Your Questions

David Gemmel recently died, what did you think of his books? Also are there any more viking series books coming out? Anthony Fleming

Dear Mr Cornwell. It is with the greatest of pleasure that I read your books, having first picked up Sharpe's Triumph on a ferry going to Ireland almost 8 years ago when I was a wee boy of 14. Since then I have read through all of the Sharpe novels at least 3 times each including the new ones, others are even more so, and have also collected the Warlord Chronicles, which I adore, and the Saxon Chronicles, what can I say, I just love your books. I do have 2 questions... 1. Do you have any idea when the next Saxon book is coming out? I am currently going through Lords of the North, for the third time, and really want to know how it all ends for Uhtred.

2. Just out of curiosity, you mentioned in the Historical notes, which I find very interesting by the way, in Sharpe's Eagle, that you have never read the book after publication (I think that's correct). I was just wondering if this is still the case as this is my favorite Sharpe book, aside from maybe Sharpe's Triumph. Yours in literature, David James Chesshire

Hello Bernard Cornwell I am a great fan of you and I live in Turkey. I wanted to ask how old you are? At which age did you began writing? Is Uhtred a real man in history?
Ata

Sir. When may we have the missing book from 9 months before Cat Lane to Seringapatam. Will we have the story of the months before Sharpe's Prey when he gave away the ruby to his then girlfriend, a schoolteacher from Dover I think. What happened to Captain Morris (33rd of Foot)? Simon Brett Phillips

Bernard, I wonder if you have ever read, 'War to the Death - The Sieges of Saragossa 1808-1809' by Raymond Rudorff? My paperback copy is by Pen & Sword. I won't go on too long in case you have read it, although there were no Brits there I reckon Richard Sharpe could have stumbled across the place? Amazing bravery by the French and Spanish, but the remarkable feature is that the Spannish citizens fought alongside their soldiers to keep the French from taking the place. They succeeded the first time, but Napoleon was so incensed at his army being defeated by the Spanish peasants that he sent a huge army of 45,000 to take the place, at all costs. The Spannish population from all around Saragossa rallied to the city to defend it, at all costs. When it fell, on this day (20/02)1809,the city had ben totally destroyed and 50,000 citizens and soldiers lay dead. Legend has it that Palafox was the Spanish hero, but he actually cleared off (to get help?) so it must have been Richard Sharpe who inspired the armed civilians towards such valor? Richard Shaw

Dear Bernard. I refer to your book Redcoat. Did Germantown become the Washington DC of today or do I have it all wrong??? Regards Kevin - South Africa

The biggest problem with new great books coming out is that you read them in less then 3 days and it's all over. The Lords of the North was a great book to a great series. The first book I read from you was The Last Kingdom, and I must say I am HOOKED! I got really excited that there were 2 more books about the same character, and bought them immediately. Now I am done and want more more more! I guess the reason I am writing is I wanted to know if you planed to continue the Saxon series or are you going to go to the others and then one day come back to the Saxon series? I would like you to keep going with them! Something about the Vikings, and the inter battles Uhtred faces with wanting to be a Dane but knowing that he is a Saxon is very compelling, and you have done an outstanding job of keeping that line very fine to the point that you dont know which way he will turn. Please right another book for Uhtred! Oh one more thing, in the Pale Horseman, Iseult said that he would meet a woman of gold, but now his latest lady has dark hair. Will there be another? And was the woman of gold reference to Alfred daughter, which was kind of implied in the book itself? Thanks for your creativity and devotion to history! It really comes through in your work, and I love to read it and dream! Ryan ONeil

Dear Bernard please could you tell me when the next installment of the saxon saga is due!! As I am a big fan of Uhtred.

Andy Donegan

I understood that further episodes in the Uhtred Saga were planned. Is this the case and if so when is the next book due to appear? Brian Rowland

Hi I've loved reading all your books, especially the Arthur Books, the Grail Quest and Saxon Stories, and look forward to the new book in the Saxon stories being released in October. I have read and very much enjoy Conn Iggledon and Valario Massimo Manfredi, can you recommend any other similar authors for me to read while I await the release of the new book? Keep the great stories coming! Thanks, Justin Hooker

Dear Bernard In reading that you have said you will not start the Starbuck series until the Sharpe series is finsished and that you have said that there is a least 4 or 5 books left in that series and not counting the fact the viking series will be about 7 or 8 books does that mean all long suffereing Starbuck fans have to wait 7 or 8 years more for another Starbuck when there are a lot of outstanding plot points left over Billy Blythe/Delenay/his family etc etc than argubly in either Sharpe or Uthred's worlds at the moment Can't you even throw a bone with a short story on Starbuck there is a gap of the battles of Glendale and Malvern Hill left open between Copperhead and Battle flag to finish (please)????

And I have to ask was Washington Falcouner based on a real life person at all????

P.S In regards to Pakenham are you sure Wellington did not like him cause I have read that while he never thought he was the biggest brain he was very upset at his death and thought the battle plan was good idea gone wrong and held the navy and Cochrane in particular responsible.

Which leads me to the final question while you have said you will not get Sharpe to Canada (ohh for shame Sharpe did not meet Issac Brock) have you ever considered a seperate series on the war of 1812 there were some major battles and the fact goes you half english/canadian living in the US would probably mean your the most ideal to write about that conflict??? Regards Tony

Hi Bernard, Just wondering if you have any plans to see the cricket world cup as it's in the Windies this year? Also as Sharpe is a demon bowler would you consider a couple of chapters with Shape involved in a cricketmatch against an agtagonistic officer's team, another triumph for "Sharpie" one hopes. Lee