Your Questions

Q

There's nothing in the "What's coming" section. Is this just an error on the website? I don't really mind what's coming next as long as something is! Sharpe, Starbuck, Uhtred they're all excellent. The first book I read of yours was The Winter King, as soon as Derfel crosses the river I was hooked, and have since read everything you've written. Consistently superb, hours of great reading. Thanks!
Carl Farmer

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

The fourth book of the Saxon stories is coming - but as we don't have a title or book cover for it yet, it hasn't been posted. Keep an eye out though - we'll get it up soon I hope!

Q

Hello Bernard, I like very much your books. Im from Brazil. Is it true that you collect maps? Enzo

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

I do, but nothing arcane or rare or precious. Maps are an incredibly useful tool for research, so I have shelves of the things.

Q

Dear Mr.Cornwell, I would like to ask whether you have plans to ever come to Maine for a book signing? I live in Gorham, a small town outside of Portland and have been wishing for you to come. I have read Starbuck, working on Sharpe and have read "The Archer's Tale." I personally prefer Sharpe and Starbuck, with their smoke-filled battlefields and canister ripping through the ranks.

Just one more question... when I come across currency, I have no idea what each thing amounts to. Could you please explain to an ignorant American how guineas compare to dollars? I know this is long-winded and I appreciate any responses. Thank you. Ryan

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

No plans for a book signing in Maine right now, but I love to visit Maine so it could happen!

One pound was twenty shillings. A guinea, perversely, was twenty-one shillings. There was no pound coin in the 18th century (or 19th), but there was, of course, a guinea. A ridiculous unit of currency! Not sure what the exchange rate was between pounds and dollars in the Napoleonic era. At a guess (I stress, GUESS) ten dollars to one pound? That could be wildly wrong...

Q

new fan of your writing; I first read The Pale Horseman, then The Last Kingdom and just finished The Lords of the North. Most enjoyable! Hope the series continues. Any plans for a future Celts or Britons story, perhaps in the times of the Roman Legions, Hadrian's wall period? Your my new favorite Author! : )
Kevin Barry Mason

Hi Mr Cornwell, I would like to ask you if you have ever planned about writting on Boudica the Brittish queen that fought the Romans? I think it would be a very good novel. Thanks for the attention and sorry for the english errors(I´m brazilian and don´t speak english very well). Lucas

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

Not from me, at least I don't think so! I sort of took a decision to leave the Romans well alone - plenty of other good writers dealing with them!

Q

I have read all your Sharpe books including your short stories. I am currently re-reading Sharpe's Enemy and I am intrigued how 80 ranks of 50 men can equal "a great rectangle of 8000 men"? Perhaps maths wasn't a strong suit of Napoleon's Portuguese Army. Any way I love the books! Trudie

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

Must be a misprint! I also failed Maths O-Level five times.

Q

just found your site ,, I really am fasinated by Stonehenge ,, went to the first opening to public, of the summer solictis,,I was told the stones have been moved ,,and stood up right in concrete ,,, surely not ,, they meant something to me ..Angela

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

Don't worry - the stones have not been moved - at least not to any great extent. I believe one sarsen was re-erected in the early 20th Century (can't swear to that, and my research has long been filed away) . . . but whether concrete was used, I don't know. I don't think it was . . . maybe the confusion is with the Sanctuary, near Avebury, where concrete blocks mark the position of now lost stones. Many of the stones at Stonehenge were destroyed in antiquity . . . . and, of course, the bluestone circle was rebuilt by the original builders. But what you see is authentic . . . . . . though much degraded by time, weather and the four millenia of vandalism.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, I have very much enjoyed the various books of yours I have read. I have the Grail Quest series, the Arthur Books, Stonehenge, Gallows Thief and have just finished the Saxon Stories. Will there be any further books in these series? Sue Easter

I just read "Lords of the North". Fantastic read! When can we hope to see Uhtred again?
Kevin Sudds

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

There will be more Saxon stories. The next book in the series will be available in October.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just got finished re-reading your Arthur Warlord Series. I wanted to ask you what your thinking was to go against all the myths & legends of Arthur in light of your character Lancelot. Legend always had him to be Arhtur's right hand man, someone brave in battle and noble in heart. Your Lancelot was quite the opposite. While I found it refreshing, why did you write this character in the manner of a coward, thief and traitor against the rule of Arthur? Also was it your intention to have Derfel take Lancelot's place as he was all Lancelot was not. I felt after reading the final chapter that you left the end of the story open in that we don't really know the fate of Arthur, Galahad & Guenieve. I don't beleive you had ever mentioned that you were going to write any more Arhtur books, so it just seem to me that the story ended too quickly. Just my opinion.

One last question on Arthur. Do you beleive he really did exist in Britian of the 5th or 6th century? Everything I've read leads me to believe he did, but not as King, but as a lord of a region. I'm now reading your Alfred series and have always been a fan of Sharpe! I mostly enjoy your supporting cast of characters in your books and how they interact with the main character through the period of history you are writing about. As always thank you for the many hours pf pleasure reading your works. Jeff Juri

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

No! Derfel was, in the earliest stories, one of Arthur's closest companions and a great warrior. So he stands alone, and quite separate from the dreadful Lancelot (who was a late addition to the legends, so I felt free to do much as I wanted with him, and if he's cuckolding Arthur then he's no hero to me! ). My intention was to restore Derfel to a place he once occupied!

I agree with you! The evidence is, of course, very sketchy - even non-existent, but undoubtedly there was a great British warlord who won the battle of Mount Badon and thus, for a time, stemmed the Anglo-Saxon invasion. Unfortunately Gildas, who is our primary source for that battle, does not mention the name of the British commander - but I am convinced it was, indeed, Arthur. The Historical notes to the novels will provide more information on this.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, i've became adept of yours books, reading the grail quest, then the warlord series, and now the saxon's series, I have to say that I am completely facinated for your books, can't wait til october for the next book of the saxon's series. I am brazilian, and here your books arrive with a 2 years delay. While reading yours books, I got curious about the Lover's ring, it has a cross, can you detail it more? i couldn't find any picture of it, is it a christian cross, or a X? I really can't wait, the lords of the north really teased me, sorry for my english. Rodrigo Amorim

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

Think a St Andrew's Cross (X). I fear that it was a fictional invention.

Q

First of all, I am a history teacher (the medieval period is my passion) and I discovered your work through the Arthur books (which I adored) and now the Saxon stories. Now, question: Without giving too much away: Is there going to be a developing relationship between Uthred and Aethelflaed? I know she is an important part of Saxon history but it seems as though you are perhaps foreshadowing a close relationship between her (as she grows up) and the fictional Uhtred? Joanna Novick

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

One does wonder. If I knew, of course, I'd tell you. Honest! I would!