Dear Mr. Cornwell.

Many years ago, a friend recommended your book Agincourt to me and although I didn’t think I’d like a book about a battle, I was drawn in by your marvelous character development and fascinating historical descriptions.

That said, I love Uthred.  I was thrilled that BBC developed a series and I think they’ve been true to your books.  One thing that has me wondering, though, as I am reading Sword of Kings, is how old is Uhtred now?  Pushing 60, I would imagine.  Considering in the first book, Uhtred laments how he’s an old man and starts telling us his story in flashback mode, and that life expectancy in the 9th century was probably around 35, aren’t you cheating a bit my making him such an active and invulnerable senior, considering all the physical trauma (slavery and war wounds) he’s been through?   He doesn’t complain about his age anymore, as we read in “real time” and not flashback mode, and many of his acquaintances from the younger generation have already died.

I love Uhtred and am thrilled to continue reading his story, and I know it’s fiction, just wondering about this, since everything else is so realistic.  And just for the record, don’t go killing Uhtred on my account. LOL!

Thank you so much for such wonderful books and many blessings to you and your family.

Maria Garaitonandia