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  • The Pale Horseman

  • The Last Kingdom Series, Book 2
  • Written by: Bernard Cornwell
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
  • Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (231 ratings)

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The Pale Horseman

Written by: Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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Publisher's Summary

A Saxon raised by Vikings. A pagan fighting for a Christian King. The conflict at the heart of a hero will be played out in the fight for England.

It is 877. Across the kingdoms of Britain the Danes are gaining strength. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a pagan warrior, must decide who he will align with: the Vikings who raised him or Alfred, King of the West Saxons.

As the Danes make for Wessex and threaten to destroy the kingdom, Uhtred will forge an uneasy alliance with the king, to lead the last remaining Saxon army in a battle that will be a fight for the very existence of England.

©2005 Bernard Cornwell (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

What the critics say

Praise for The Pale Horseman:

"Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation." (Daily Mail)
"Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched." (Observer)
"It is stirring stuff, and few writers are better qualified than Cornwell to do justice to the excitement of the times…Ninth-century Britain and a master of storytelling - it is a marriage made in heaven." (Sunday Telegraph)
"Cornwell's mastery of historical sources and his aptitude for battle scenes is well established…the language, and particularly the dialogue, is raw and unarchaic, rich in insults and Anglo-Saxon expletives." (Times Literary Supplement)

What listeners say about The Pale Horseman

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Great story, great reader

This series is amazing and the narration is among the best I’ve ever heard. Can’t wait to hear the next one!

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Great story

I loved The Pale Horseman, the second book in The Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell. The author continues to weave a gripping and realistic story of a crucial period in England’s history. Uhtred is a captivating character who narrates his own story with humor, honesty and insight. He is a skilled and courageous warrior, but also a complex and conflicted man. He has to balance his Saxon heritage and his Danish upbringing, his loyalty to Alfred and his ambition to reclaim his land, his love for his wife and his attraction to another woman. The book also features other intriguing characters, such as Alfred, Guthrum, Leofric and Iseult. The book is full of action, drama and intrigue, as well as historical details and descriptions. I was hooked from the first page to the last and I couldn’t put it down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, especially fans of Vikings and Anglo-Saxon history. This book is a brilliant sequel to a fascinating series.

I also want to applaud the narrator, Jonathan Keeble, who did a wonderful job of bringing the characters and the story to life. He has a clear and expressive voice that captures the emotions and personalities of each character. He also switches between different accents and tones with ease and skill. He made me feel like I was listening to a real person telling me his story, not just reading a book. He is one of the best narrators I have ever heard.

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The best book in the last kingdom series

I have listened to everyone of the Saxon Story’s , or the now called “The last Kingdom series.”. This novel , The Pale Horsemen is my favourite. In the later novels, Jonathan Keeble is replaced . Yet he can not really be replaced . Second best is not a satisfactory replacement . This book is the one of the very best , out of 150+ novels I have listened to in the last three years on Amazon Audible . One man’s opinion. 😇

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I felt like I was there

Kudos to Bernard Cornwell for an enthralling story but man, Johnathan Keeble made every character.... every aspect of the story really come alive. I felt I was there on the sidelines watching. All his voices, his every description, leaves nothing to the imagination. I hope he continues to narrate all the books in this series as well as any action filled book because he is simply awesome

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Brilliant performance

What a performance! Jonathan Keeble is captivating, perfectly fit for Bernard Cornwell’s great tale. I’m thankful. Highly recommended.

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Narrator

I love the way the story is relayed. He does an excellent job. Was able to visualize all the characters by the way he presented them. A+

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Great Book

The second book is even better than the first with characters expanded and the amazing saga continues

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