The Pale Horseman
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| Author | Bernard Cornwell |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Saxon Stories |
| Genre(s) | Historical |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Released | 3 October 2005 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) and Audio book |
| Pages | 400 p. (hardback edition) & 432 p. (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-00-714992-1 (hardback edition) & ISBN 0-00-714993-X (paperback edition) |
| Preceded by | The Last Kingdom |
| Followed by | The Lords of the North |
The Pale Horseman is a novel based in 9th Century Wessex and Cornwall. The book starts where The Last Kingdom left off. Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg arrives at King Alfred of Wessex's court to proclaim his victory over the Danish Chieftain, Ubba Lothbrokson, only to find that Ealdorman Odda the Younger of Defnascir has taken the glory for himself and been named leader of Alfred's bodyguard. It is the second book in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories. It is the sequel to The Last Kingdom.
[edit] Plot summary
Uhtred, bored with the peace with the Danish King Guthrum, goes off raiding Cornwall, and kills the Briton king Peredur, and carries off his wife Iseult. A brother, by the name of Asser goes to Dyfed in Wales from the destruction. Uhtred and the ship's crew joins forces with the Danish chieftain Svein of White Horse. The two of them, along with Uhtred's second-in-command Leofric, sail up the coast to Land's End where they go their own ways. Svein goes to Cynuit, where Ubba was killed previously, and Uhtred to the coast of Wales where he raids a ship laden with treasure. When he arrives back at his home in Wessex he is met with a boring wife.
The Witan summons Uhtred to the Christmas feast with King Alfred in Cippanhamm, where he is tried of using the king's ship to raid the Britons with whom Wessex is at peace, and also attacking the Cynuit abbey. Uhtred ends up fighting Wessex's Goliath, Steapa Snortor, the second-in-command of Odda the Younger. During the duel Uhtred only carries his sword, Serpent-Breath and his shield, whereas Stepa is carring all his armour. As the duel progresses the Danes attack and the crowd is scattered. Uhtred, Leofric, and Isluet hide in the fields until nightfall when they enter Cippanhamm and free their friend at the Tornake Tavern. The four of them wander for a few weeks until they reach the Swamps of Athelney. As they enter the marsh Guthrum himself attacks Uhtred. As Uhtred gets onto a boat to carry him, Leofric, and another passenger to an island within the swamp, the passenger insists that Uhtred should have left a Danish warrior alive, only to find out that this man is King Alfred. Uthred becomes Alfred's bodyguard and for a few months they hide in the swamp until enough men have joined Alfred's army. They then fight at the Battle of Edington and prepare to take back the rest of England.
[edit] Characters in "The Pale Horseman"
- Uhtred - the Protagonist, narrator
- King Alfred of Wessex (Alfred the Great) - the King of Wessex
- Leofric - Captain of the Heahengel, one of the ships of Wessex
- Iseult - A Briton Shadow Queen from Cornwall
- Guthrum - Danish King
- Odda the Younger - Son of Odda the Elder, Ealdorman of Defnascir
- Svein of White Horse - Danish Chieftain
- Brother Asser - Welsh monk
[edit] Release details
- 2005, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-714992-1, Pub date 3 October 2005, hardback
- 2005, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-721098-1, Pub date 3 October 2005, audio cassette (Kati Nicholl editor, Jamie Glover narrator)
- 2005, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-721099-X, Pub date 3 October 2005, audio CD (Kati Nicholl editor, Jamie Glover narrator)
- 2006, UK, HarperLargePrint ISBN 0-06-087892-4, Pub date ? January 2006, paperback (large print)
- 2006, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-714993-X, Pub date 22 May 2006, paperback (forthcoming edition)
