Dear Bernard,

Firstly, can I just say how much I love your Last Kingdom series of books, and the current TV series based on the novels.  Not only I do I find the history of the Vikings and Saxons fascinating, I also find Uhtred’s dry sense of humour highly amusing and very like my own!

Secondly, I have a query regarding your novel, The Pagan Lord.  You make reference to two place names, Tettenhall and Wednesbury in the West Midlands.  I understand that there is some debate regarding where a famous Viking battle took place – however as someone who lives in Wednesfield in the West Midlands, I am certain this is where the battle was fought.  You will notice that it makes more sense for ‘Odin’s Field’ to be Wednesfield – not Wednesbury, which would actually be Odin’s ‘burgh’.  Wednesbury is about 15 miles from where I live.

Interestingly, I also live just off a road called ‘Waddensbrook Lane’, which makes me think this could be referencing Woden’s brook.  There is indeed the remnants of a brook along this road, which I am certain would have been much, much wider 2000 years ago.  Could the Vikings have travelled along this brook to meet their fate just a few minutes from my home?

I hope you don’t mind me questioning you, but Wednesfield as a small village, is often mistaken or overlooked in favour of the small town of Wednesbury.  I would be extremely disappointed if this was reflected in your TV series.

I know deep down the place where I live has some historical significance and I feel the road names support this.

Thanks again for your wonderful writing,

Kindest Regards,

Angie