Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard I'm a very big an of all your books, in particular the Sharpe series. I'm making a trip to Europe (spain, france & england) very soon & I'm hoping to visit some peninsular & Napoleonic battlefields / site / monuments along the way. Would you be so kind as you name some of your favourites? Kind regards Michael

Submitted March 27, 2007

A

Salamanca is wonderful, and the indispensable guide is Wellington's Peninsular War, Battles and Battlefields by Julian Paget (Leo Cooper, London, 1990 - updated since). There's was a lot of roadbuilding going on to the north of the Salamanca battlefield and I found the access difficult a few years ago, but if you follow signs to the village of Arapiles you can't go wrong, and Sir Julian Paget's guide gives you every site, details of how to get there, what to see and a useful narrative of every action. From there go east to Ciudad Rodrigo. Once there you have Almeida and Fuentes d'Onoro to explore. Don't miss Fort Conception (north of the battlefield). Have a wonderful trip!

Q

Love all the books esp the Arthur trilogy but any chance of an English Civil War series?? KRs CB

Submitted March 27, 2007

A

I've considered it, but it's not high on my list at the moment.

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell. I live in Winchester and am therefore loving the Saxon stories. I know that you have visited here and always "walk the ground". Are any of the Winchester places mentioned based on real places? Hild's Abbey (Hyde Abbey?!), Alfred's study (somewhere near the Buttercross?!), the Two Cranes tavern, perhaps? Thanks! Robert Courts

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

Not sure about the tavern! The rest are drawn from what is known about Saxon Winchester (which is a good deal), and I love the museum there! But there's still a lot we don't know, alas . . . . but I visit about once a year to try and keep everything fresh.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I am thinking about writing an historical novel about one of our more infamous and colourful English Civil War regicides. I wanted to offer you the name and resources but I see from your website that you don't encourage new book ideas. Shame, you could have really got your teeth into him and saved me a lot of work! However, I have a worry about mixing fact and fiction on the page. Do you get problems from living descendants and brain-dead historians who complain about inaccuracies or does your historical notes chapter give you a legal/moral get-out? There are living relatives of my 'hero' whom I wouldn't want to upset but on the other hand I don't want the observance of historical accuracy to put a straitjacket on a rollicking good tale. Please put my mind at rest. David

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

If you have a good source that says a real historical character was a moron, then go ahead and stick the knife in! If you're writing real people then you must stick to the known facts . . . and if you don't know that much about them, then placate the relatives by making him/her into a good guy. No, I don't get problems! And relatives (descendants) won't give you problems if your portrait is accurate.

Q

Hi Bernard, I am currently carrying out a third year English dissertation on four books about King Alfred, one of them being the Pale Horseman. I was hoping that you would be able to shed some light on a couple of themes I am working on. Where as the other authors have given Alfred a chivalric manner, would you say that your Alfred is more Realpolitik? Secondly, would you say that Alfred chooses to use religion when he wants, and ignores paganism if it suits him (when his son gets healed by Iseult). I am sorry if this is too long and a bit random but any help you could give would be great. Kind Regards Robert

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

I made up the Iseult passage, so don't confuse my fiction with reality! I don't know if Alfred was chivalrous (the concept is a bit later than the 9th Century), but we do know he was extremely pious, scholarly and sick, which to my mind does not paint a picture of a warrior-king. He was forced into war and he conducted that war with a great deal of intelligence, because he was, plainly, one of the most intelligent men or women to rule in England (Elizabeth I was another). My own impression is that Alfred would never prefer paganism to Christianity, but we are in murky waters because undoubtedly a vast amount of pagan superstition lasted in Britain well into the 17th Century (see Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic) - and when his own son's life was at stake? But that was fiction, and had no basis in fact. And yes, he indulged in realpolitik a lot - mainly by bribing the Danes instead of fighting them, though he did fight. He was a realist, knowing how far his power would go, and working to increase his power (especially by the burh system).

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell, Could you tell me what ever happened to Sharpe's daughter from the TV series? kind regards Nick

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

Antonia? I think it's possible he might see her again some day...

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'd just like to say that, after reading some of your comments on this site, I think that a lot of your personality comes out in Uhtred. Through the genetic link, do you think? My mother's family are from Newcastle - my mum named our house " Northumbria". It seemed a bit odd, seeing as we lived outside of Glasgow... I like to think we have a lot of Danish in our blood. All four daughters have red hair. And the VIking temperament when annoyed! I can't wait to read what happens next. Fortunately, I have a sister who is an editor at HarperCOllins in London, so she can smuggle me the next installment of Uhtred's adventures before it is released in the U.S. Thank you for all your wonderful stories. Fionna

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

A good mix! You're right, of course, that there's a huge amount of viking blood in Northumbria - and remember, Northumbria once extended into what is now lowland Scotland, so maybe your mother is just staking an ancient claim!

Q

Are we going to see the Arthur books made into 3 blockbuster movies? or a long mini series? this would be brilliant for book fans and movie/tv fans. regards Mike.

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

I doubt it...I think they would prove too expensive to make.

Q

Have read all your books including the ones you did in collaboration with your wife. Will there be any more books which will continue the saga of Campion and the Lazenders? Martin Leibowitz

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

Nothing's planned at the moment.

Q

Is there a 4th saxon story coming out next September? Joe Mclaughlin

Dear Sir, Would you please let me know when the next book to follow The Lords of the North will be published? I just re-read the earlier books and am waiting to read the next book in the series. Thanks you, Robert Ainslie

Hi Mr.Cornwell, I am currently reading the Lords of the North, and was wondering how long till I can read the next book in the series? I would also like to tell you how much I enjoyed the Warlord trilogy (it's my favorite book series) and the grail quest books. Thank you for writing them. Kate

Dear Mr Cornwall. Both my dad and I enjoyed reading about Uhtred in the Saxon Stories. We've both read all 3 books in the current series and were wondering - are there going to be any more stories about Uhtred, or has the story now been finished? If there are going to be any more, roughly when will they be out in Britain? I apologise if I sound impatient but we are keen to know if Uhtred ever gets Bebbanburg back. Thanks for your time. Lindsay

Submitted March 23, 2007

A

I am working on the fourth book of the Saxon stories now. We hope it will be ready for publication in autumn. We will, of course, post more detail as we get closer to that time.