Your Questions

Hi, I love your Arthur trilogy and wondered what you thought of other Arthurian writers you have read. For example, Helen Hollick's Pendragon's Banner trilogy was a tremendous read. Have you come across it? Alan Campbell

I love your books! They make the time periods they are written in come alive. I have a question pertaining to Thomas of Hookton. In 2004 you had stated that you were not going to bring him back at that time. Have you revisited that? He is such a great charater. Thanks for all the hours of enjoyment you have given me with your books. Dennis Pass

Dear Mr. Bernard, first I read the saga of Thomas during the 100 years war. Now is the time of Uhtred during the time of Alfred the Great.I love your books!Normally I read them in my language, portuguese (Record Editora)but only the first book of Uhtred(The Last Kingdom)was published here (Brasil)and I had to buy the second and third volumes in the Harper Collins.Now Uhtred killed Ivarr and is going back to Wessex. When are we going to know the rest of the story? Do you have already a titlle for the next book? Tulio Albuquerque

Hi. Please can you tell me when the new Saxon book will be out? Looking forward to it. Claire

After gobbling up the War Lord Cronicles, I read all three of the Saxon stories. When I just finished Lords of the North, I yelled out damn it. My wife came running into the room to find out what the problem was, and I told her how sorry I was that we did not finish Uthred. Especially since I can not just go to my local Barnes and Noble and buy volumn 4. When will it be out in California. I cant wait Thank you for thoroughly enjoyable reading and history. It comes to life so readily.

Michael Gottlieb

Dear Mr Cornwell, having read the three books of the Saxon series, I was wondering when the next one will appear. This year maybe? The reason I ask is that I will be away a bit later in the year (i'm in the armed forces) & it would be great to have something good to read should we have any quiet, down time...
David

Hi, Both my father and I have read many of your books and have found great interest in the "Arthur Books", "SaxonStories", "Stonehenge" and your current stories on Alfred. What I am interested in and I am sure you have been asked this question many times. Is there a planned sequel to the Lords of the North. Both my Father and I are sure that there will be another one and would love to know when this is planned for. Many thanks for your time Best regards Doug Brown

I have read all your books and you can't write new ones as fast as I can read them. What other authors would be the next best thing?
Brad Christensen

I believe it is in Sharpe's fortress that Sharpe throws Hakeswill into the snake pit and I would just like to know how he escaped to return in Enemy. He is definitely the best fictional bad guy ever.
Tom Owen

Hi I love your books, especially the Saxon and Arthurian novels (maybe that's because they are the only ones I have read)and I would just like to know whether you are planning to or have write/written any books from a scot/picts point of view? PETE

1807: Sharpe on the Continent? I've much enjoyed reading your accounts of Mr Sharpe's exploits. We don't know his whereabouts between Copenhagen (Sept 1807) and Corunna (Jan 1809). Is it possible that he might have served in Sir Robert Wilson's retinue during the 1807 campaign in Poland. If so he would have been present at the battles of Eylau and Friedland. (see e.g. R. Wilson, A Brief Remarks on the Character and Composition of the Russian Army and a Sketch of the Campaigns in Poland in the Years 1806 and 1807; available on Google Books). Here's hoping that there's many more Sharpe adventures to tell. John Wladis
.....Correction The battle of Eylau (Feb) and Friedland (July) both occurred in 1807 before Copenhagen, not after as my first message implied

Dear Bernard I am a long term avid reader of your books, and once had the audacity to tell you (at a Waterstone signing session) that you portrayed, in the Arthur series, quite the best picture of post-Romanic Britain that I had ever read. Can you help me - I have read recently a book of late 7th century England, which concerns an Irish emigre, Abbess Hilde, St. Cuthbert (alive!), Wilfred, and the founding of Whitby Abbey. Much of the detail in the book was confirmed in one of Melvyn Bragg's excellent discussion programmes last week. I assumed that it was one of your books, a precursor of the Saxon series, but I can't trace it. Any idea - I can't find it in my collection and my guess is that you may well know the author. Regards Mervyn Sennett PS Recently read Lords of the North - well up to usual standards and again giving a realistic picture of life as it must have been in those times.

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I would like to start by saying that I have been a big fan of your work for some time now. The Arthur Books are by far my favorite and I have probably read them (all 3) 10 times. With all that being said, I am also a tattoo collector, and I would like to incorporate some art work from the Arthur books onto myself. My question is, apart from the covers is there any more artwork to go along with these books? Or a good place to find artwork that inspired you or your stories? I hope to hear from you, Your Fan, Scott T. Hadley

I realize that my previous comment was not a question, ha...Didn't realize I had the chance to ask one, well as for starters I would very much like to say I had made the mistake of reading Lords of the North prior to the first two...Yes I know! Blasphemy! But...What can I do? No one ever said anything about their being a trilogy at the time and it was a gift. But I already have the first two now and am beginning... Now as for some questions, this one pertains to the whole idea of the sword in the stone. I do realize that Excalibur was given to Arthur by Merlin after he passed a series of tests, but where do the whole 'mumbo jumbo' of the sword in the stone pertain? Also I am curious what differs in a 'blood-oath','scar-oath' (what Nimue and Derfel took). and the hundreds of oaths are swore under... It seems they all may result in the same thing, distrust and a new enemy.

Now as for Uhtred, and I know that you are already thinking, well... READ THE OTHER 2! But that may not be the case. You mention Serpent's Breath and Wasp Sting... I know Serpent's Breath was a long sword, but what was Wasp Sting? (This may be answered in the first two) And does he ever dual wield them?

Finally...When did Druids first start appearing? Only some mundane questions, nothing really serious, perhaps if I asked when you believed the fourth book for the Saxon's Tale was going to come out; they maybe something to bicker about... But Those are my questions and hopefully this makes up for the last comment, thank you and please...PLEASE!!! Continue your writing! It is truly wonderful and very enjoyable, I could not express it more on how much I truly take passion in reading your books. -Nick Lepperd, Decsendent from the Norse...