The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories, #2)

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The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories #2)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 8,034 ratings · 336 reviews

The last unvanquished piece of England, Wessex is eyed hungrily by the fearsome Viking conquerors. A dispossessed young nobleman, Uhtred is tied to the imperiled land by birth and marriage but was raised by the Danish invaders—and he questions where his allegiance must lie. But blood is his destiny, and when the overwhelming Viking horde attacks out of a wintry darkness, U...more

Paperback, 384 pages

Published December 26th 2006 by Harper Perennial (first published 2005)

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Apr 27, 2013 StoryTellerShannon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-very-best-reads, historical-fiction, action, owned, books-reviewed

THE PALE HORSEMEN is the second book in the Cornwell series focusing on England before it was England. Unlike the first book, there's less fighting and more political maneuvering and focus on relationships.

HISTORY: at this time England was something of a bunch of Saxon Kingdoms. Seven, if memory serves. The Saxons had actually taken most of the Kingdom from the Britons & Welsh and had held a good chunk for several hundred years. Now, it's the late 800s and the Danes are seriously beating th...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Jason Koivu rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

"REINVIGORATE, MAN!" I shouted, then calmly began my review.

Cornwell always does a decent job of adding in just enough historical detail, both physical and immediate, to the story as well as historic and atmospheric for the background. Then he layers on his stock, misunderstood hero regardless of time or place and serves up another entertaining action/adventure story. Hard to argue with a winning recipe, other than the argument that the palette desires something new sooner or later, and that th...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Terri rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, historical-fiction, favorites, britain-fiction

Oh Bernard, how do you do what you do?
If I could write like this man, well, I'd be one very happy chick. And I do not want to write like this to make money, or make fans, or make myself famous, I just want to have this skill for myself, to know that I can do it, to know that I can create magic on paper, although, Bernard Cornwell, in this series at least, is more than merely skilled, he is an absolute master.
Would it be presumptuous of me to say that I think that he is a writer's writer? or mo...more Oh Bernard, how do you do what you do?
If I could write like this man, well, I'd be one very happy chick. And I do not want to write like this to make money, or make fans, or make myself famous, I just want to have this skill for myself, to know that I can do it, to know that I can create magic on paper, although, Bernard Cornwell, in this series at least, is more than merely skilled, he is an absolute master.
Would it be presumptuous of me to say that I think that he is a writer's writer? or more precisely, a fantasy writer's writer?

I can understand that some people may not appreciate this character and these Saxon books, but I just GET IT. I just totally get it.
To me there is no flaw in Cornwell's writing or storytelling in this series. His dialogue is pitch perfect, his story flow and description is natural and not in the slightest bit contrived. And as I said, I just totally get it.

Cornwell is a little heavy on the anti-Christian vibe and this may turn people off a bit, but I get that too, because they were heavy on God back then.
Do you really think they would burn pagans and heretics alive etc etc.. if the Church wasn't rife with screwy, religious zealots? Christianity dominated society and thought. Built civilisations and brought them down. People feared the Church and the Churchmen. They did not gain this reputation throughout history by being patient and loving of all men and women.
To me, early Christianity in England wasn't about love and tolerance and goodness and peace and forgiveness, it was about greed and power and survival. About jostling for King's favour and for wealth and fame.
The description of Christianity in this book might be off putting for some, but I think it is an accurate portrayal of those times. But, please forgive me fellow reviewers, perhaps I am just a cynic.

I am a woman, and I can see how these books may be too brutal and bloody for my fellow sex, or those of either sex who are oblivious to the subtle bluntness of Cornwell's storytelling and Cornwell's arrogant, uncomplicated male characters. I imagine quite a lot does go over people's heads. I also imagine that when some women read about "guts spooling about his feet" they cringe and run away. But, while I am all feminine woman, I also have a very definite female side and very definite masculine side, and this character and Cornwell's style very much appeals to the latter, my masculine side.
My masculine side wants to don a helmet and mail and fight beside Uhtred in the shield wall, while my female side wants to (editing out x-rated thoughts here...ahem....)and also hold his horse and his hoard while he draws Wasp-Sting and locks his shield in the fighting line.
Of course, being his female companion or his male companion could get me a sword to the head or a spear to the gut, but hey, wouldn't I get to go to Valhalla and party in the feast hall? As a man, yep, as a woman?? Nah, but I'd die with a smile on my face.

