Regular readers of this Not A Blog will know that I am a big fan of historical fiction, especially medieval historical fiction. Nigel Tranter, Maurice Druon, Thomas B. Costain, Sharon Kay Penman, Cecelia Holland… and especiall Bernard Cornwell, who writes the best battles of any writer who has ever lived.

Cornwell is best known for his Sharpe series, mainly because that’s the one that was made into a TV series (starring a young Sean Bean, who did not die). But now he’s got a second show coming: THE LAST KINGDOM, based on his novels about Uhtred of Northumbria.

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The opening title sequence is pretty cool too… graphics like GAME OF THRONES meets 300 meets BONANZA.

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I can’t wait! If the BBC did justice to Cornwell’s books, this show should kick ass.

ADDENDUM, A FEW DAYS LATER: Saw the first episode, and thought it was terrific. Very faithful to Cornwell’s book.