Your Questions

Q

Bernard I have just finished "The Last Kingdom". It is a truly excellent read. I enjoy all your books but until now the Arthur Series had been my favourites. Personally though I think that The Last Kingdom was even better than these. So one question and one request. Question: One character - Beocca - displays some signs of having cerebral palsy. Was this intended or does he have some unspecified condition with similar symptoms? Request: Hurry up and write the next book in the series. Thanks. Steve

Submitted February 18, 2005

A

I'm sure it's unspecified!

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell I have two quick questions regarding Sharpe. 1. I know you do not intend to go backwards in time again, but I did wonder whether you would ever consider writing about Sharpe's adventures in Portugal (1808), as a short story maybe? You mention he fought there during that year, so a (longish) short story would be ideal. Then it could be added to the other 3 short stories and released as a book! Any chance? 2. Do you think you will revise the Sharpe books in the future for continuity sake? eg Harper had been by Sharpe's side through Portugal 1808-1809 according to 'Eagle', but then they built a relationship only after their fight in 'Rifles ,Jan 1809. I said 'quick questions' didn't I? Sorry Nick R

Submitted February 18, 2005

A

Any 'prequel' now will, as you suggest, be a short story, so that's a real possibility. Will I revise the Sharpe books for continuity? It's something I'd like to do, and I've talked to my publishers about it, and they'd like it, so that too is a very real possibility.

Q

I greatly enjoy your historical ficition. Some of your books I am reading a third time! Concering Agincourt, have you seen the latest TV theories on Agincourt? I believe the show was "Battlefield Detectives" - but I am not sure. The theories are that the longbow was of almost no value because of the recent improvement in plate into true steel and that many of the French actually suffocated in the mud. If you do write about Agincourt, is this the kind of material you would take into consideration? Or would you be inclined to make the longbow more important in your version to make the story more entertaining? Douglas Gilliatt

Submitted February 18, 2005

A

And why were they suffocating in the mud? Not because swords and spears put them down there, but because the arrows did. And while it's true that plate armour was virtually proof against most arrows, how many men could afford it? I'm waiting for a new book - coming this autumn? - by Juliet Barker, which will doubtless be brilliant . . but I have my doubts about TV detectives.

Q

Hello, Mr. Cornwell, and thank you for many happy hours of reading your books! I'm sure you have lots of mail to read, so I'll get on with my nit-picky little question. What year did Sharpe die? I'm pretty sure I read a reference to it somewhere, but can't remember where I saw it. Also, have you ever mentioned when Lucille or either of Sharpe's children died? Just wondering how long these great characters were around. Have a great day and thanks again! Christina

Submitted February 18, 2005

A

I can't remember if I ever said when Sharpe died. Of old age. In bed. Probably not his own.

Q

I would really love to knwo how the soldiers of the British Army were paid before and during the Battle of Waterloo. I have read some of your Shape books, and there have been veiled references to money being stolen from dead (French) bodies. But I am still mystisfied as to how the regular soldier received regular payment.
Leonora Burton

Submitted February 18, 2005

A

They got paid regularly, ho ho. Meaning that if there was cash available, then they would be paid in cash on a regular basis, but there rarely was cash available, so they kept records in pay-books and, when cash was available, they were paid their arrears. I've found some evidence that some men preferred to let their pay be deferred until campaign's end, but that seems to have been up to each individual regiment. But there was a system, and it worked well enough, but they didn't want paper money or promissory notes, and armies can't march around with wagon-loads of cash, so on campaign the men usually waited in the knowledge that the arrears would eventually be paid. And, of course, they stole from the dead, from the enemy injured, from just about anything. And at Vitoria (Sharpe's Honour) they hit the motherlode.

Q

Hello, You recently said you've just finished writing the follow up to The Last Kingdom (which I adored), so I was wondering what is the next book you will start to write? Also concerning the follow up, will this book be set around Uhtred? or based around his son Uhtred Uhtredson? (is that the right name?) I loved how you wrote about Uhtred's transition from boyhood to manhood in The Last Kingdom and could understand how you want to keep that. Also how many more Last Kingdom books will there be? Thank you very much for your time, James Trethowan.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Two questions. Firstly, do you have an idea of how many books will be in the Viking series and secondly, do you have a name for this series? It seems like all your series have collective names (I.E. The Grail Quest, The Starbuck Chronicles etc.) so I was just wondering if you had a name yet. Thanks for the great books. David Heaton Sydney, Australia

Submitted February 18, 2005

A

I sort of think, meaning I'm not sure, that there will be seven or eight. Or nine? More? Don't know, but probably at least seven. And it's usually the publisher who comes up with a series name (I'm not so keen), and so far that hasn't happened. The Saxon Tales? The follow up to The Last Kingdom starts on the day after that first book ends, and follows Uhtred through the next year of his life. I'm not sure what I'll write next.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell. I am fifteen years old and I have finished reading the Warlord Chronicles, the Grail trilogy, and am now reading the Last Kingdom which has gripped me in the same way as the others. It appeals to me greatly as I am very interested in post roman, Dark Age and medieval history. It interests me so much I would love to take up training with these weapons. How did you manage to get, firstly the information about the shield wall and secondly how did you find out about the 'fury that grips men in battle'? Thank you for giving me increased interest in British history and heritage. Yours Charlie Bowditch, dorset,uk.

Submitted February 16, 2005

A

Information on the Shield Wall? I don't think any one book - but many years of reading. There are books which deal with the shield walls of the Saxons and Danes (Paddy Griffith -The Viking Way of War is one, and almost any book on early mediaeval warfare) - but I can't think of one that deals with the 5th and 6th century so much of that was imagination - which also supplies the 'fury'.

Q

Congratulations and thankyou, you have done it again. I have just finished The Last Kingdom and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Once again I will say that I cannot believe that history can be so entertaining. Can I be so bold as to ask you a few questions? Why Alfred? Is he a person you knew something about or did you decide it might be an interesting tale to tell and then set about researching his life. Have you ever thought about writing a factual history type book? Your knowledge on certain subjects must be very thorough and comprehensive. And have you ever selected a historical figure and started writing about him or her to decide that they were the wrong choice? Thankyou in advance, Barry Evans, Doncaster.

Submitted February 16, 2005

A

Why Alfred? Because, I suppose, he's fascinated me ever since I first read Old English some forty years ago, and because his reign is, to say the least, dramatic. So yes, I knew something about him and have been reading about him for a very long time.

I sometimes think about it, then lie down till the temptation passes. I suspect the skills needed are very different from writing fiction - and the research has to be a lot more thorough!

Not yet, but doubtless it will happen.

Q

I have two questions. How much money is generally made off of Historical fiction(bestsellers such as yours)? Secondly are historical fiction writers allowed poetic lisence as much as others, that is, is the author allowed as much freedom for poetic/ beautiful writing as other genres? thanks, Jeff Doerr

Submitted February 16, 2005

A

How much money? Depends on how well the book sells. You can go broke or be wealthy, or be anywhere in between. Which isn't any help at all, is it? Historical fiction makes as much money as most other kinds of fiction - and the general rule is that the money isn't very good when you start writing, but it gets better as you get better and more people read your books. And yes, you need to write as well as you can, even if it does mean the poetic and beautiful.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I bought The Last Kingdom for myself as an early birthday gift (my birthday's Feb 7th!) and I tried so hard to "save" it - but having devoured the Grail Quest trilogy, Stonehenge and a number of Sharpe books, I simply could not resist starting. I'm trying hard NOT to race through it but I just wanted to say I am loving this book so much - it really brings the period to life. I would very much like to know your opinion on the way history, and in particular British history, is taught in schools today. I think it's a terrible shame that the rich heritage of our nation's history remains unknown to so much of our younger generation. Jan Baxter

Submitted February 16, 2005

A

I have to say that I don't know how history is taught in British schools, so any opinion of mine is firmly based on ignorance. But I suspect that history has become an expression of political correctness, aimed at making us feel guilty for things we had no responsibility for. That's a pity, if true, but you can always read Sharpe as a corrective! He doesn't feel guilty.