I would, firstly, like you to know how much I appreciate your various series of historical novels, regardless of the theme, they are consistently exciting and generate hours of interest on my part in researching the history behind the books. I have just read The Pale Horseman, for the second time, and just wish to make some comments regarding Lundy, where I lived for a few years. The history of the place was something that took over my life: I would take visitors on history walks 2 or 3 times a week, always well supported. But I always had a beef about the Puffin Island assertion: it doesn’t ring true to me. Lund, of course does refer to seabirds, but more specifically to the Manx Shearwater (puffinus puffinus), rather than the small bird that we would all recognise. Secondly it seems strange to me that the Vikings would name Lundy after a bird that was as common to them as the sparrow: the island never had a significantly, or relatively large Puffin population compared to the Farnes, for example, or indeed many places within their territories. There is an alternative possibility (and I am very much in a minority of 1 here!), and that is that Lund in Old Norse also means a small copse of trees. Anyone who visited the Island now would be hard pushed to imagine that can be the correct meaning, But consider this: coming from the East, as Vikings would returning from expeditions up the Bristol Channel, the Island appears tree covered now: and there was more tree coverage then. It would be a place they could hold up on, perhaps affect any running repairs: then I think that explanation works quite well. It should also be mentioned that the Heaven family, owners at the turn of the 20th Century, popularised the Puffin story as a means of tourist promotion. Anyway, many thanks for the hours of enjoyment your books have given me, and the inspiration for further reading on the wonderful history of our Island. You really do have a gift of bringing it to life.
Peter Robson