From my blog...

Category Archives: UK

Cnut the Great, d. 12 November

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Patricia

Cnut the Great, England’s Viking king, died on Wednesday, 12 November, 1035. Cnut’s birth date was not recorded, but it was likely some time in the 990’s, so he was probably in his early to mid-forties when he died at … Read More →

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The Last Kingdom, Episode 8: The Battle of Edington

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Patricia

878 A.D. In the seventh week after Easter King Alfred rode to Ecbryht’s Stone…All those of Somerset came to meet him, and those of Wiltshire and Hampshire…they were glad of his coming. ..He went from that camp…to Edington, and there … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, Review, The Last Kingdom, UK, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Last Kingdom, Episode Five: Uhtred vs Ubba

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Patricia

Alternate Title: UHTRED vs UBBA, ODDA 1, ODDA2, ALFRED, LEOFRIC, MILDRITH, OSWALD…oh heck. UHTRED vs EVERYBODY Episode 5 begins with shipwreck and concludes with a very different kind of wreck. In between, our hero Uhtred covers a lot of ground … Read More →

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The Last Kingdom, Episode 3: The New King of Wessex

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Patricia

Despite the fact that the main character of Bernard Cornwell’s books is our hero Uhtred, it is Alfred who is the focal character of this episode. Everything and everyone revolves around him, and actor David Dawson does a spectacular job … Read More →

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Falling Stars, Bloody Moons and Dragons

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Patricia

Tonight we will be able to witness a total lunar eclipse – the last in this year’s rare series of four such eclipses, which astronomers call a tetrad. This time round we have a harvest moon and a supermoon in … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, UK | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

What Happened at Corfe in 978?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Patricia

Today, the chalk hill of Corfe on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset is crowned by the ruins of, for the most part, a 12th century Norman castle. But in Anglo-Saxon times a hunting lodge stood on the hill, and … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, Research, UK | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Review: The Ceremony of Innocence, a play written in 1968 by Ronald Ribman

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Patricia

It is Christmas Eve in the year 1013. The king of England, Ethelred, has retired to a cell in a monastery on the Isle of Wight. He is mournful, despairing, and self-exiled from his court and kingdom due to remorse … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, Art, History, Research, Review, Theatre, UK, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Riddle of the Stones

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Patricia

They had arrived at last at a long, low ridge where the standing stone, its edges scored in primitive runes, pointed skyward. Athelstan checked his horse beside the ancient, lichen-covered stone. Gazing into the shallow vale beyond, he caught his … Read More →

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Guest Interview with Historical Mystery Novelist Candace Robb

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Patricia

Historical novelist and mystery writer Candace Robb is in the spotlight today as she celebrates the re-issue of her Owen Archer mysteries in brand new editions from Diversion Books, on sale today as e-books and next month as trade paperbacks. … Read More →

Posted in Books, Guest Interview, Guest Interview, Inspiration, UK | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

5 May 1010: The Battle of Ringmere

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Patricia

On 5 May in the year 1010, a great battle was fought between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes at a place in East Anglia called Ringmere. In the fall of 2012, as part of the research for my novel The … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, Inspiration, Research, UK, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments