Michael Tharp
Michael Tharp asked Sebastien de Castell:

Just finished Traitors Blade, and without waiting I plunged into Knights Shadow and i have the next two on deck waiting. Love the series so far. So, many have compared this series to the Three Musketeers. While they carry swords, and there are three that is where I see the comparison end. My Question (finally) is, What was the influence or inspiration for the series?

Sebastien de Castell Glad you're enjoying the series, Michael.

As to what inspired me to write the series, when I was studying history in university I came upon a passing reference to what was called the 'itinerant judges' of twelfth-century England - magistrates would travel from city to city and village to village hearing cases and dispensing verdicts. I kept thinking about how dangerous a job that might be if the local baron decided he didn't want you sniffing around in his business. That became the inspiration for the Greatcoats (though with considerably more swashbuckling than I suspect the itinerant judges had to do.)

Best,

Sebastien

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