George R. R. Martin’s Favorite Book Series Inspired This Netflix Fantasy Hit

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George R.R. Martin, famous for creating the hugely popular Game of Thrones based on his A Song of Ice and Fire novels, is widely considered one of the most important fantasy writers ever. But even great writers enjoy reading, and Martin is no different. He, like all readers, finds inspiration in the books he loves. Interestingly, one of his favorite series also served as inspiration for a critically acclaimed show on Netflix.

If you’re a big fan of George R.R. Martin, you probably read his website, “Not a Blog.” He uses it to share his thoughts, updates on his writing, and reviews of books and movies, among other things. In 2020, he posted a piece called “Old Favorites, New Favorites” where he talked about some of his all-time favorite books and authors.

In a recent post, Martin shared his admiration for author Bernard Cornwell, calling him a writer who consistently captivates him. He’s been a longtime fan of Cornwell’s Sharpe novels, as well as several of his standalone books, the Thomas of Hookton series, and his Arthurian trilogy. However, Martin specifically highlighted The Saxon Stories – the historical fiction series that served as the inspiration for the popular Netflix show The Last Kingdom – as his favorite work by Cornwell.

George R.R. Martin’s Favorite Book Series Inspired Netflix’s The Last Kingdom

The Last Kingdom (2004) is the First Book in Bernard Cornwell’s “Saxon Stories” Series

George R.R. Martin, a big fan of The Saxon Stories, explained why it’s one of his all-time favorite series. He praised Bernard Cornwell as the best historical fiction writer, and noted that the Saxon series particularly opened his eyes to a period of British history he previously knew very little about.

He praised the battle scenes in Cornwell’s books, noting how vividly they are written, from the shield walls of the Dark Ages to the gunfights of the Napoleonic Wars. However, Martin did have one criticism of the series, specifically the final book, War Lord, the 13th installment in the Saxon Stories.

Martin felt the story felt like a true ending for Uhtred, noting we’ve followed him for a long time and he’s now lived through the reigns of three kings. The epilogue really solidified that feeling of completion. He admitted it was sad to see the story end, but acknowledged Uhtred had a long and fulfilling life. Many readers will likely share this feeling, as everyone experiences the end of a beloved series eventually.

The Relationship Between Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Series and Netflix’s The Last Kingdom

2020’s War Lord is the 13th and Last Novel in the Saxon Stories Series by Bernard Cornwell

Netflix’s popular show, The Last Kingdom, is actually based on a series of historical novels by Bernard Cornwell. Many fans might not realize this, but the show’s title comes from the first book in Cornwell’s Saxon series, also called The Last Kingdom, which was originally published in 2004.

This book series consists of 13 novels and tells the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon nobleman who was raised by Vikings. The story is set during the 9th-century wars between the Saxons and the Danes. The Netflix show adapts several books per season: Season 1 covers The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman; Season 2 adapts The Lords of the North and Sword Song; Season 3 is based on The Burning Land and Death of Kings; Season 4 covers The Pagan Lord and The Empty Throne; and Season 5 adapts Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer.

As a huge fan of historical dramas, I was thrilled to see the story of The Saxon Stories continue with The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die on Netflix. This 2023 film really brings the epic saga to a close, pulling from the later books in Bernard Cornwell’s incredible series. Honestly, Cornwell crafted such a captivating tale across those 13 books – it’s no wonder it became a hit TV show and now a movie! If you haven’t experienced it yet, especially if you’re a fan of authors like George R.R. Martin (who loves it!), I highly recommend checking out The Saxon Stories – it’s the inspiration behind The Last Kingdom for a reason.

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2026-04-18 04:19