Your Questions

Q

Hi Bernard,

I thoroughly enjoyed the grail quest, 1356 and Azincourt. I'm pleased how Thomas was mentioned in Azincourt as "a Lord who died of 1000 acres".

So my question is do you have any plans to revisit Nicolas Hook?

Regards

James

A

I am considering it.....


Q

I have enjoyed your Last Kingdom series and Starbuck Chronicles. I admire your diligence researching your topics. I’m wondering if there will be any more Starbuck books. It seems there are unfinished story lines I want to learn more about. Thank you for sharing your storytelling gifts.

Kathy

 

Dear Bernard

would you consider doing just 1 more Starbuck story simply to close it off.?   Bloody Ground left a lot of open ended plot points and I appreciate you don't want to write about it but unlike Sharpe which has no open ended plot points they really do need to be finished and it would be a shame if you retired and they were left open.

Yours sincerely

Geraint

P.S if you've not read it, I really recommend Lee's Last Retreat The Flight to Appomattox by William Marvel. Its an excellent book on Lee's Last Campaign and Surrender. He does point out that the salute between Gordon's Troops Surrendering Troops and Chamberlain's probably didn't happen though

 

A

I doubt I will return to Starbuck, sorry!

 


Q

First of all i love all your books, not only Sharpe i have a little question. After reading a book called From Corunna to Waterloo with The Hussars by John Mollo?

It mentions Charles Jones as the Red Dwarf. Looking at his military career and connection with Grant and of dates of promotions i am 100% certain that he is our man. He was adj to the king of Hańnover. Have you heard of him?

Colin Barker

A

I confess I haven't heard of the Red Dwarf  but I'll certainly repair that.  I suspect 'the man' was John Elley who rose from the ranks to be a LT Col by 1815.


Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I have watched the Netflix Series The Last   Kingdom 5 times now, and am on my 2nd read through of the Saxon Stories,  and one thing always enters my mind at the beginning.

As you have the best insight to your characters' "minds", you are the best source to answer my question. What do you think Uhtred's father would think of Uhtred's accomplishments and the person he became? (The main Uhtred, as I know he was renamed when his brother was killed). Would he be proud of him? In the books, especially it seems he did not like his son all that much. Would he like, or even love, the man his son became?

Thank you for your time, and thanks for your Saxon stories. They have enriched my life greatly.

Douglas

A

I suspect Uhtred Senior would heartily approve of his son's career even though he was not particularly fond of Uhtred Junior, which is probably nothing personal, but simply a general dislike of children.

 


Q

Were you asked by your  publisher or tempted to write Fantasy Fiction when the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings films and G. R .R Martin's books and tv series of Game of Thrones were published/released????

The Tolkien and Martin books are based upon Medieval Literature, Archaeology, Mythology etc.

Historical Characters like William the Conqueror etc, so there is a close relation between Historical Fiction which you write and Fantasy Fiction.

Obviously i know you have not delved into Fantasy Fiction but the  financial temptations must have been considerable.

 

Regards

 

Adrian.

A

Not really my thing, I fear. I don't dislike fantasy novels, but have never been tempted into writing one, and I'm much happier with the 'real' history which, for me, is fantastic enough.


Q

Hello!

I just wanted to commend you and thank you for the great works you have provided. I started with your Saxon Stories and could not get enough of Uhtred. Most recent was The Grail Quest book's and loved those as well. Will we see Thomas again? Will he get his own Feast?

Your battle description has no rival. Always on the edge of my seat.

Again, thank you and I can't wait to dive into more stories and characters.

Jordan

A

I am considering another book for Thomas....


Q

Dear, Mr. Cornwell.

First, I would like to congratulate you for your body of work and career.

Therefore, what´s next? Could you give us a hint of what are you working on? The start of a new series or a new chapter of one of your great characters?

And to top it off, any chances of an adaptation of Gallows Thief? It would make a great movie, in my opinion.

Thank you.

Tiago

A

Another Sharpe is next!  I'm not aware of any plans for a Gallow's Thief movie.


Q

Good evening Mr. Cornwell,

I hope all is well.

Thank you for making these stories. I understand your intention of ending Uhtred's story with the Battle of Brunanburh in Warlord.

Now some that some time has passed, are you/have you been tempted in further Uhtred novels? Do you have new ideas for stories that could be slotted in-between existing books similar to the Sharpe series or a brand new story based after Warlord?

Regards

James

A

I am indeed tempted and have a story in mind, though whether that will ever translate into a new novel I can't say.  Except it does indeed tempt me, so it might well happen.  Thanks!

 


Q

Hello, I really like the use of the old place names in your Uhtred series. I am curious about the River Hedene (River Eden, Cumbria) & if this is indeed an old name for it or is as you confess, capricious? I have hunted on line for any verification and fine none, only the roman name Ituna, which I can't see that making its way to be the modern version of 'Eden'. Any light would be illuminating.

Thanks very much

Ruth

A

I don't think my choice was capricious - Eden as a river name stems from a British word for river that was presumably adopted by the Saxon invaders who tended to adopt some existing names, though 'River Iduna' really translates as 'River River' as does the River Avon! You're quite right about Ituna, but that migrated into various versions - Iodune, Idune, Eodune, and Edene. I might have capriciously added the H.


Q

Hi Bernard,

Recently I finished reading Azincourt and, especially being a longbow archer myself, absolutely loved it!

One detail however did stick out to me, the idea of ranking archers (eg ventenars) being denoted by a silver chain. I think this popped up a few times.

Is there any evidence for this or any similar marks that could have identified an archer?

Thank you!

Logan

A

There is some evidence of ventenars being accorded a silverchain as a mark of rank, but I suspect the only way to distinguish an archer as against any other common soldier was simply their physique and the presence of a bow!