Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, I am currently reading the first of the Arthur books and am really enjoying it. I am now at the point where Arthur is talking with Aelle at 'the Stones' and has just betrayed his fellow Britons in Ratae. I thoroughly enjoy reading your works, but I must ask you; why are there some place names and character names that are not mentioned in the lists in the front of the book? For example you mention a place called Henis Wydryn, but there is no explanation as to where this place is. Is it a made up place or did/does it really exist. Also how do you determine which places and characters are added to the list in the fornt of your books? I am very much looking forward to reading the next 2 books and then the 3rd book in the saxon series. Best wishes, Ed May, California.

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

It's Ynys Wydryn, isn't it? Henis sounds like a mistake to me, or a misprint . . on the whole we left out places and people that made very minor appearances, but I'm sure Ynys Wydryn is there.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have been reading your books since I was thirteen. Of course, since I am now 16, that isnt too long. I have only read Redcoat, The Grail series, the Warlord Chronicles, and the Last Kingdom, although I am picking up a copy of The Pale Horseman and some Sharpe books soon enough. What I want to ask you is, how far in advance do you plan out your stories? I know that some of them you can't really plan because history dictates what must happen, but others (mainly the Warlord and Saxon books) allow you to have much more freedom. Also, if you wouldnt mind, could you tell me what book you are proudest of? Thanks in advance, Zach Love

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

More or less just before I write them, and then the real work happens while you write them, so most of the plotting is simultaneous with the composition. When I begin a book I have a vague idea what it will be about - with the new Sharpe I knew I wanted it to end at Barossa, but that isn't a plot. So research threw up some interesting things (mainly that the British Ambassador in Cadiz had been deserted by his wife) and then you start to tinker with those ideas, and a story emerges. I wish I could plot them out meticulously before I start writing, but I can't, and so am stuck with letting the ideas emerge with the story.

Hard to say...I've always reckoned the Arthur trilogy are my favourite books - maybe because they were such a pleasure to write. But I find Uhtred is almost as much fun and I take huge pleasure from Sharpe...

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, It often seems the case that the greatest military leaders are men you would least suspect of great leadership skills during peacetime. In all your research and writing, have you formed any opinions on what qualities a great military leader must have?
Stephen Hall

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

I think it's probably true that in peacetime a lot of men get promoted because of their administrative skills and, of course, their ability to brown-nose the politicians and more senior officers. Then, in war, the guys you really need come through. The obvious example is McClellan, the Union leader in the American civil war, who was a superb administrator and a hopeless general, while Grant was more or less the opposite. Then, just to refute that, you have Lee, who did well in peace and war. Wellington was a good enough politician to thrive outside of war, so he's another exception, but I think the general rule holds. Probably the greatest skill of a general is not being afraid to make a decision. I think it was Frederick the Great who said that the greatest sin was not making the wrong decision, but making no decision, and there have probably been hundreds of occasions when the decision itself was not important, but making the choice was and then providing the leadership to make that choice work. Napoleon always said that you threw men into battle and then you discovered what would happen, so it seems to me that a successful general has to have various qualities; a command of the logistics is very important (men can't fight if you don't get them to the battlefield with food, weapons and ammunition), and he must have the ability to make a decision on inadequate and confusing information, and then have the character to impose his vision of events on the enemy.

Q

Mr Cornwell, first of all I am a fan.I have all the books in the Sharpe's series, read and enjoyed Stonehenge, Harlequin and more to come I hope. My question might be a bit off topic but I am 95% sure that I saw you at the opening of the new War musem in Ottawa Canada last year, Was I dreaming or...was it you that ran up and down that big building for 3 hours (you were wearing a red coat or shirt. At the time I was re-reading Sharpe's Tiger). Mario Belisle

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

Nope, not me! Don't have any red shirts or coats - so it must have been my doppelganger.

