Your Questions

There exist few writers who could do justice to a story surrounding either Godefroi de Bouillon or Hugues de Payens. I hope the muses feel fit to inspire you on such! Daniel Edward PIOTROWSKI

Dear Bernard may I just say thanks very much for the saxon stories, I discovered them by chance in a book store in phnomm phenn, cambodia, while on a trip to ankhor wat.After already reading Sharp,Stonehenge,the Warlord Chronicles & the grail quest. I think these are your best books to date,however i am a bit biased being descended from a danish/saxon family in lincolnshire myself(c.800).Its also quite amazing for me to read these book as I'm married to a beautiful lady from dorchester and we have lived in dorset for the last 27 years. Reading these book for me is like a journey thru all the places i know & love.very surreal while sat on the beach in koh samet thailand. Thanks Again Bernard keep up the GOOD work. p.s. when is the next book about Uhtred due for release please. p.p.s. any chance of a story about harold godwinson. p.p.p.s. any chance of a tv series or even a film about Uhtred's life.
rob doughty

I have just finished reading The Saxon stories and have thoroughly enjoyed them. These books were passed to me by my mother and we are sharing them with other family members as they were such a fantastic, gripping read. When will the next instalment to this thrilling tale be coming out? I look forward to your reply Jo Thomas

Dear Mr.Cornwell,I get an enormous amount of pleasure from your books and I thank you for that, alas my eyesight is not all that good and I have to depend on "audio books" I am 2/3 of the way through the Arthur series,and would love to be able to sort out the places in my mind,are there any maps you could suggest,as I could manage with a large magnifying glass? Sincerely, Ian White

Dear Bernard, With the recent publication of a book on why the UK is to blame for all the worlds troubles and should pay compensation for things from Gulags to Vietnam I was just curious if you had read it and what your opinion of it was????

In regards to the next Sharpe I hope this does not prejudice you either way but I have to ask will it be Albuera I doubt I exaggerate when that seems to be the battle most Sharpe fans would love to see Sharpe get to (bad for Sharpe though I guess).

And there has recently been some query on the battle of Monmouth on whether it was a US win (stood there ground) and British win (rearguard saved the bulk of the army and wagon train) or simply a draw I wondered what you thought and whether you will ever write about it??

Finally could Uthred find himself up against the Scots in the next one?? Yours sincerely Tony

I loved your book because it was told through the 'losers' perspective (Danes) and we all know that history is recorded by the winners (Saxons - usurpers themselves). I am anxiously awaiting the next book, please hurry! My passion is genealogy and I have completed over 80 generations through the Saxon and Scandinavian lines. I am descended through both Alfred and Ragnor Lodbrock. Their blood finally comes together in 1072 with the birth of Matilda Huntingdon, daughter of Judith De Lens (descended from Ragnor and the wife of David the Saint, King of Scotland)and Waltheof Earl Northumbria (descended from Ragnor). Waltheof was also in the room when McBeth was killed (imagine that). But Judith ensured she betrayed her husband to her uncle, William the Conqueror for treason and he suffered an early death himself. And that is not a plot suggestion, just history. I hope you will include Ragnor's son Sigurd Snake Eye (724), grandson Hardeknut (814), great-grandson Harold Bluetooth (935 )and great-great grandson Svein Forkbeard(965)in your tales. At least come up with a colorful explanation of their names. Hurry up and write - I am suffering anxiety! Vicky M Dixon

Dear Mr. Cornwell, As a reader of your books over a decade or two, I was delighted to find one of your books in a second hand bookshp on Sanibel Island. The proprietor had met you in the States somewhere, and she mentioned that the ending of one of your earlier books was different in the US version ( a happier ending). Has this happened since? Are there any subtle differences between the UK and US versions? ( and when does Uhtred ride again?)
Dr. Chris Pearson

Mr. Cornwell, Hello, it's been a while since I've last written. I have been busy preparing my manuscript for consideration at this year's HSN conference and have had time for little else. I thought I'd take a break from all that to put a few questions to you that have been bubbling up in my mind lately.

First, I was wondering if you have ever read the work of F. Van Wyck Mason? He was a wonderful, prolific writer of historical novels during the 1950's. He wrote a book called "Golden Admiral" about Sir Francis Drake and the Armada, another book called "Cutlass Empire" detailing the life and exploits of Henry Morgan in the 17th century Caribbean, as well as a quintet of books about the American Revolution. In the forward to one of his books he states: "The writer of a novel which employs an historical setting is, I believe, to the careful historian somewhat as a landscape painter is to an architect. While a painter is at liberty to present and emphasize those details of a scene which attract and interest him, an architect must present the most minute details of his plan." That seemed like one of the best definitions I've ever come across for what you do and I just wanted to get your opinion on it.

Second, I was curious to discover that the character in one of your sailing novels, "Wildtrack", shares his last name (Sandman) with that of the protagonist of your other novel Gallows Thief. Is this just a coincidence or are they meant to be descendants, or was it just a wonderful accident?

Also, are the Gallows Thief stories in any way inspired by Ernest Hornung's character A.J. Raffles? They are both first class cricketers. Are you familiar with the Raffles stories? I always loved the idea that Hornung was Conan Doyle's brother-in-law and so created a gentleman thief to counter Doyle's immortal Sherlock Holmes.

Third, I was interested to read your comment about C. S. Forester's "ka-bob method" of story construction. I was wondering where you read that? I have been looking for anything Forester wrote on the craft of writing and never do I have much luck. The longest collection of his thoughts seem to have been recorded in the Hornblower Companion- where he compares the stimulus for a story to a waterlogged timber sinking to the bottom of his subconscious.

Last, I wanted to ask if you had ever read the works of Talbot Mundy? His books "King of the Khyber Rifles" and "Tros of Samothrace" are some of my favorites. His works are credited with having inspired a legion of early pulp adventure writers like Robert E. Howard. Did his work influence you at all? Anyway, thanks again for you time and good luck with the online book club through B+N. I think it's a great idea and puts me in the mind of a master craftsman who is unafraid to present his work for the close examination of others. R. Kulb

Dear Mr.Cornwell, me Luke just writing again to thank you and unfortunately have a few more questions if you have the time. #1 in sharpes Escape you mention a gun that from my point of view sounds like a shot gun and in the movie Srg.Harper carries around a similar gun as a shot gun just older and it has a lot of barrels how would you load a gun like that with a ram rod. Luke

Hi, so excited to hear that there will be more "Saxon" books as I thought it might be just a trilogy (before I finished "Lords of the North"). That got me thinking, though - I know Arthur's story was completed in his trilogy, but Derfel's story certainly wasn't. How did he end up at the monastery from which he tells his stories of Arthur? Any chance of more from him? John Myhill

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I am a big fan of your Arthur trilogy and Stonehenge. I have read them many times and Im going to start reading the other books quickly. My question was:are you coming to Holland to sign books anytime? from Bart Brouwers