Truly enjoy your books (although I haven’t read most of the Sharpe or Starbuck series- just couldn’t get as excited). They have helped me to understand important elements of our Anglo-Saxon heritage. Just finished Pagan Lord. I got a kick out of the visit to Buxton. My family name comes from the hamlet of Fernilee, which, as you know, is just north of Buxton. The missionary Paulinius put up a Celtic cross around 632 AD on the border between Derbyshire and Cheshire and overlooking the river Goyt. According to the family legend, the Saxons felt the cross looked like a shackle and those who lived in the area became known as Skakelcross which was later corrupted to Shallcross among several variations. Although my ancestors have lived in the US since the early 1700’s, I recently had the wonderful experience of riding a bike over the Roman road between the two towns and felt a wonderful connection to the area. The current farms look like they could have been around back then.
Looking forward to your next novel. If you ever come over to Martha’s Vineyard, my wife and I would love to say hello.
Craig Shallcross