Not to quibble, but dough is kneaded because kneading is needed before it can be baked into bread. Also, Roman slaves did not dine on maize. Maize is what came to be known as "Indian corn" and then just plain corn. Before Columbus it was unknown in the old world. OK these are minor matters but they distract at least one reader, namely me, who does not like to shake his head in bewilderment at the incongruities. Cheers.

Fear about historical inaccuracies should not deflect authors from writing their otherwise worthy and imaginative stories, as such errors can always be attributed to literacy licence.

However, if the author of any such tale, including that of 'Benin', wants to avoid errors if possible, I'd be willing to give their drafts a quick perusal to try to identify mistakes for them or offer some other tips about historical writing. For example, in 'Benin', was it necessary to set this story specifically in 53BC, when there were no Roman Emperors, although the storyline claims otherwise, rather than at a more indeterminate time, when they could exist?

My offer is designed not to flaunt myself egotistically as some form of great gift to historical writing, which I'm not. Rather, it's proffered more simply to assist rather than criticise new authors, helping them in the process to put their imaginations into written form without upsetting the likes of Claymore.

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