Dear Bernard,
it was with a pang of sadness that i closed the book on Uhtred .For fourteen years i had awaited my midwinters gift,hardback of course, from either my now late mother or fiancee.They would work it out between them as to who procured it for me.I like that as they knew it mattered .Thank you for the depth of writing,the characters i could visualise to love or hate.I was delighted Steapa made a return for the final.I had missed him.I have enjoyed childhood holidays overlooking Holy island,etched our name into the rock at St Cuthberts caves, played on the wonderful and incredibly free Bamburgh beach.So great to be able to relate to these places in your writing.My own local town,the bloodthirsty historic St Albans making it onto the pages of Sword Of Kings delighted me,though Uhtred had a pretty bad time while there.The only time he was humiliated to my memory.Thank you for the claustraphobic terror and the battle calm of the shield wall.After the utterly tragic ending of Excalibur, i didn`t think you could do better, but with The Last Kingdom series you did.fantastic.many hours of enjoyment,it`s been emotional.Vikingen
Peter.