Dear Bernard,

Like a multitude of your fans, I have to thank you for the enjoyment you have given me over the years. Your research is such that you have greatly improved my historical knowledge.

I have enjoyed, the Last Kingdom, Sharpe and the Grail quest series the most and the Arthurian novels the least but I will still give them a second reading. I have wondered why this series did not catch my imagination as much as your pot boilers. The conclusion I came to was that this series is based on myth.

This leads me to ask how you choose the periods in history you write about, which are diverse?   I read for example that you have no intention of writing about Ancient Rome? Are your choices based on your research, expertise or is there an element you perceive to be of particular interest and will you in set future novels in other historical eras?

Regards,

Jack

PS Like so many others I can’t wait to learn of Uhtred’s further adventures.