Your Questions

Q

Not sure if my last e-mail ever made it through, but would like to say how much I enjoy your historical fiction. Though I have always been an avid reader, in the last few years I've discovered audio books, which is how I have become familiar with your writings. I particularly enjoy your stories of Uhtred of Bebbanburg (please forgive my spelling if incorrect). I am curious as to why Uhtred is sometimes Uhtred of Bebbanburg, while other times he is Uhtred of Bamburgh. What is the historical significance of the two titles, and which is the more appropriate?

I am currently listening to 1356 which obviously takes place well after Uhtred's time. Could you explain what started the 100 Year's War, and why England felt it had the right to press the war in France? Also, why did the Gascons side with the English?

Having some English ancestry (as well as French, Russian, and Polish), I am fascinated by the many eras in English history (albeit rather violent that they may have been). I am also perplexed by how many monarchs reigned over England, how they came to power, and in so very many cases how tragically brief their reigns were. Given the high propensity for being either killed in battle, deposed from head of state, and/or the potential for being beheaded, why would any of them ever want the crown? I've searched the internet to discover that England has had at least 63 monarchs (Kings, Queens, & Regents) over roughly 1500 years starting with the Saxon King Egbert. Yet no King Arthur. Was Arthur purely fictional? If there was a real Arthur, where in the timeline would he have fit? And with that in mind, have you any plans on writing about the first king of England, and what led to his crowning. I would find that quite fascinating.

I am also very interested in the War of the Roses, as many of your readers are, and wonder if you will tackle that era someday. Finally, since one my favorite movies is Braveheart, could you enlighten your readers more on the real life on Longshanks? Given his long reign, could he have been as cruel and vicious as Mel Gibson had him portrayed in the movie?

David Gilbert

Submitted July 18, 2016

A

I have no idea? It's Bebbanburg in the books so I can only assume the reader/producer of the audiobooks prefers Bamburgh?

The Kings of England claimed to be the rightful kings of France! Simple as that! And Gascony owed loyalty to England (feudal obligation) and feared being overrun by the French.

I suspect that Arthur existed, but doubt he was ever a king . . . though that’s a topic too long to deal with here. He would have been active at the beginning of the 6^th Century, after the Romans have left and while the Saxon invasion of Britain is still under way. Why would anyone want the crown? Why would anyone want to be president? Or CEO? Or any position of power? Because power is an aphrodisiac and because men crave power!

I’m afraid I’ve never seen the movie, so can’t comment on how accurate the portrayal is. But Edward Longshanks is an alpha male in a brutal mediaeval society so I don’t suppose he was particularly meek and mild.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

Thanks for writing Waterloo.On page 216 is mentioned the Rossomme Farm, so sent this to a good friend named Rossomme and part of her response--"there were 9 Rossomme young men who came to the US in the early 1900’s. Two stayed (one of which was my grandfather) and the other 7 went back to Belgium." Would greatly appreciate your pointing me to any reference material on the Rossomme Farm.

thanks,

Hal Shelton

Submitted July 8, 2016

A

I’m afraid I don’t know much! The Rossomme Farm stood south of La Belle Alliance on the main road – I fear the building was destroyed by fire late in the 19^th Century so there’s nothing to see there now. It was Napoleon’s first command post, just south of the farm is a low ridge which is called the Heights of Rossomme where he had a chair and a map-table. The Imperial Guard was posted close to the farm for much of the battle (they were held there in reserve), and after the French rout many of the wounded took shelter in the farm buildings. I’m afraid that’s about all I know and confess I had no idea that the farm was named for a family.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

firstly may I say how much I have enjoyed your work, in particular the Sharpe series. They have been a constant companion throughout my teens and twenties. So thank-you for writing such eloquent and inspiring words and for shaping my imagination and own material.

The question I have regards the violence in your novels. I aspire to be a novelist myself, however I am finding that a great deal of darkness lies within the caverns of my mind, and it greatly worries me whenever I put pen to paper. I am by nature a very sensitive and gentle man, and like you went too Monkton Combe school which has, to a degree, shaped my personality. It worries me greatly how friends and family will react to my work. How do you cope with manifesting violent scenes onto paper? For example your book on Agincourt was particularly gruesome (the detail of stabbing through the gaps in the French knights visors was harrowing).

I apologise for the rather bizarre nature of this message, but I would appreciate how you have dealt with such morbid material.

Kind regards,

Thomas.

