Hi Bernard,
I’ve just finished reading ‘Death of Kings’ – it was a cracking read! Before the seventh Saxon Chronicle is published later this year, I’m looking forward to reading your latest title ‘1356’ (afraid I’m a bit behind with my book-worming as I’m also busy writing).
In regard to the irony of Danes ultimately defeating the Saxons, Uhtred made a casual remark (in DOK) as to what the future held beyond his death: that he was in no doubt the Danes would keep coming, either to emerge triumphant or in the end be completely defeated (or fully Christianised). In other words: eventually, there would be no middle ground. As it turned out the Danes did win, but only after many years of war and strife, and – even more ironically – at that particular time perhaps it was for the best since Cnut proved a monarch respected by his subjects and historians alike. But why do you think King Cnut valued Saxon culture and traditions? Would it have been Christianity that set him apart from the pagan Danes as depicted in the Saxon Chronicles, or was he simply a wise, pragmatic, and honourable man?
Robert Douglas