Uhtred makes me laugh. I like him and I get him. Maybe that is all I should have written in this review, it may have been, in it's simplicity, ample comment as I move onto the review of the next book in the series...Lords of the North.
(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

c2005: I did not expect to enjoy this book quite as much as I did. It was a really exciting story although savage. Uhtred is not your normal kind of hero but I think he is great. King Alfred is not quite the king I envisioned when reading the history books and Mr Cornwell has woven myths and legend with facts so well. It has certainly encouraged me to learn a little bit more about this period of history. This is the second book in the tale of Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg, and his tangled relations...more

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Sep 16, 2010 Alex Telander rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2006

THE PALE HORSEMAN BY BERNARD CORNWELL: In The Pale Horseman (sequel to The Last Kingdom), Bernard Cornwell surges on with his series on the life of Alfred the Great, but not simply with a furthering of the plot, but some clear development in both story, character, and the whole point Cornwell is trying to make with this series.

In Pale Horseman we now learn that our hero from the last book, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, while just as skilled in his knowledge of languages, way with words, as well as his a...more THE PALE HORSEMAN BY BERNARD CORNWELL: In The Pale Horseman (sequel to The Last Kingdom), Bernard Cornwell surges on with his series on the life of Alfred the Great, but not simply with a furthering of the plot, but some clear development in both story, character, and the whole point Cornwell is trying to make with this series.

In Pale Horseman we now learn that our hero from the last book, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, while just as skilled in his knowledge of languages, way with words, as well as his ability with his trusty sword – Serpent-breath – is actually not that great of a guy. When he has to spend time at home with his child and pious wife who wants him to be a good Christian, he treats them with disdain and instead goes off with his buddies on one of Alfred’s ships, kills a lot of people, and steals considerable amounts of wealth, as well as kidnapping his very own pagan sorceress. While the pathetic excuse for this case can be made that “it’s what men did back then,” I find it an admirable move by Cornwell to make the protagonist out to be a character that most would find at the least disreputable. But ultimately these facets of Uhtred’s character only serve to make him more believable, which is certainly a critique of the characters in Cornwell’s other works.

At the same time, he magnificently captures the feel of the period. Here you have the Saxons trying to defend their country (which they invaded just four hundred years before and occupied) against the Vikings and Danes who all but succeed in their conquering of Britain. Cornwell even goes on to say in his elucidating “author’s note” that if it weren’t for Alfred’s decision, when all seemed lost, to still fight back and win, that Cornwell would be telling this story in Danish. Whether you’re a Saxon, a Viking, or a Briton; identity was something both questioned and sought after in this melting pot of a country. Cornwell cleverly reveals this with Uhtred’s ability to speak many languages, as well as being often thought a Viking or a Briton, but not a Saxon, which he considers himself.

At the end when all that remains of Saxon Britain is a small area of marsh in Wessex, Alfred unites his people who end up banding together from all areas of the surrounding country, and manages to defeat and push the Vikings out of his land, making Wessex the one strong remaining Saxon place left in all Britain. It was with this victory that Alfred earned the title “great.” The book ends with the future knowledge and hope that Alfred the Great will begin taking back the rest of Britain and pushing the Vikings out for good.

For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to BookBanter.(less)

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Aug 31, 2012 Snoozie Suzie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I think I may have got to this too quickly after the first, and this have got a bit fed up of the fight side of it all. And also some of the vulgar language made me cringe a bit, although i understand this is how they probably would have voiced themselves. But, I enjoyed following Uthred in the next chapter of his life in which his loyalties change back to England and all this entails.

