Dear Bernard Cornwell, On 8 November, Melinda Mucsi from Hungary asked about rules for the Anglo Saxon pronunciations of Y. I had hoped to find my Old English texts from 30 years ago and give an answer of sorts, but unfortunately I can only find the Middle English ones. However, I had a look in David Crystals Cambridge Encyclopaedia of the English Language. On page 18 it gives a brief summary of Anglo Saxon pronunciation. This book should be available in major libraries, especially in a university that teaches Old English and Linguistics. In addition, I would think that a text on linguistics and Old English language would be available in such a library and might give some guidance. I have recently read all three of the Uhtred novels (twice) and loved them. Your repetition of the phrase Wyrd bith ful araed I cant insert the Anglo Saxon letters led me to look up weird in the Oxford English Dictionary. It was a real eye-opener as it means much more than I thought it did. As a noun it still retains the sense of fate or destiny. This made me rethink the meaning of the three witches the weird sisters in Macbeth. Which leads me to the interesting parallel between the Ancient Greek and Norse idea of the three fates, all female and all spinning our destiny. It would be interesting to know whether these developed independently or if there was some common source. Do you happen to know? Elizabeth Smith