The new BBC series ‘The Last Kingdom’ – adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s stories of ninth-century warrior Uhtred of Bebbanburg – joins Amazon’s ‘Vikings’ series in bringing the Dark Ages to TV screens around the globe. In cinemas, meanwhile, Justin Kurzel’s screen adaptation of Macbeth, with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, places the action squarely in the mists of 11th-century Britain. The appeal of the period is easy to see – it’s a turbulent and violent era with plenty of the intrigues, betrayals and reversals of fortune that make for compelling drama.

Publishers will likely be watching to see whether these shows create new audiences for this brand of historical fiction, and whether more authors become inspired to create fiction around the bloodthirsty conflicts of the Viking era.

Visually, there are rich themes to explore – from the warriors and weaponry of the period to the stark beauty of the landscapes they emerged from. Here’s a selection from Arcangel contributors; shut out the cold winter’s night, and let the sagas unfold…

Please click here to see the selection of images

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