Book Review: The Pale Horseman

My Viking phase continues with this 2nd novel in the Saxon Series, The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell. The historical fiction picks up where it left off in the previous book of The Last Kingdom concerning Anglo-Saxon England. It's main character Uhtred of Beddanburg, who was born English yet raised by the Danes, continues to intermingle with both sides. While he has become engrained with the Danish Viking way he now favors his home land of England. He has become a lord and a councilman to King Alfred the Great, and would see it protected from the Danes. However Guthram, leader of the Great Heathen Army, intends to continue his assault on England by capturing the final kingdom of Wessex.  

Book Synopsis

Following the Saxon's victory over the Danish Heathen Army at Battle of Cynwit Hill in 875 AD, Uhtred returns to his land in Wessex. He is infuriated when he discovers that Lord Odda the Younger, has taken credit for the victory when it was actually Uhtred that had killed Ubba. For his outburst in Alfred's court, Uhtred is withdrawn from the king's presence and his favor. He returns to his wife, Mildrith and their son to look after his land. However he is in an agitated state and kills one of the local fieldworkers over a dispute of thievery. In an effort to escape this controversary and his general boredom he reunites with his war-friend Leofric to raid the Danes along the coasts of Cornwall.

They raid several Briton and Danish posts to acquire wealth and plunder. At one of these sites Uhtred meets and falls for the Briton queen Iseult, who is considered a witch of sorts. Uhtred briefly allies with the Danish warlord Svein to pillage a Saxon settlement. He then returns to his home with Iseult and much wealth he uses to buy off his crimes and debt. His wife Mildrith is quite jealous of Iseult's presence mostly due to her pagan ways. Uhtred spends some time building up his land and for a while appears to have found peace until he is summoned by King Alfred to Cippanhamm.

Uhtred half expects to be called into the king's service again, but is later surprised when he is being tried for his partnership with the Danish Svein. Odda the Younger, who sees Uhtred as a threat, accuses him of various more falsehoods which Uhtred denies. The king later agrees that the ordeal should be handled thru a trial by combat in which Uhtred must face Odda's champion Steapa to the death. The fight is however interrupted by an invasion of Guthram's army. The capital city is sent into array as it goes up into flames. Uhtred is able to escape with Leofric and Iseult and eventually make their way to the swamps of Athelney. There they are able to fend off a Danish attack led Guthram and protect several Saxons, including the King Alfred.

Uhtred once again gains favor with the king and swears his allegiance to protect him in the swamp lands. With his family in poor condition, Alfred considers to flee to Frankia however Uhtred urges him to stay, regroup, and fight. Thus the small band works together to build a fort and gather as many Saxon forces as they can. After several weeks they have amassed a decent force to confront Guthram, however Uhtred is more worried about Svein's force on the waters. He is able to take a small raiding party to burn Svein's boats which causing Svein to unite with Guthram. This allows for a decisive battle in which King Alfred can defeat the Vikings once and for all. 

The Battle of Ethandun is the climatic point of the book, in which a good portion has built up to. Led by Uhtred the Saxons are heavily outnumbered to Guthram and Svein's forces yet nonetheless meet them in battle. The Saxon army first confronts Svein's army on the ground, while Guthram's force holds back in the fortification. After much hesitation, Uhtred is able to rally the Saxons to defeat Svein, with Steapa delivering the fatal blow to the Danish leader. However Uhtred is heartbroken to discover his lover Iseult has been killed. He uses this rage to lead the final assault on Guthram's fort which is eventually able to overwhelm the Danes and send them fleeing. The Saxons have their decisive victory, and King Alfred has finally expelled the Vikings from Wessex.   

Historical Premise

The author Bernard Cornwell does a great job at making a fairly easy read in the backdrop of a historical content. I found myself zipping thru this one quite quickly and finishing the 400 page book in a week. There's really never a dull moment for Uhtred who always engaged in battle, court disputes, raiding parties, or some love affair. While he is a fictional character he is surrounded by historical characters and events most notably King Alfred the Great. It is in this book that Alfred finally defeats the Great Heathen Army in 878 AD, which brings him his title of "great".

The Battle of Ethandun (also referred to as the Battle of Eddington) was the decisive victory for King Alfred over the Danes. While the Danes had successfully conquered Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia they were unable to defeat Wessex. The book demonstrates that hope was dim for Wessex until this final stand at Ethandun. At this battle Alfred decided to make an all out final stand against the brunt of the Danish army. By achieving this victory Alfred declared Wessex it's own nation, while the other northern regions became Daneland. This was agreed upon in the Treaty of Wedmore where Guthram was to be baptized a Christian. King Alfred saw the conversion of Christianity as the top priority in his kingdom and believed he could subdue the Vikings this way. Little by little the Danish rulers abandoned their pagan beliefs and converted to Christianity.