Dear Mr. Stroud

I read your Bartimaous Triology yesterday. It raises the spirit! I think, that you are a remarkable writer! Now I've got one question. Why Egypt? Why you have chosen Egypt as the important place for Bartimaous?

Sorry, if I have written something wrong. It is difficult for me, because I'm from Russia and I learn English not much time.

Yours,
Lena T. / Ëåíà

Hello Lena,

Thank you very much for your email, and I'm very sorry to have been so SLOW to reply. And don't worry about your English - it's great!

Egypt is important for Bartimaeus because he spent a LOT of time there, over more than 2000 years. He was there when the pyramids were built (2500 BC, I think) and in the period of Ramses and Akhenaton, much later, and he was STILL there in the late period of the Ptolemies, just before the Romans came. In my alternative history, just like our real one, Egypt was a great and long-lived culture, and so it influences Bartimaeus in many ways. He still sometimes takes on Egyptian shapes (a cat, for example), and of course he remembers Ptolemy as his favourite master. But there was lots he DIDN'T like about Egypt too - such as all the big building projects the pharaohs made him do!

I'm glad you liked the Trilogy, Lena!

Best wishes,

Jonathan