The Flame Bearer

Bernard Cornwell

Having read it

★★★★☆

A solid Bernard Cornwell read and much easier with the large print and the fact that it didn’t go on and on; the main character got Bebbanburg back in the end!

A good passage

I laughed. I was born a Saxon, but raised by Danes, my daughter had married a Norseman, my dearest friend was Irish, my woman was a Saxon, the mother of my children had been Danish, my gods were pagan, and my oath was sworn to Æthelflaed, a Christian. Whose side was I on?

A second good passage

I believed that. I also believed that eagles laid golden eggs, fairies danced in our shoes at midnight, and that the moon was carved from good Sumorsaete cheese.

A third good passage

I saw that Æthelstan was still on his horseback, riding just behind my rearmost rank. ‘I suppose you brought him,’ I accused my son, who was by my right. I knew he and Æthelstan were friends.
He grinned. ‘He insisted.’
‘And you hid him?’
‘Not exactly, you just didn’t look for him.’
‘You’re an idiot.’
‘Men often tell me I’m like you, father.’