Mr Cornwell, This is a very long message but I have been wanting to ask these questions for so long. Sorry for taking up your time, I understand how busy you must be. I was wondering whether the similarities between Uthred and Derfel and their stories were purposeful? The influence of the beocca/merlin, growing up among the ‘enemy’, speaking both languages, the death of his teachers and mentors Ealdwulf/Hywel, growing up without his family and the death of a mother early in their lives. Also, the stories have many parallels: the style of the narrative, from the perspective of an old man; the wild spiritual woman in Brida and Nimue; falling for the wrong woman/daughter of a king Alfred’s daughter/Ceinwyn and the constant theme of “fate is inexorable”. Were these done purposefully? Is it in deference to your (and my) favourite series? Or a story line that just works so well it needed a retelling. I, of course, mean absolutely no disrespect. I was just hoping to pick your brain about it. Loved “The Last Kingdom”, loved the grail quest (am re-reading it) but think “Enemy of God” is the best book I’ve read of yours, and my favourite of all books ever. Which of the three Arthur is your favourite? And what is your favourite book ever? (a bit of a difficult question but I’d love to know what your favourite or some of your favourites are.) Also, I love that the Arthur book climax at Dawlish Warren. Although I live in South Africa my parents live in exmouth and i love standing on the spit of land in Dawlish and thinking of the final battle…pity that the beach is so build up with arcades and neon lights and pubs. There is an outcrop just west of the spit on the opposite side of the train tracks, its a little flat-topped hill cut off from the rest of the shore. Standing on this gives the best views of exmouth, dawlish and the bay where the Exe joins the sea. I recommend standing on it one day and thinking back on the last chapters of Excalibur…it doesn’t take much imagination to see the ship leaving with Arthur onboard and Derfel standing in the waves, tears in his eyes. Thank you for all the hours dreaming. Thankfully Bruce