Your Questions

Q

I've been struck by your books after I got the last kingdom for Christmas, Do you have the story mapped out already or is it still a 'surprise' for you? Duncan Wooldridge

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

The next chapter is a surprise! Truly! I do know one thing that will happen at the very end of the series, but beyond that? All is dark.

Q

Bernard, I am curious to know how Sharpe's descendants would act concerning the events that are taking place in Iraq. My conclusion is that they are a military family and would have been Churchillians and Thatcherites, and be behind Tony Blair in his support of the United States in their quest for freedom in the Middle East. I also don't believe that they would have sat quietly while fifteen members of the British navy were kidnapped by Iran. Even with the release of the captives I'm sure the hackles of the Sharpes would be raised considerably. Pity the poor devils who go up against the Sharpes and their pals. Rick Schatz Louisville, Kentucky

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

I suspect you're right. They would be soldiers and would do their duty, and their first duty would be the welfare of their men, and they probably wouldn't agonise too much over the politics behind the war. Soldiers, they would say, are the guys who follow the parade with brushes and shovels, cleaning up the mess that the parading politicians have made!

Q

My friend and I have great discussions about which Authorian tale we like the most, yours and Jack Whyte's Camalod series. Both are top notch, wonderful and page turners that robbed me of much sleep. Have you ever met Mr. Whyte?

Joe Chibirka

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

I've met Jack, and a very very nice man he is too.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Like most, if not all, of your correspondents I admire your writing and enjoy you books enormously. I am intrigued that you seem to be able to create memorable characters like Rider Sandman - or even more so, Eleanor Forrest - and then allow them to languish in limbo. Is it so easy for you to establish such 'people' in so few words or is the availability of time to expand on them so short ? I would love to read more of Sandman, Berrigan and Eleanor and I am sure others would too - any chance ? Thanks for all your 'people' and the history you have told. Best wishes, David Imrie

Dear Mr Cornwell I know that Gallows Thief is rooted in historical research that you undertook for the book, but I wonder if you have thought of developing a series around Sandman and Berrigan ? It would be great to see how they make out...perhaps with a different challenge...and see as they respond to that challenge whether they manage to establish their business in importing cigars...and discover how their relationships develop. Gallows Story is a great read, lots of colour from early 19th century London. As a clergyman I enjoyed too the sermons of the Ordinary! good post Easter reading. Thanks for all the enjoyment you have given me with your writing. Yours Jonathan Martin

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

I rather feel the same about Rider and Eleanor - they are languishing, and only tonight I found myself thinking up a new story for them. I'd really like to bring them back, but just don't know when!

Q

First let me say that I enjoyed the Sharpe and Saxon series, and I eagerly look forward to the next Saxon novel. I have a question about the writing process. Authors have said that their fictional characters sometimes do things unanticipated by their author. My question is: does this idea of behavior unexpected by the author also occur when a fictional character is in a series where his personality and behavior have been developed over a number of novels? If there is an example of this happening with one of your characters, I'm sure your many fans would be interested in learning about it.
Mark Irgang

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

Happens all the time! I have no idea what mechanism is at work - obviously the sub-conscious - but an example is Sharpe ending up with Lucille and living in France. I had no idea that was going to happen, didn't want it to happen and tried very hard to stop it happening. I invented Lucille as a reward for Frederickson, and had a plot in my head that would have allowed that, but Sharpe insisted on falling in love with her. It was very strange. In the end I gave him what he wanted and it made writing the book much easier!

Q

I wonder if you ever get tired of hearing how much people love your books? Well here comes another gushing fan, you really are the best, I look forward to your novels with relish and they speak to me on a level of ancient memory I can't even define, as if they are remnants of a dream of of my past. I too am adopted and have recently discovered that I have Norse heritage and I wondered how you found your connection to the Uhtred's of Northumbria? Lynda Purcell

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

By discovering, much too late, my real father . . . and his family has a well-attested family tree running all the way back to Ida the Flamebearer, and on its way taking in the various Uhtreds of Northumbria!

Q

I love your books! I spent half my honeymoon reading the grail series, and just read the Saxon series in about a week (I wish I would've known the series was not complete or I never would've started it, I can't wait until October!) I just purchased all three of the Arthur books. History has always been my favorite subject, and you really make it come alive. Have you ever thought of writing about the crusades?
Marc

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

For some reason I can never get very excited about the Crusades, though perhaps that will change?

Q

Dear Sir, I'm currently making a research on Napoleon's Empire. Do you know where I might buy a map which shows Europe at this time in history? Thanks a lot. Luca Caruana

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

The Times Historical Atlas certainly has one . . . as for a map of Europe at that time? I don't know of one outside an historical atlas - plenty printed in books, of course. Have you tried putting Historic Maps into Google?

Q

Hello Bernard, You won't remember but I wrote on your bulletin board a few years ago, my name is Chris Webster and I am BA War Studies undergraduate War Studies student at King's College London. If my exams go as planned after Easter my summer dissertation will be on the leadership of Alfred the Great. I've been a massive fan of your books since I was eight years old, and I was wondering if my favourite story teller might be able to give me some advice as to research on the topic. It'd be great if you could get back to me.. Yours sincerely, Chris Webster P.S. Hurry up and finish the next Saxon installment, Bebbanburg needs to get the Uthred treatment!

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

Well the obvious source is John Peddie's book, Alfred, Warrior King. John Peddie, I don't think he'd mind me saying this, is more of a soldier than an academic, but his book is full of interest even if, necessarily, much of it is speculative . . . but he brings a soldier's eye to the terrain and strategy. My own feeling is that Alfred was a reluctant warrior, and probably no great fighter (permanently sick, addicted to piety and scholarship, doesn't sort of add up), but he was certainly very intelligent, and he applied his intelligence to the problems of war. In the end his is really a defensive strategy (buy them off, build the burhs) but it worked.

Q

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...

Submitted April 10, 2007

A

I suppose that oaths were a way of attempting to impose order on chaos . . they were certainly of prime importance, and to break an oath was a serious matter. I think I invented the scar-oath, but the blood oath goes back a long way (mingling each other's blood to demonstrate and seal brotherhood). I'm writing now about the Saxon period, and again the oath is an extraordinarily potent thing . . . but did it work? Most of the time, probably yes, especially as an oath was invested with religious significance, but opportunism was always there to make it meaningless.

You will read about Wasp Sting in the first two books

Druids? I have no idea. What a good question. Sometime in the first millennium BC is all I can guess. Sorry.