Q

I liked the excerpt you included on Lords of the North and I noticed Father Beocca remains a character in the novel. I expect he may be a fixture throughout all the books. My favorite priest were Willibald and Pyrlig and I'd like to know if either of them will make an appearance in the next book Also, I just finished a biography of Alfred which mentioned that he had five children. Along with Aethelflaed and Edward, there was a daughter who marries Baldwin of Flanders and thus was an ancester of the Norman kings. So in a sense, Alfred's line didn't die out. Will any of this be brought out in future books or will Uhtred's story be complicated enough? Ann Madonna

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

Willibald returns in Lords of the North, though he has a fairly brief role to play. Beocca's there, of course. Pyrlig isn't, not because I'm abandoning him, but because I plan to use him in later books and there wasn't any real reason for him to be involved with events in Northumbria. Another couple to keep an eye on are Father Erkenwald and Asser, both of whom will return to plague Uhtred.

Q

A few years ago you were due to make a trip to Truro in Cornwall for an evening talk and book signing. Unfortunately you had to cancel. Have you any plans to return to Cornwall in the future ?? Shaun Hosking

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

It's not on the schedule at the moment - but anything is possible. Check the Diary page on occasion as all appearances will be listed there.

Q

Hi again Bernard...I am still thoroughly enjoying your Arthurian 'Warlords Chronicles' and am at present reading 'Enemy of God'. Some enthralling chapters here...I do have a question though. I can't help thinking that in a subtle way you have, in part of this book, executed a minor salute to Tolkien. Merlin's quest reminded me slightly of the LOTR journey...eg The Dark Road to Lleyn (path to Mordor)...the one greatest British treasure above all others (the One Ring), the Dark Riders (Black Riders) tracking the progress of the druidic wizard Merlin (Gandalf) and his 'Warriors of the Cauldron' (Fellowship of the Ring). Not a criticism or accusation by any means...a skilfully constructed parallel in my eyes. Is this what you intended...a minor tribute to Tolkien within Arthur's story or is my imagination overflowing ? All the best.........Darryl Potter

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

To be honest I didn't have Tolkien in mind, though Merlin and Gandalf both come from the same mould, so I think that parallel was inevitable . . . I hadn't thought of the Dark Road as a parallel to the road to Mordor, but of course you're right. I suspect that most of it was unconscious - because I've read the Lord of the Rings twice and I'm sure that much of it stays in the imagination and then gets recycled whether I want it or not!

Q

Just finished the Grail Quest series. Can you recommend a good book or two discussing the Knights Templars? Thanks.
Tim McGarey

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

The best I have is The Templars, by Piers Paul Read, which I can confidently recommend . . and a search on Amazon should throw up anything more recent - but Piers Paul Read is an excellent place to start.

Q

Sir, Thanks for your recommendation of Juliet Barker's Agincourt. My wife bought it for me for Christmas, and I just loved it. Henry V seems almost too perfect a character not to be fictional. Makes me hold my manhood cheap nearly six hundred years later. Could probably have phrased that better. Seemed to work for WS! Moving swiftly on, any chance of your own Agincourt book? Regards, JKM.

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I thought it was a terrific book - and yes, I'm planning my own novel which, doubtless, will rip off Juliet Barker's research mercilessly . . . .

Q

Dear sir, I just needed to know why Sharpe passed up so many chances to become a colonel (alright 2) but still... 1st when Sharpe has Lord Fenner on the ropes he asks for Girdwood to command (so he can in effect command, but still as a major) however surely Fenner would have been in a position to give him promotion if he so desired? Secondly once he makes his fortune he could have bought promotion (while this one I understand Sharpe may object to due to where he came from and due to his morals but perhaps you could still explain the first one), thanks, Tommy Smith

Submitted April 6, 2006

A

I'm pretty certain Sharpe wouldn't qualify as a Lt Col in Sharpe's Regiment, so he's happy to stay as a Major. I can't remember now, because I wrote the book so long ago - and, of course, if Sharpe had been given the command then the ending of the book wouldn't have worked - I suspect that was the real reason.