Submitted July 8, 2016

A

I’m so pleased Monkton Combe didn’t eradicate the darkness in your mind’s caverns! Novels explore our world and there’s a good deal of darkness there! Plainly the violence distresses you, in which case use the darkness to distress your readers. Remember what Robert E. Lee said – that it is well war is so awful or we should love it too much. You can’t condemn the horrors of war, or of crime or anything else unless you, as a writer, can comprehend and even sympathise with it, so welcome it! I try to dial it back somewhat. My imagination sometimes comes up with passages so graphic that I delete them and put in something less horrifying. I’m sure some readers wish I didn’t, but there it is!

Q

Iceland vs. England….. Clearly Alfred would mourn the upset. But where would Uhtred's loyalties have been?

Richard Reich

Submitted July 8, 2016

A

Uhtred never had a fondness for the over-pampered, arrogant, spoiled and privileged. He would have taken great satisfaction from the result.

Q

Mr. Cornwell,

After eagerly awaiting season 2 of The Last Kingdom, I now learn that it will only be available on Netflix. Since I do not subscribe to Netflix this is extremely disappointing.

Dennis Schroeder

Submitted July 8, 2016

A

I think you’re misinformed! So far as I know Season One will be available on Netflix, but Season Two will be shown on BBC2 and on BBC America, just as the first season was. That’s all I’ve heard and I hope I’m right!

Q

I guess that after 20 years Nathaniel Starbuck has sadly passed away?

Robert

Submitted July 8, 2016

A

He’s in hiding. Don’t tell anyone.

Q

Bernard,

I've enjoyed several of the Last Kingdom series while on holiday this week - thanks for some riveting reads! I especially enjoyed learning some of the ancient names of various towns and rivers that are familiar to me, but I was intrigued by Exeter - I'd always presumed that this was named for the Exe River, but your books show that the Ex- prefix was used for the town (as in Exancaester) while the river was called the Uisc at the time. Do you have any idea how this came to be? Was the river perhaps renamed for the town? Apologies - bit of a niche question, but I'm intrigued!

Ben

Submitted July 8, 2016

A

Oddly enough both names derive from the same source – a pre-Saxon (and pre-Roman) name – Uisc, or Iska, which was a British name probably meaning water (you can imagine some Roman or Saxon pointing to the river and asking a native Briton what the river was called and he, misunderstanding, just said ‘water!’. Early maps of Arabia’s empty quarter are smothered in names like ‘Wadi Why Ask Me’ or ‘I haven’t a clue). The names just evolved slightly differently, but in the end both ended up as Ex.

Q

Hello, Mr. Cornwell.

First of all, I just want to say "Thank you" for all the wonderful books that you had written so far and I hope there are lots to come.

My question is about your "Stonehenge - A Novel of 2000 BC". I want to know if you used any historical source to chose the names of the gods worshiped in Ratharryn or your just created those names. I'm also a huge fan of the George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and couldn't help but notice that the god of vale in your novel is called Arryn. Is it some kind of reference to the House Arryn of the Vale in the Martin's books? Or just a coincidence? Or maybe both of you using the same source?

Hope you can come to Brazil again soon.

Best Regards.

Timóteo.

Submitted July 8, 2016

A

I couldn’t tell you if it’s the same source, but Arryn is the name of a failed god! I assume George found it like I did – in some obscure and long forgotten book!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

Not since Harry Potter have I been so restless in waiting for a novel to release. I have, for a long time, wanted to visit England for its history and historical places. I am traveling to England in September and have decided to follow the trails of Uhtred instead of the well worn tourist path. While I am preparing my list from the 9 books so far, can I ask for your recommendation of places one should not miss when on Uhtred's Trails? Also can I bother you to tell me exact location you had in mind and if they still exist from my below list?

I will go to the castle of Bamburgh, Cannington Hills, Bratton Castle. I am not sure where, if any, of the plaques / castles / monuments related to Alfred the Great, by extension of our beloved Uhtred, are present in York, Benfleet, Durham, London and Tettenhall?

Hope you could spare a few minutes and guide me in the right direction.

Regards

Dwarakesh

Submitted July 8, 2016

A

Bamburgh for sure! And don’t forget Winchester (Alfred’s capital), and I’d certainly visit Edington (Ethandun) in Wiltshire. Durham (Dunholm), of course, is well worth a visit. But many of the places have changed beyond all recognition – Benfleet has its charms, but it’s almost impossible to trace the Saxon past thanks to urban sprawl. Wareham, in Dorset, has the only remaining Saxon ramparts in England - to be honest they’re not much to look at, but Wareham itself is a charming town and well worth a visit! York still has its mediaeval walls and, of course, a fine museum about the Viking occupation. Chester is also splendid, though again there’s little remaining of the Saxon town. That will take you to every corner of the kingdom!

Q