Hi Bernard, I am just revisiting a question that was asked of you a few days ago about Ragnar and Uhtred’s running of the oars. There is a brief reference to this in a book called “Tales of the Enchanted Islands of the Atlantic” written by Thomas Wentworth Higginson in 1898. on page 183 he mentions as a test of skill the viking warriors would run along the oarblades and with a spring pass around the bow then run back along the other side.

Dennis Williams

Hello Bernard, still enjoying, of course, your books – this week I’m rereading, for the umpteenth time, ‘The Last Kingdom’. Looking forward to the next installment – Haestan was active in the area I live, the Lea valley. I know that he sailed up the Lea and Alfred ordered the river blocked to trap him. This led, some say, to the draining of the local marshland for the first time. It’s fascinating to live in amongst so much history, history that Uhtred will be marching through shortly, I hope! Incidentally, regarding the running of the oars, I seem to remember Kirk Douglas doing it in ‘The Vikings’? Thanks again for all the wonderful stories, Bernard. Jeremy Griffiths

Dear Bernard Regarding running of the oars I wondered if you had seen the Hollywood film “The Vikings” which features ‘Einar’ portrayed by Kirk Douglas running the oars of his longship. After multiple failures by the films stuntmen Douglas apparently told Richard Fleischer the Director that he could perform the feat himself and proceeded to do so at the first attempt and several times thereafter. While I can’t recommend the film for it’s historical accuracy it is great fun and worth watching for the sheer joy of that scene alone. Andy