man's perilous journey through the high seas . . . FROM THE NO. 1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE SHARPE SERIES 
 
'A classic Bernard Cornwell tale - fast and furious. Couldn't put it down but didn't want it to finish' 5***** Reader Review 
 
'I was hooked from the start . . . One of Cornwell's best. Explosive' 5***** Reader Review 
________ 
 
Tim Blackburn's wife died in a ball of flame in the Channel, victim of a mystery bomber. His son had died years earlier in Northern Ireland, killed in a terrorist attack. And his daughter Nicole had vanished in the North Pacific after joining an outlawed organisation called Genesis dedicated to saving the planet, by violence if necessary. 
 
 The police think Nicole might have been involved in the death of her mother, but Tim won't believe it. And he means to prove it. 
 
 With nothing else to live for, Tim goes in search of Nicole in his yacht Stormchild. He hopes to rescue her from the clutches of Genesis. 
 
But where would a secretive organization of ruthless environmentalists hide? 
 
And even if he does find Nicole, will he be a welcome visitor? . . .

Tim Blackburn's wife died in a ball of flame in the Channel, victim of a mystery bomber. His son had died years earlier in Northern Ireland, killed in a terrorist attack. And his daughter Nicole had vanished in the North Pacific after joing an outlawed organisation called Genesis dedicated to saving the planet, by violence if necessary. 
 
The police think Nicole might have been involved in the death of her mother, but Tim won't believe it. And he means to prove it. 
 
With nothing else to live for, Tim goes in search of Nicole in his yacht Stormchild. He hopes to rescue her from the clutches of Genesis. But where would a secretive organization of ruthless environmentalists hide? And even if he does find Nicole, will he be a welcome visitor?

Wildtrack

There's trouble at sea for an ex-war hero in this gripping thriller from the international bestselling author of the Sharpe novels 
 
In muddy waters, even heroes drown . . . 
 
With his father in prison for fraud, his ex-wife bleeding him dry and his spine shattered by a bullet, Falklands war hero Nick Sandman, VC, has no money and no prospects. 
 
Only his boat - Sycorax -and his dream of sailing her away from his troubles is keeping him alive. But Sycorax is as crippled as Nick. 
 
To rebuild his wrecked and stranded dream, Nick is forced into a devil's bargain with egomaniacal TV star Tony Bannister. Bannister is the owner of Wildtrack, an ocean racer, and he wants Nick to be part of the crew that will sail the ship to victory. 
 
Bannister, though, has made some powerful enemies who are out for revenge, leaving Nick caught in the middle . . . 
 
Can he keep Wildtrack and his dreams of escape aboard Sycorax afloat?

In muddy waters, even heroes drown 
 
Trouble at sea for an ex-war hero ... 
 
His father in prison for fraud, his ex-wife bleeding him dry and his spine shattered by a bullet, Falklands war hero Nick Sandman, VC, has no money and no prospects. Only his boat - Sycorax -and his dream of sailing her away from his troubles is keeping him alive. 
 
But Sycorax is as crippled as Nick. To rebuild his wrecked and stranded dream, Nick is forced into a devil's bargain with egomaniacal TV star Tony Bannister. Bannister is the owner of Wildtrack, an ocean racer, and he wants Nick to be part of the crew that will sail the ship to victory. 
 
Bannister, though, has made some powerful enemies who are out for revenge, leaving Nick caught in the middle. Can he keep Wildtrack and his dreams of escape aboard Sycorax afloat?

Bernard Cornwell

In the Dark Ages, a legendary warrior arises to unite a divided land . . . 
 
Uther, the High King of Britain, is dead. His only heir is the infant Mordred. Yet each of the country's lesser kings seek to claim the crown for themselves. While they squabble and spoil for war, a host of Saxon armies gather, preparing for invasion. 
 
But no one has counted on the fearsome warlord Arthur. Handed power by Merlin and pursuing a doomed romance with the beautiful Guinevere, Arthur knows he will struggle to unite the country - let alone hold back the Saxon enemy at the gates. Yet destiny awaits him . . . 
 
The first of Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles, The Winter King is a brilliant retelling of the Arthurian legend, combining myth, history and thrilling battlefield action.

Bernard Cornwell

The Winter King

Select a format:

Retailers:

Summary

More books from this author