The Pale Horseman

by: Bernard Cornwell

Published by: HarperCollins

Reviewed by Richard Wilki

The second in Cornwell's Uhtred adventures carries on almost immediately from where the first left off, just into the last quarter of the ninth century. The Pale Horseman concentrates on the pivotal period following Alfred's retreat into the marshes of Wessex, when the future of England and therefore all Europe, could have been altered on a massive scale extending to the present day.

Among these momentous events, Cornwell manages to weave fact and fiction together insinuating his characters into our imagination with such ease that it almost brings the history of the period alive with a vivid personal immediacy.

Cornwell has his lead character faced with conflict from his "so-called" allies, and the story is set against the historical struggles between Saxon and Dane, and Uhtred's struggle with the "enemy within."

We follow a 20-year-old Uhtred as his love of battle and plunder, which he learned at the heel of his Danish captor while growing up, get him into trouble with the devout Alfred.

Uhtred's very Danish attitude makes him a target for those who fear his power in battle and despise his acceptance of the 'pagan' religion. Fear, lies and jealousy, coupled with Uhtred's own greed and bloodlust, find him having to defend his honor before his peers.

By a quirk of fate, Uhtred's love of battle and ability with a sword are what makes him so valuable to Alfred, and it forces them together in the Wessex marshes where they have been forced to hide. Ultimately Alfred and Uhtred face an entire Viking army in an 'all or nothing' battle which will decide the very future of a country.

This second book in the series pulls the reader along with such ease that it is almost a shock to come to the end of the book, and when you do, you are eager for the next installment!

Armchair Interviews says: Look for book three even if you do it with poorly disguised impatience.