I have finished the four Starbuck books and, along with my friend Peter, a colleague in the Massachusetts Legislature, hope the series will be finished.
I have now read all 13 of the Last Kingdom series. As I read it, it became increasingly difficult to believe that Uhtred wasn’t a real person. In the Unification of England, there must have been several Uhtreds. Faced with Uhtred-withdrawal, I have purchased the first two Sharpe books.
I have been quoting him and you: “There is no cause so hopeless, no creed so mad, no idea so ludicrous that it will not attract some believers.” –Bernard Cornwell, The Death of Kings. It applies so well to our situation today.
I also read just Stonehenge, Gallows Thief and Redcoat. It was especially interesting to me because I grew up in South Jersey and my Step-Mom was a direct descended of “Long” Jonas Cattell, who was the real person who warned the fort. I’ve been to Fort Mercer Battlefield Park many times and they have a plaque to him there. I was told the story often. Though I don’t know if my dad was accurate. Apparently somewhere between the battlefield and Philadelphia, the Hessians ditched their brass field pieces. Washington wanted them and folk have been searching the creeks ever since. Cattell though they were likely buried in the Hessian mass grave in Woodbury. He tried to dig, but the stench was overwhelming and he had to quit.
Jonas Cattell
https://www.haddonfield.njdar.org/jonas_cattell.html
Lastly, I am currently reading Waterloo. Though I have read several books about the battle, I assumed that with your excellent research, writing and attention to detail it would be great. I’m not disappointed. You have a grasp of what motivates men in battler and the psychology of leadership that escapes about 70% of our serving officers, more’s the pity.
Keep writing.
~Bob
Robert A. Hall, once a SSgt, still a Marine.