Dear Mr. Cornwell,
let me send you my warmhearted appreciation in a regretfully bumpy English for all your effort and your heart-blood, which you put and dropped in the Uhtred-tales in order to make him and his world lively.
I have read all nine books, ordered the “Flame Bearer” just now and am in the middle if “The Archer’s Tale”.
You write these books in such a thrilling, exciting and lively way, as if you had stood in the shield walls yourself for many times, with Finan at your side.
You enable us readers to dive into the early English history with its many different powerful, controverse, colourful and painful facettes. How you show the beginning influence of the Christian church and the conflict with the old religious orientation, got under my skin.
Being a sailor and archer myself, I admire the accuracy of your descriptions, whether they concern the Viking ships, the weapons, the shield walls, sailing, smithing and more.
My friends and I have been following Uhtred in a true inner, enthusiastic companionship, but also with a tiny taste of regret: throughout his march through nine books his weather was mostly absolutely lousy!!! He’d earned more sunshine to warm his skin and bones!!!
All the best to you and thank you for these great, enriching books,
sincerely yours,
Werner Sperling