Dear Mr Cornwell,

Happy New Year to you! (seems they did not celebrate that day back in the 9th-10th century, did they?) My question – did you make it deliberately that most of Uthred’s warriors mentioned are not saxons? (mainly Norse or Danes). How come that Haesten was able to have a seizable band and army despite his humble start and defeats, and Uthred was never able to attract an army of followers? What is he lacking?

Sincerely yours,

Zeev