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Author Archives: Patricia

THE LAST KINGDOM 2, Episode 5

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Patricia

THE DEAD SPEAK Three years have passed since the rescue of Thyra and the banishing of Sigefrid and Erik. Ragnar and Brida are in Dunholm (Durham), Guthred rules at Eoferwic (Jorvik/York), Guthrum/Athelstan) is sitting like an old hen in East … Read More →

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THE LAST KINGDOM 2, Episode 4

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Patricia

WE ARE HERE TO DO ALFRED’S BIDDING The title I’ve given this episode distills, I think, the moving force – not only in this episode, but in the entire series. Uhtred is the hero of the story, but the larger background … Read More →

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THE LAST KINGDOM 2, Episode 3

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Patricia

PULL, YOU BASTARDS! Beware! Spoilers ahead, big time. DO NOT read this if you have not seen Episode 3 of Season 2. Even if you’ve read the book, this episode differs enough from the novel that I don’t want to … Read More →

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THE LAST KINGDOM 2, Episode Two

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Patricia

UHTRED RAGNARSSON IS MINE! Our Uhtred is many things: a Saxon, a sometime-Dane, a pagan, a baptized Christian (well, not really), a canny warrior, a lady’s man (Beocca: ‘even his scars are handsome’), and sometimes a downright fool. Gotta love … Read More →

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THE LAST KINGDOM HISTORICAL NOTES

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Patricia

Events came at us thick and fast in Episode 1 of Season Two, The Last Kingdom, so I thought I would offer a few historical tidbits. GUTHRED: The 10th century History of St. Cuthbert says that a Dane named Guthred … Read More →

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THE LAST KINGDOM 2, Episode One

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Patricia

THE PATH NORTH Uhtred is back! The eight episodes of THE LAST KINGDOM Season 2 must cover events in two of Bernard Cornwell’s novels – Lords of the North and Sword Song, so screenwriter Stephen Butchard has a lot of … Read More →

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The Modern Medieval: Day 5

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Patricia

A street called Distaflane appears on my City of London map from the year 1270. Today the street sign looks like this: Distaff is an Anglo-Saxon word for a very ancient tool. It was a staff on which wool or … Read More →

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The Modern Medieval: Day 4

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Patricia

While walking from London’s Tower to St. Paul’s one evening, I started to pay close attention to the street signs that evoked London’s Anglo-Saxon past, and right away I spotted this: Anyone who walks through Cheapside today is passing through … Read More →

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The Modern Medieval: Day 3

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Patricia

Street names in London are endlessly fascinating and many of them date from Medieval times, from St. Mary Axe* to Houndsditch** to The Barbican.*** But of more interest just now is this one: You could be forgiven if that name … Read More →

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The Modern Medieval: Day 2

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Patricia

I have met residents of Shrewsbury who pronounce the city’s name like this: shrowsbry. I have met residents of Shrewsbury who pronounce the city’s name like this: shroosbry. I think this is a conspiracy to confuse and frustrate Yanks, and … Read More →

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