Great Tales From English History (29 page)

I have written this book for adults - or, perhaps, for children of my own age - and I am grateful for the constructive criticism of certain younger readers: Rhian Carr, Jack George and, most of all, my younger son Bruno, who emailed me unsparing criticism while on his gap year in the Himalayas. This book is dedicated, however, to his elder brother Sasha - my wise, quiet and solid one. With three children I love and admire, and three volumes to offer in return for all the pride and delight they have given me, we shall proceed in order of seniority.

It has been a pleasure to write this book on my daily excursions to the kitchen table of Moyra Ashford who has researched, typed, checked and tried her best to keep me down to earth. As with other books, Jacqueline Williams has come to my rescue with the organising of the bibliography and many other areas of research. At Time Warner, my publishing team headed by David Young and Ursula Mackenzie has once again coped with a ferocious deadline. My special thanks to Peter Cotton, Sue Phillpott, Viv Redman, Tim Whiting - and to Roger Cazalet, inspirer of the woad plant, the cud-chewing cow and the other illustrations so brilliantly realised by Fred van Deelen.

This is my last book launched by my agent of so many years, Michael Shaw, but how kind of him to groom such an able successor in Jonathan Pegg. My greatest debt, as ever, is to my wife Sandi, support and critic, truest friend. If you like the little rose on the jacket - that was one of her ideas.

Robert Lacey, June 2003