Wonderful latest book by Bernard Cornwell
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The Pale Horseman
Excerpt from the book:
'On your knees,' Wulfhere said to me. 'You have to go on your knees,' he insisted tonelessly, 'and crawl up to the altar. Kiss the altar cloth, then lie flat.'
'Then what?'
'Then God and the king forgave you,' he said, and waited. 'Just do it,' he snarled.
So I did it. I went down on my knees and I shuffled through the mud, and the silent lines of men watched me, and then Æthelwold, close beside me, began to wail that he was a sinner. He threw his arms in the air, fell flat on his face, howled he was penitent, shrieked that he was a sinner, and at first men were embarassed and then they were amused. 'I've known women!' Æthelwold shouted at the rain, 'and they were bad women! Forgive me!'
Alfred was furious, but he could not stop a man making a fool of himself before God. Perhaps he thought Æthelwold's remorse was genuine? 'I've lost count of the women!' Æthelwold shouted, then beat his fists in the mud. 'Oh God, I love tits! God, I love naked women, God, forgive me for that!' The laughter spread, and every man must have remembered that Alfred, before piety caught him in clammy grip, had been notorious for the women he had pursued. 'You must help me, God!' Æthelwold cried as we shuffled a few feet farther. 'Send me an angel!'
'So you can hump her?' a voice called from the crowd and the laughter became a roar.
Ælswith was hurried away, lest she hear something unseemly. The priests whispered together, but Æthelwold's penitence, though extravagant, seemed real enough. He was weeping. I knew he was really laughing, but he howled as though his soul was in agony. 'No more tits, God!' he called, 'no more tits!' He made a fool of himself, but, as men already thought him a fool, he did not mind. 'Keep me from tits, God!' he shouted , and now Alfred left, knowing that the solemnity of the day was ruined, and most of the priests left with him, so that Æthelwold and I crawled to an abandoned altar where Æthelwold turned in his mud-splattered robe and leaned against the table. 'I hate him,' he went on, 'and now you owe me a favour, Uthred.'
Interesting read, and this book ends with the Vikings' dominance in England. A nice ending to the prequel, the Last Kingdom.
Strongly suggested for adult readers.
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The exerpt was funny!
However, doubt that I'll pick up this book anytime soon cause fiction set in that era somehow doesn't interest me.
Just not my cuppa tea! 
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The author is a Christian, but he seemed to favour pagan beliefs in his stories, and he mocks faith healing etc in his books.Originally posted by Rhonda:
The exerpt was funny!
However, doubt that I'll pick up this book anytime soon cause fiction set in that era somehow doesn't interest me. Just not my cuppa tea! -
I used to be a two-dimensional Christian but no longer. I find that I respect folks who are able to see beyond their boundaries much more.Originally posted by Nelstar:The author is a Christian, but he seemed to favour pagan beliefs in his stories, and he mocks faith healing etc in his books.
For the most part of my life, I've lived in fear, constrained by parents, by religion, and what-not. I try hard to snap out of these confines but it's sometimes still an uphill task! -
I agree with Rhonda the exerpt was funny. Not sure if I will pick it up though. I prefer something sombre and darkerOriginally posted by Rhonda:
The exerpt was funny!
However, doubt that I'll pick up this book anytime soon cause fiction set in that era somehow doesn't interest me. Just not my cuppa tea! 
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anyone seem my pillow and blanket.
