Hi Bernard, I have really enjoyed all the Saxon stories and finished reading “Death of Kings” a few weeks ago and in fact I’ve also just polished of “The Fort” since which was fantastic, but I digress). The Anglo Saxon period is the era I find most interesting, primarily for the same reasons touched on in your books, this is where England as a political and cultural entity was formed. I live very close to Kingston Upon Thames and loved the fact you describe Edwards’ coronation there (at the Cyninges Tun). I was wondering if you were aware that in the town centre today there is what they call the “Ancient Monument” which is supposedly the actual coronation stone of Edward, Aethalstan etc. and also a stature of Aethelstan himself. It is situated directly outside Kingston police station and I was wondering if you were aware it was there or even if you had ever visited it and hence the inclusion of it in the book? Also I am aware many historians do not believe this stone to be the genuine one however it has always puzzled me why more isn’t done to promote this important piece of our history? Given how much the Scots have made of the stone of Scone I don’t know why almost nobody seems to aware of the stone at Kingston and it’s significance? To be fair to the local authority in Kingston they promote the stone’s presence, and the significance of it very well but nationally there seems little interest. You make the point very well in your historical note in Death of Kings, “In school it sometimes seems as if Britain’s history begins in AD 1066, and all that went before is irrelevant.” And Bernard I would also like to say thank you very much for the immense enjoyment you books give me. My girlfriend is taking me to visit Bamburgh Castle as a birthday present next month, I have bent her ear so much about how great the tales of Uhtred are! I’m now about to start on the Thomas Hookton tales!

Adam Porter