Hello Mr. Cornwell,
Read your Sharpe series, and now have five of the Saxon Tales. Noticed you are descended from Uhtred. So am I, from the Uhtred who died in 1016, the son of Waltheof, the one with the three wives--I am from the second wife, Sige(n). If you are descended from this Uhtred, I wonder which wife?
Am writing my family history and just finished my chapter on Uhtred. Would like to include a copy of the front cover of one of your books in the series in my family history if you do not mind.
Could you give a hint as to which Uhtred you have in mind who is in your series? I have found two previous ones in addition to the one who died in 1016 (murdered--blood feud started). Your character seems to be an earlier Uhtred according to his contemporary characters such as Osbert, Aelle, Alfred. Would like to enhance my family history with any comment as to your character Utred you would care to give.
I am a retired historian and appreciate the tremendous impact historical novels can have.Royce Shingleton
I'm also descended from the 1016 Uhtred, but which wife? Somewhere I have the whole family-tree, but I confess I can't find it . . . . God knows where I put it, but if I do discover it I'll make a copy. There certainly was a Uhtred during the reign of King Alfred, but apart from a signature on a land contract we know almost nothing about him (or any of them) so my Uhtred is entirely fictional - the only contact with reality being the ownership of Bebbanburg. I'm sure you've read Bloodfeud by Richard Fletcher? There's a lot about Uhtred in there. Do use a book cover! I'll keep looking for the family tree - I have the thing somewhere!