I do think the descriptive is very good and listening to this I could picture the muddy, bloody mess the men (a...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Beth Cato rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in, 2009, historical, fiction, no-longer-own

This is the sequel to The Last Kingdom, which I reviewed a few days ago. I had problems with that book because the protagonist, Uhtred, was an unsympathetic jerk. The historical detail was great, but I'm not too keen on reading about drinking, whores, and swordplay, even if it does play to accuracy. However, I still pressed onward with the trilogy...[return][return].. and almost stopped a few chapters in. Uhtred, torn between being a Saxon by birth and a Dane in spirit, decided to masquerade as...more

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Dec 06, 2008 Reinhold rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Dieser Roman stellt den zweiten Teil der Saxon Chronicles, also der Reihe um Alfred den Großen, dar. Nachdem Uhtred am Ende des ersten Teils (The Last Kingdom / Das letzte Königreich) Ubba besiegt hat und von König Alfred enttäuscht ist, kehrt er in sein neues Heim zurück. Er trifft Leofric und schafft es ihn zu überreden mit ihm auf einen Raubzug in die Saefern-Sea (Bristolkanal) zu gehen. Bald nachdem er zurück ist überrennen die Dänen Cippanhamm (Chippenham), wo der Witan tagt und der König f...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Iceman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Há uma lenda britânica que afirma que o Cavalo Branco de Westbury foi esculpido em 1770 em substituição de um cavalo mito mais antigo que foi gravado na encosta da colina após a batalha de Ethandun em 878 d.C. Esse cavalo comemorava uma grande vitória dos saxões que possibilitou a sobrevivência da Bretanha e é sobre esses acontecimentos que se debruça este livro, Vol.II da “Saga Saxónica”.

Uhtred é agora um jovem guerreiro arrogante e convencido que é invencível e decidido a recuperar as terras q...more Há uma lenda britânica que afirma que o Cavalo Branco de Westbury foi esculpido em 1770 em substituição de um cavalo mito mais antigo que foi gravado na encosta da colina após a batalha de Ethandun em 878 d.C. Esse cavalo comemorava uma grande vitória dos saxões que possibilitou a sobrevivência da Bretanha e é sobre esses acontecimentos que se debruça este livro, Vol.II da “Saga Saxónica”.

Uhtred é agora um jovem guerreiro arrogante e convencido que é invencível e decidido a recuperar as terras que foram do seu pai e que lhe pertencem por direito.

Dividido entre o seu próprio povo e o povo invasor que o criou e onde fez amigos, Uhtred decide acatar o conselho de Alfredo e desposa uma jovem saxã. Assim se vê confinado às suas novas posses levando uma vida chata de agricultor em simultâneo que Alfredo concorda numa trégua com os dinamarqueses.

Uma vez mais assente em factos Históricos verídicos, misturados com contos tradicionais, Bernard Cornwell traça um fresco do Séx.IX, época bárbara conhecida como a Idade das Trevas.

À semelhança do primeiro volume, e adivinha-se ao longo de toda a série pois é uma das marcas de Cornwell, a maioria dos personagens existiram realmente e tomaram parte dos acontecimentos narrados.

Obviamente que tal época tem variadíssimas falhas documentais, ou seja, dessa época há muitos períodos vazios, no entanto a mestria de Cornweel consegue preencher esses espaços criando uma narrativa poderosa que emociona pela descrição do modo de vida, excita pelas descrições das batalhas e entusiasma pela forma viva, exultante e real como o autor mistura todos esses factos, criando na nossa mente um quadro vivo, diria cinematográfico da acção.

Quatro séculos após a invasão da Bretanha pelos Saxões (a acção temporal de “Crónicas do Senhor da Guerra”), eis os antigos invasores a defenderem agora as suas terras de terríveis inimigos que ali se encontravam apenas para matar, violar e saquear.

