The books on Uthred “and friends” are really captivating, even compared to your other enjoyable and fascinating body of works. You really are the Patrick O’Brian (God rest his soul) of the “Historical land conflict Saga”, which even though such a comparison is pretty inappropriate (you are trying to achieve different things), I think demonstrates a distinction you both share with respect to the historical novel. That being, that in this genera where you are both clearly ahead of everyone else in your respective fields in a way evident to both the lay-enthusiast and academic/”literati”. First of all I was wondering whether Uthred’s son will see the Norman invasion in his late 70’s if I have done my sums correctly – with his son fighting on the Hill near Hastings – bringing the series full circle between the two different invaders of these shores. I am presuming this would make a good sequel to “Thee Lords of the North” ? The historical records of these events are very well established I am guessing compared to the material you had to draw on to authenticate the Uthred trilogy ? the researching of material may be more straight forward and allow for more ‘detailed and authentic fictional account’ (if you get what I mean in my contradiction). It occured to me that the books ‘Last Kingdom’ and ‘Pale Horse rider’ would make a great single film, or perhaps with all the material in all the books, a grand trilogy akin to the Lord of the Rings Film adaptation for film. Best regards Dr Edward Jack