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Hello Mr Cornwell,

thank you for another excellent installment of Uhtred’s adventures. As I read Sword of Kings I started wondering if perhaps Uhtred’s adventures at his age were getting a little silly, even for a fictional hero. After all, I think Uhtred turned 67 in 924, the year of Edward’s death.

Then it dawned on me that my father-in-law is 79 years old, drinks like a fish, eats terribly, yet visits the gym every other day where he bench-presses weights that most men half his age can’t cope with. On reflection, Uhtred seems far more believable a character than my father-in-law, and I see no reason for him not to be quite literally fighting fit at 80 years of age by the time Brunanburh comes around. Even then, he’ll still be a good decade or more younger than Cohen the Barbarian!

Anyway, a quick question (which I understand you may not wish to answer!). Have we now met Uhtred’s future and final wife in Sword of Kings – the lady he likes to have a bit of a moan about from time to time when he narrates in the present tense…?

Phil Dean