Dear Bernard, As one exiled from the North East of England some years ago now, I just want to say a mammoth “Thank you” for the Uhtred series. What a character! There’s so much weaving of so many things into that one man, and I particularly love that tension between the old pagan religion and his cynicism towards Christianity. I read from the perspective of (a) loving history, (b) having worked as a Mental Health nurse for the last 21 years, and (c) having worked “part-time” (if that’s possible!) as a Christian pastor and church-planter. All those three things I suppose have given me a love for that which has a “ring of authenticity” about it – whether it be a Christian community in the heart of the inner city, or a psychiatric rehabilitation unit injected with a respect for people’s struggles. The story of Uhtred (I’m just over half-way through “The Lords of the North” now!) has that ring of authenticity and integrity about it. Having avidly devoured “The Last Kingdom” sometime last year, I was in Christchurch (NZ) in late October for a conference. It was early evening, and I stumbled into a bookshop close to the Cathedral Square, and there was “The Pale Horseman”. After purchasing it, I decided I’d go sit in the square until dusk and have a good read – but that first I’d go buy some food. As I was purchasing my meal, the young woman behind the counter said “What an amazing night to go and celebrate Beltain.” (it was October 31st).I suppose she might have thought I wouldn’t have had the faintest idea what Beltain was, but when my response drew more of her story from her (and why it was that she had such a desire to celebrate an ancient British pagan festival!) we ended up having a pretty amazing conversation as to what it was about the Celtic Christian preaching of Christ which had led so many in Ireland, Scotland and Northumbria to embrace Him… And then I went and read about Uhtred. His ambivalence towards all that Alfred stood for; his understanding of the spinners and about the fact that “Fate is inexorable”; and how in each experience of love – Brida, Hild, Steapa and of course Ragnar – he’s drawn closer to the true lover of men’s souls. That evening stands out from many such experiences which have led me to the conviction that a truly authentic story has so much power woven into it – power to shed light on our own lives; to forge “connections” with other folk; and ultimately to draw us to God. So thank you Bernard. I guess when Uhtred’s story is finaly over I’ll feel like I’ve lost a friend. But at the same time, I’ll have learnt to laugh at myself a little more often, to have the courage to act on the sense that God has led me in a certain path for good reason, and to walk through this world marvelling at the richness of the tapestry which history weaves. There’s an old Blessing attributed funnily enough to St Cuthbert: “See that you be at peace among yourselves, my children, and love one another. Follow the example of good men of old, and God will comfort you and help you, both in this world and in the world which is to come…” With Every Blessing on all your Endeavours, Philip.