Dear Mr. Cornwell:
I have read many of your books and am presently enjoying 1356, but I’m rather puzzled by one geographical reference — your chap. 3 siege of Breteuil in “Navarre” (p. 82, “the Kingdom of Navarre on the edge of Normandy”). I am reasonably familiar with medieval Europe and Navarre for me is the kingdom straddling the border of present ne Spain/ sw France. If King Jean is avoiding the English, he’s certainly not doing so in this Navarre which is right up against Gascony. Breteuil is up in Picardy, it seems. Is there another, far more obscure “Navarre,” in the far northeast of present day France? If not, you’ve got a major geographical error on your hands.
With all best wishes,
Martin W. Walsh, University of Michigan