É disso que narra este volume II, a forma como um reino sobreviveu.(less)

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Jul 05, 2012 Kevin rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've seen great praise for Cornwell as a historical novelist, and so, when I saw this series surrounding the age of Alfred the Great, I was excited and ready to see something good. I found something mediocre. The protagonist is Uthred, a fictional dispossessed Saxon lord, raised by Danes, in the midst of their greatest effort to conquer England. It's a good premise, to give a perspective from both sides of the story. And the story-telling, done by an omniscient, older Uthred, commenting on his m...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Billy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Book 2 continues in good form. Eager for books 3 & 4 &...!,

Uhtred, born a Northumbrian, raised a Dane, serving the king of Wessex against the Danes, some of whom who he has fought along side in his past. Such is the life of a 10th century warrior.

This book continues the SAXON CHRONICLES, following book one, "The Last Kingdom". Although I would recommend that anyone reading this should read the first book, I would not say that it is absolutely necessary; but why skip book one when the sto...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Dinah Küng rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ploughing on with this series, to try and understand what so entranced my two teen sons. Our protagonist Uhtred still can't make up his mind whether he likes anybody but the rather homoerotic Ragnar Older/Younger duo and the objective of getting his real estate in Northumbria back by any means. On a day to day basis, he is still mostly interested in mindless slaughter, (what he calls the dance of war or joy of death or glee of slaughter or miracle of massacre or some variation thereof.) By my ca...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of all Bernard Cornwell (Author) work and have read many of his books. I loved the first of this series The Last Kingdom and was looking forward to this but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first. I still admired the main character Uhtred and thought the story was an excellent one, the detail as intricate and well researched as ever, but I thought the plot lacked impetus, it didn't career along like the first book did. I will still read the third book in the series The Lords of th ...more

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Dec 14, 2010 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just spent a couple days on the road on business – a jaunt to Manhattan. While the trip delayed some development here on the new blog, I did manage to finally finish up my print copy of The Pale Horseman, by Bernard Cornwell.

It’s the second in Cornwell’s Saxon series. I read the first, The Last Kingdom, late last summer. Despite that book’s slow build to an exciting finish, I found the narrating main character, Uhtred, fascinating, even endearing. He’s a spirited warrior, a Saxon from northern...more I just spent a couple days on the road on business – a jaunt to Manhattan. While the trip delayed some development here on the new blog, I did manage to finally finish up my print copy of The Pale Horseman, by Bernard Cornwell.

It’s the second in Cornwell’s Saxon series. I read the first, The Last Kingdom, late last summer. Despite that book’s slow build to an exciting finish, I found the narrating main character, Uhtred, fascinating, even endearing. He’s a spirited warrior, a Saxon from northern English lands, who is captured at a young age and raised as a pagan Dane. Uhtred’s skepticism, passion, and boldness are refreshing. But, it’s his violent nature and reckless spirit that not only gets him into all kinds of interesting trouble in his adventures, it also complicates his moral nature for readers. Cornwell’s writing historical adventure here, with heavy emphasis on adventure and action. It’s well suited for an escapist read with a root in historical context, but has a slight taint of machismo. I find myself cheering for Uhtred in the series, but then realize some of the awful things he participates in, namely violence and a sketchy treatment of some women in his life.

In The Pale Horseman, Uhtred’s tale continues. He’s quickly saddled with the complicated life of a married, landed nobleman despite his wishes to be free of his obligations and beat the invading Danes at their own game. Cornwell captures that excitement quickly as Uhtred raids Cornwallum, finds a mysterious pagan lover, and ransacks a major Dane warlord.

But, as Uhtred abandons his obligations for a time, he suffers for it. He faces accusations at the court of Alfred, the king of Wessex, this historical king of England now known as Alfred the Great. Before he can finish trial by combat, Danes invade Wessex, and Uhtred escapes. Unwittingly, he rescues Alfred himself, and the core of the book is Uhtred’s reluctant effort to improve his standing with Alfred. Sequestered in a swampy domain, Alfred and Uhtred gather a rag tag band that soon swells to an army of Wessex, and underdog effort to repel the Danes from Wessex once and for all.

