I watched the Sharpe Series and have been reading the Saxon Tales. Given my interest in the Early middle ages I decided to try "the Winter King" and again found that Cornwell has created a realistic world in the past. He creates battle scenes that fit known facts about the times.While I found his Arthur to be more idealistic and peaceful then the era would expect. He more then makes up for it with more realistic women then he has in the Saxon Tales and his Merlin is cleaver creation. If this book ever makes the screen Merlin would be a role better then most.Sure wish this was the one picked by Made for TV instead of the SyFy channel Merlin.