Dear Bernard Cornwell, I enjoy the Saxon series, but I’m not entirely convinced by your portrayal of Alfred as priest-obsessed and an ineffectual military leader. Can I ask what led you to decided to portray him as such, when all the available evidence suggests that he won his own battles rather than relying on the exploits of a fictional character? I appreciate that Uhtred has to be given something to do, but it’s not very respectful to Alfred’s memory. I see in the preview of the next book that Uhtred is due to win the battle of Farnham as well, so presumably you are going to have him winning all of Edward the Elder’s battles as well. Is he going to limp onto the battlefield at Brunanburh, aged 87 or thereabouts, and turn the tide for Athelstan?
David