Throughout it all, Uhtred retains his pagan beliefs, despite the highly pious Alfred and several other Christian warriors and women. I’m fond of this tension, especially between Uhtred and Alfred. Uhtred constantly seems like the wiser skeptic, but Alfred manages to find fortune in his beliefs at nearly every turn.

The climax of the book is, again, a large battle between Saxons and Danes, a press of shield walls and bloody mayhem. Here, the battle is more prolonged than the similar ending of The Last Kingdom. Cornwall appears to be falling into a formula a bit. It goes something like Uhtred loses everything, meets a mysterious and sexy woman, then recaptures glory with his heroics and passion in battle, despite losing his woman in the process.

Still, as I said, the series is endearing. Uhtred isn’t a gallant. He has his flaws, but remains captivating. Meanwhile, his rough and tumble companions are amusing, often tough exteriors with tender-hearted interiors. But, they aren’t much more realized that that. For all his sanctimony, Alfred remains the best realized character in the series, and the only one with any growth and depth.

The Pale Horseman is a good read, a historical romp with enough viking color to delight. I’ve not read Cornwell’s other works, but am pretty familiar with the formulas of his famous Sharpe’s series. He’s at it here, too, crafting a slightly formulaic but entirely enjoyable adventure yarn that’s enjoyable far outside the British isles.

The Pale Horseman: B(less)

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Jun 13, 2010 Patrick rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the next story of Uhtred the pagan warrior whose sword, shield, and short sword still serves at King Alfred's service.

This is where the kingdom that King Alfred wishes to rule under God's will lay scattered and almost lost to the vicious Danes, Uhtred's people. The fiction is harsh with stories of slaughters, rapes, betrayals and deaths of loved ones. It appeals to me how King Alfred is judged by his deeds, not by his educated words for he is willing to slip in the enemy's territory des...more

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Jun 04, 2013 Darien rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book I've read by Bernard Cornwell, though his Sharpe series which was made into multiple mini-series with Sean Bean is one of my favorite BBC productions. This has his hallmark action and straight forward characters set in a time of great conflict that most of us are not familiar with. The action in this series all occurs in Britain at the time of Alfred the Great, the first High King to unify the islands fractious little 'kingdoms' against the Danes, and keep them from destro...more

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Nov 06, 2012 bookczuk rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio, listened-in-the-car, made-me-look-something-up, met-the-author, nadelczuk-library, taught-me-something, southern-author

Bernard Cornwell lives part of his year here in Charleston. If you time it right, you can walk along one of our Charleston streets, and hear a madman ranting in an attic room -- only it's not a madman, it's a literary wonder named Cornwell, ranting and raving in the creation of a scene for whatever novel he's working on. In fact, carriage tour guides look forward to driving by his house, as he sometimes throws things from the windows as he creates his scenes. You know it's been a first rate tour...more

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Dec 08, 2010 M.L. Falconer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to M.L. by: Library

Absolutely amazing! Cornwell blends true history with fiction so well that, unless your a history major, it's difficult to tell them apart. I fell in love with every character, even the most dastardly ones.

Uhtred is the ultimate bad boy, not exactly sure where his alignment lies; captured very young and raised by the Danes he grows to fight for king Alfred even though he is somewhat appalled by the over religious piety that drives Alfred. Though Uhtred loves the Danes his unwavering loyalty to A...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-novels

We all have our little vices: Mine include historical adventure novels like Bernard Cornwell's The Pale Horseman. Set in 9th century England, at a time when most of Britain was under the control of the Danes, the second novel in the author's Saxon Tales series follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Northumbrian who has lived among the Vikings and actually preferred them to the pious pantywaists of Alfred the Great and his churchmen. During much of the novel, the tension is between Uhtred's yearning to...more

