Morning Bernard!
Having read Louise’s comment a couple of days ago I feel I must respond to her thoughts. Surely by definition the unstable nature of the 7 kingdoms during the 9th and early 10th centuries is the very essence of The Pagan Lord? To me the growing power of Wessex countered by the establishment of what will become the Danelaw, with the diminishing powers of Mercia and East Anglia sandwiched between the two, means that Uhtred must constantly backtrack to hold onto what he considers ‘his’ lands. It is people like Uhtred who are the strength of what will become Engaland…that power behind the throne that keeps things on track almost in spite of the perceived weaknesses of Alfred and indeed Edward of Wessex.
I loved The Pagan Lord. I loved the sense of world-weariness Uhtred exudes as if to say ‘here we go again’…and I loved the sense of mellowing that you give him where Aethelflaed is concerned…my God she is going to be (and obviously was) a powerful woman! I love the sense that Uhtred recognises his impending ‘redundancy’ as the throne moves towards the potential stability and unity under the later Aethelstan.
Personaly, keep ’em coming Bernard…loving every page.
Andrew Wicks, Norwich, England