Wessex in classical heraldry and is found on a number of church windows in derived shields such as the Arms of the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster (Westminster Abbey, which was founded by the king). At its greatest extent Wessex encompassed the modern areas of Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset and Wiltshire, as well as the western half of Berkshire and the eastern hilly flank of Somerset. This covers an area of about . The English author Thomas Hardy used a fictionalised Wessex as a setting for many of his novels, adopting his friend William Barnes' term "Wessex" for
Historical novels by Nigel Tranter set after 1603 Historical novels by Nigel Tranter set after 1603 Nigel Tranter is a Scottish author who wrote many novels based on actual historical events and characters. This page includes those of his historical novels set in Scotland after the Union of the Crowns in 1603, when James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England upon the death of his cousin Elizabeth I. For historical novels set earlier than this see Historical novels by Nigel Tranter set before 1286 or Historical novels by Nigel Tranter set between 1286 and 1603. For other books by Nigel Tranter, see here. 1603–1611 James VI