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Sep 06, 2009 Joe Francis rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is the second Bernard Cornwell book I've read. I do like historical fiction and the book is quite a good read but I seem to detect a hint of anti-religiousness in his works. The main character is a pagan, so that may be the reason, but the priests and clergy that inhabit his stories tend to be mostly interested in silver, or they spout useless platitudes that draw scorn from the main character Uhtread. I tried to begin Cornwell's first Arthurian book but put it down for the same reason. I a...more

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Shawn I don't know if it is fair to say that the author doesn't like Christianity... he does portray some Christians as good people, but like any 'ology' or...more
Mar 26, 2010 12:46pm

Richard Christianity wasn't a very sophisticated religion at the time in question, and I think Mr. Cornwell gives life to the times. Remember, the Catholic ch...more
May 10, 2010 11:19am

Brendon knight If it was anti islamic would you have rated it higher?
Dec 04, 2011 01:12pm

Aug 21, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is my first Bernard Cornwell novel and won't be my last. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to Uhtred in the next novel. The book is written in the first person, and has a wonderful voice. By wonderful, I mean gruff, choppy in places, and one that suits the warrior character from whom it emanates. The cruel nature of the constant invasions of the dark ages is wonderfully captured here in all of its harsh and cold truth. The history is also spot on, and while the main character...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Roger rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This is the second book in Cornwell's "Saxon Tales" series. The first book, "The Last Kingdom" begins the tale of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a saxon boy adopted by Danes during the time of Alfred the Great.

These books are the first Bernard Cornwell books I have read...they will not be the last. The author is a natural storyteller and these books are compulsively readable. The action (of which there is plenty) alternates nicely with the characterization. Rarely was I bored and never did I feel like I...more

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May 10, 2013 Breton rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While not as strong as THE LAST KINGDOM, Bernard Cornwell's Saxon novels remain a fun read.

There's an interesting trend in running series, whether in books, television, movies, etc. The second installment is almost always a disappointment, and then the third is frequently better than both the first and the second. That's my prediction with this series anyway, since it seems to hold true so often.

THE PALE HORSEMAN begins immediately after the events of THE LAST KINGDOM, and it starts out awkward...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Vidalia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: saxons, alfred-the-great, danes, war, historical-fiction

Bernard Cornwell is a master of historical fiction, taking his reader and flinging them right into another time - in the case of The Pale Horseman, into the blood, gore and violence of Saxon England. This book is the second of Cornwell's Saxon Stories, and it's obvious the author has done his research. The detail, including what the characters eat, creates a time travel experience. His facts are accurate and his descriptive writing is excellent. I was on the battlefield with Uhtred, the main cha...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Scott Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars

A little unexpected. Uhtred is still the main character of this book, but this story is really about Alfred the King becoming Alfred the Great. Its a story i didn't know, and was happy the learn about. It concerns the greatest crisis the fledgling Saxon empire had ever faced when the Danes had basically taken over practically everything and Alfred, huddled in a swamp, successfully builds an army and begins to beat them back.

The excellent historical note section put it succinctly: "the idea of En...more

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Dec 03, 2010 Sammie rated it 3 of 5 stars

In book 1 Uhtred is a child trying to impress his adoptive father, learning to be a warrior and just trying to survive in a very confusing world. He is likeable in book 1.

In book 2 he is a young man, and not a very nice one. Finding himself married to a women he finds uninteresting, he treats his wife with disdain - when he notices her at all - and goes off to murder, steal and generally cause trouble. He kills without a second thought, and allows his men to rape and torment innocent people. He...more

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Mar 28, 2010 Jay Lancaster rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I hadn't read the first in the series, but I picked this up in a second hand shop and thought I'd give it a go. I hadn't read any Cornwell before either but I do like historical fiction. In fact the bookshop owner said I was only the second woman to buy any Bernard Cornwell from him.

