Dear Bernard, thanks so much for your marvelous books! I came across Harlequin recently and read it during a bout of illness and since have been hunting down others. I had not realised how ignorant I am of early English history! Your characterisation is so rich, and the cast of characters so broad. The other marvelous thing for me is your skill (gift!) at portraying the detail of the cultural ways of the time. This is a very different way of learning history than I was offered at school (long time ago). I’m trying to adjust to the sense of shock that life was just so devoted to killing and brutality in those days (I’ve also read two of the books about Alfred’s struggles to unify Britain, and am on the first of the Arthur series now)… but they are all full of rape, vengeance, and gore. How did they ever manage to grow any food or make any clothes!!! Let alone actually have children that survived to adulthood to carry on the fight. I don’t have a TV so haven’t seen any of the Sharpe films… but will probably get to read them at some stage. many blessings and thanks again, Anni