Mr. Cornwell, Hello again. I just wanted to say that the construction of my book is going along well. I’ve managed to pull it back on track. I have another technical question for you this time- why did you chose to write the Last Kingdom in the first person? Don’t you feel that it somewhat saps the drama or danger out of a situation? I mean, the character must survive or how would he narrate his story? The first time I noticed this contradiction as a reader I called it “The Harker Syndrome” after the character from Dracula who narrates his breathless escape from Dracula’s Castle- however, it is made less breathless by the fact that he must have escaped to write down his story in the first place. Do you think this is a common corner writers paint themselves into? I know not all stories hinge on the main character’s survival, but you are writing epic battles not Madame Bovary- you know what I mean? One of the attractions to your Sharpe and Thomas of Hookton books was the third person perspective which allowed you to paint in such vivid detail and explain the workings, implements of war and the large scale movements of armies. Do you find that the first person slows down the narrative in any way? and if so, is that intentional with some stories where there isn’t much research or facts to go along with what your writing about? Either way, you know a lot more about writing than I do- so don’t take this as a critique in any way and thanks for being such a good example for me. R. Kulb