I am personally very interested in issues of gender, reading and writing. So clearly, what the owner said, make it obvious that this is seen as a "male" book. It's about war, about viking...more I really enjoyed this book. I hadn't read the first in the series, but I picked this up in a second hand shop and thought I'd give it a go. I hadn't read any Cornwell before either but I do like historical fiction. In fact the bookshop owner said I was only the second woman to buy any Bernard Cornwell from him.

I am personally very interested in issues of gender, reading and writing. So clearly, what the owner said, make it obvious that this is seen as a "male" book. It's about war, about vikings, about honour and fighting and dying.

But that's a skewed marketing of this book, because I felt the themes were much larger and more universal than that. One of the most interesting themes for me was the clash between Christianity and the Pagan Danes. At first it felt like it was very anti-Christian, and though I am more Pagan myself, I felt it was unfair and presented some caricatures of weak, corrupt, hypocritical priests. However I was pleased towards the end of the book to meet a new, and most convivial, priest.

Another very urgent theme was one of nationhood and "Englishness". I am English and it disturbs me profoundly when I hear my fellow countryfolk bleating on about racial purity and that tit Griffin spouting nonsense about "indigenous English". Any cursory glance at a history book should lay that crap to rest, and this book hammers it home. Britons, Saxons, Danes... to be English now is to be a glorious mix of waves and waves of invaders. This book brings that message gloriously alive.

The characters are well drawn. True, he writes male characters with vigour and action; but his female characters are historically true, being seen as lesser than men and in defined roles yet also perfectly capable of disembowelling the odd Dane when need arises. In fact to write the women as anything else becomes a sad nod to political correctness.

I will definitely be seeking out more from this author. In fact, I have read quite a bit of historical fiction as aimed at women, and grown quite tired of some of the dreary romance and stereotype in them. Time to take up my sword, I think.(less)

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Nov 27, 2012 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Uhtreds erratic career as Alfred's warlord continues with his unwilling pledging to King Alfred. While there is plenty of blood and gore, the characterisation is barely more brilliant than Cornwell's evocative descriptions of people and countryside, as Uhtred finally chooses sides and decides why his duty and loyalty lie with his Saxon countrymen rather than the wild Danes who he loves.
In this book, Alfred's defeat and retreat into the swamps ( again...a map would be good, except that I can't re...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Justin rated it 4 of 5 stars

My biggest weakness in books is that I cannot let a series remain unread after I've started it. I wish I could. Then, I never would have wasted those nights reading The Hunger Games trilogy. This desire to complete a novel series stems from some belief that everyone and every book deserves a chance to explain their thoughts in their due time. Sometimes that due diligence pays off. Other times, it falls so flat I'm left wondering if the author cried him/herself to sleep so much and for so long th...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Carmen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

The second in a series of books starring a man in the background of King Alfred the Great. By making him a northerner, we have the distance we want between him and King Alfred. He can describe King Alfred's actions and ideas. But Uhtred was also captured by the enemies, the Danes, as a boy so feels like he is a Dane. It makes for interesting conflicts. In this book, King Alfred becomes King Alfred the Great as his army defeats the Danish forces and tries to run them out of England. Of course Kin...more

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About Bernard Cornwell

Cornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his mother's maiden name, Cornwe...more Cornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his mother's maiden name, Cornwell.

Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times, but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.

He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a Green Card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.

As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find that there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.

Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel Sharpe's Company published in 1982.

Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) He also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British, in 1987.

After publishing 8 books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987 and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.

A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and a political thriller called Scoundrel in 1992.

In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.

Cornwell's latest work is titled Azincourt and was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.(less)

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Books by Bernard Cornwell

The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1)

The Winter King (The Warlord Chronicles, #1)

Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3)

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Quotes from The Pale Horseman

“Give me a nice dark Briton with hips like a pair of ale barrels and I'm a happy priest. Poor Hild. Thin as a ray of sunlight, she is, but I pity a Dane who crosses her path today.” — 1 person liked it

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The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories #2)

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