Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I am a 30 year old lawyer (yes, I know) who, after reading the first of your Saxon stories, is inspired to write a historical fiction novel set in Anglo-Saxon England.  Thank you for your inspiration!  My question relates to your sources (and please forgive me if you’ve touched on this somewhere else).  Aside from those listed on your website, can you recommend other sources you used in writing the Saxon series?  When writing historical fiction, how much does a writer draw on other, related works of fiction?  I’m here referring particularly to Beowulf, the Lord of the Rings (although not historical, Tolkein drew heavily from Germanic folklore), and similar “standards”.

While I have you, would you mind telling me how much of a command of Old English you felt it necessary to possess when researching and writing your Saxon stories?  Your work is liberally peppered with Old Saxon words and phrases, which I find adds greatly to its quality.

Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Houston Middleton