Dear Mr Cornwell, My name is Georgina Stewart and I am an avid reader of your Warlord and Saxon Chronicles. Unlike many of my female friends rather than reading the latest Heat Magazine, I am sitting by my seaside window in Exmouth imagining the class of shield on the estuary. I am currently living in Rome, interning as a research assistant and learning Latin, but fear not, I have my copy of the Pale Horseman which I attempt to read on my commute into Rome via the Roman Metro… this alone shows my complete interest and love of your books! I was wondering how you get your information for these novels; I see that your idea for Uhtred of Bebbanburg stems from your own family heritage. I am twenty Two with an Ancient degree under my belt, but I am now lost as to what to do with my love for the past and taking other people back to the past. I understand that you must be very busy, but if you had the time would you be able to inform how you get your information and inspiration for your books, do you use historical researchers? Many thanks for any help that you can give me. Best regards Georgina Stewart