I have both a comment and a question:
You have fielded a few questions regarding the new show ‘Vikings’ and whether Ragnar is your character or not, yardy yar yar. The Ragnar in the show is Ragnar Lothbrok (or Lodbrok), the supposed father of Ubba, Ivar and Halfdan. I had assumed the show, which is a 6 episode mini series thing, would end with Ragnar’s death at the hands of King Aella, which supposedly sparked the invasion which begins your Saxon series, though in the show he only has one son (Bjorn), who’s aged at perhaps 12 so probably not. I don’t know if you’d enjoy the show as that would depend on your tolerance of historical inaccuracies but It’s a rather enjoyable show.
This leads me to my question(s). I’ve looked into the saga of Ragnar and a few other things and there’s a few things that don’t really make much sense from what I can piece together but a few things have stood out.
The Haestan in your books, is he based on the ‘Hastein’ who raided the Mediterranean with Bjorn Ironside (supposedly Hastein’s brother) and then later appeared in England with an army in 892? If so, did you ignore the suggestion that he was another son Lothbrok?
On a more historical note, Bjorn and Sigurd were both mentioned in the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok when hearing upon his death but only three of his sons lead the great heathen army, why do you think that would be?
Finally, Why did you choose to name the three sons Lothbrokson rather than Ragnarson? Was it to avoid people confusing them for the sons of Ragnar Sr? If so, why not choose a different name for Uhtred’s adopted father?
Anthony