Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, After reading the Grail Quest series and the Warlord series I was wondering why there is barely any mention of archers, or their effect in battle, in the Warlord series? It seems Thomas and his archers were invaluable against the French but Derfel and his men don't seem to consist of any archers at all. Any reason for this? Yours Sincerely, David Heaton

Submitted April 14, 2005

A

Because there isn't any real evidence that archers were much used in early mediaeval European warfare. We know that the huge warbow that will dominate the Hundred Years War existed (examples have been found in Britain from 2000 BC), but it was an incredibly difficult weapon to master and I suspect that very few men ever did - and those would have been the specialist hunters. Sometime around the end of the 13th Century it seems there was a craze in England and Wales for that long yew bow, and suddenly there were sufficient archers to make a battle-winning army. But they simply didn't exist before, and the shorter hunting bow did not have enough power to pierce whatever armour protection it came up against. So I've no doubt there were a few archers in those early armies (we know, for instance, that archers fought at Hastings), but they weren't equipped with the long bow - they had a shorter version with much less power, and it didn't make a real difference.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Can you recommend a good self-study course for learning Old English? You have inspired me to try to read the old Anglo-Saxon masterpieces. Mike

Submitted April 14, 2005

A

I don't know of one, sorry. They must exist out there. . . try Amazon?

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was wondering (if the question is not too indiscreet) how much you enjoyed school. Your being a successful authour leads me to believe you excelled at your classes...at least, it makes me very curious. Thanks. Stuart Old

Submitted April 14, 2005

A

Not a lot, but that probably wasn't the school's fault. And I was an extremely mediocre pupil.

Q

Thank you very much for all your books! I have enjoyed all of them. I even have a couple of signed Sharpe's. Are you planning a book tour of the UK to go with the release of the Pale Horseman? Once again thanks and keep up the good work.
Simon Wells

I didn't manage to get over to Norwich (U.K) for your visit to Ottakers book store. Many thanks for the duly signed copy of Heretic. I was wondering, are you planning another book signing tour within the U.K for October 2005?

Eugene O'Neill

Submitted April 11, 2005

A

There will be a book tour in the UK for the release of The Pale Horseman. The book is scheduled to be released on 3 October which means I'll most likely be on tour from 3 October thru 7 October. Details for the book tour will be posted to the Diary page as soon as we receive them.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm currently reading (actually, listening to) The Last Kingdom, which I'm enjoying very much. I also loved your Warlord Series. My question is this. I notice that in these stories, battles frequently occurred through the confrontation of two "shield walls". Two questions: (a) First, what are your primary sources that describe the shield wall, or is that something you inferred from the military technology (or lack thereof) of the time, and (b) do you know whether similar tactics were used at the same time in Francia by the Merovingian and Carolingian's, or did their use of horsemen make the shield wall less relevant. Thanks! Michael Newman

Submitted April 11, 2005

A

I suppose my primary source is The Battle of Maldon, the poem telling of the disastrous fight between Brythnoth's Saxons and the Danes, in which occurs the line 'he told his troops to make a shield wall'. There's also the existence of the word scildweall in Old English. Other than that I'm sure I use secondary sources, which are mostly listed in the Further Reading section under The Last Kingdom book page of this website. I fear I don't know anything about the Merovingians and Carolingians, alas - but I would assume that a well made shield wall, bristling with spears, should suffice to deter cavalry? Just a guess.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I'd like to know more about Frederickson! If (or when) you have occasion to include Sweet William in a future Sharpe novel (perhaps the siege of San Sebastian?) please have him reveal something about his background, military service before he met Sharpe, how he lost his eye, ear, teeth, etc. Thanks, Alan Kempner

Submitted April 11, 2005

A

I shall bear it in mind!

Q

In The Last Kingdom hardback version page 166, you write Wird Bith ful araed (my translation!) does it literally translate to fate is unstoppable? Kind regards. Graham

Submitted April 11, 2005

A

'Wyrd' is 'fate' or 'chance' or destiny - bid - our 'be', ful is an intensifier (like our word full) and araed is a bit more difficult - it carries the meaning of determined or resolute, but intensify it with ful and you end up with something like Fate is Inexorable or unstoppable. It's from an Anglo Saxon poem called The Wanderer and one translation I have renders it 'Fate is relentless'. I've always liked it!

Q

Bernard, I've just been the MSN groups website dedicated to Richard Sharpe fans and there is a link to another site that has news of forthcoming films. This site says that Sean Bean will be starring in a new movie to be called Sharpe's Challenge and filming will start Autumn 2005 in India. Is this true? Ed Harvey

Submitted April 5, 2005

A

As far as I know it is true, but no one's told me anything! (I'm always the last to know!).

Q

Dear Bernard, I'm currently reading my way through Enemy of God, the second volume in your Warlord Chronicles. While I am greatly enjoying it, my question in fact refers to the cover designs of your novels, rather than the texts. I am curious to know how much influence you yourself have on the theme and design, for all your works. I would especially like to know, if you could tell me, the origins of each of the artefacts on the three Warlord Chronicle novels - in particular the impressive helmet on the first, as I'm sure I've seen it before. Are these items supposed to have any particular relevance to the books? I would greatly appreciate any feedback you could give me about these covers, and in the meantime I will continue to soak up the fantastic tales you've weaved between them. Many thanks, Heather.

Submitted April 5, 2005

A

Cover design is an extraordinarily difficult thing, and it's done by the publishers, and of course they run their proposals past me, but I can't say I have that much influence. The helmet on The Winter King is an adaptation of the famous Sutton Hoo helmet - which, of course, is not British, but Anglo Saxon, and may have been made in Sweden. You can see it in the British Museum - a picture is at www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/ixbin/goto?id=OBJ3920

Q

Bernard, I am an avid reader of your books, I began with the Archer's Tale, then the Warlord Trilogy, which by far is my favorite series of books. Anyway, I just recently finished the Last Kingdom (which I read in 2 days) and had to write to tell you that you've done it again. I think you have created your most interesting character in Uhtred, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. Now for a few questions, I'm curious as to the pronunciations of the two old english letters that you used in the book, I obviously can't type them but you know which ones I mean. Secondly, I really enjoy historical fiction in the period of the Romans to the dark ages, any suguesstions for more titles in this genre? Also read Scoundrel recently, really enjoyed that as well. Well you keep them coming, and I'll keep reading.
Russell Faroni

Submitted April 5, 2005

A

The ae combination (the 'ash') is, as far as I can work out, much like the 'ai' sound in hair. The thorn is really useful - it's 'th'.
For reading suggestions, please click on the Reading Club link found on this website.