Hello Mr. Cornwell, I hadn’t gone to your site in a while and was excited to see another in the continuing saga of Uhtred. I’m just about finished with Lords of the North. Next to maybe Derfel Uhtred is my favorite character; That historical period is really interesting. It’s fascinating how, each new invading force, over time, becomes the new “indigenous” people, layer upon layer, absorbing and being absorbed into hybridized cultures. I imagine this is the human story the world over. In terms of your works, Stonehenge is a great place to start to get that layered sense of history. I recently read a book on the Roman/Celt period, which is another, earlier layer, which I found really interesting. I guess the shield wall is an example of a battle formation that has been adapted from one culture to another. I recently saw the movie “300” and the depiction of the Spartan shield wall or “phalanx” as it was referred to reminded me of your detailed, gut wrenching, descriptions of the shield wall battle. Anyone who has romantic visions of what it must have been like to wield the mighty broadsword need only read your descriptions to realize what that experience must have really been like…it’s no wonder one would get tanked up on ale! I heard an interview you gave a few years ago on NPR, talking about the Alfred series, I’ve been an avid reader ever since..THANKS for the awesome tales and historical knowledge you bring to your writing! Best Regards, Rich McNeill