Your Questions

Hi Bernard,

Loving the Last Kingdom TV series, is it true that Alexander Dreymon only got the part because of his striking resemblance to you?

No matter how good the series is it's only a fraction of the pure pleasure we get from the books. Here comes the question....

It's late March now and we usually get a book in October that's only 6 months away.... will you tell us what it is please?  You did mention an Elizabethan book a while ago.

Whatever it is I'll be outside Waterstones on the day and will have it devoured that week.

Mike

By the way I did hear that Sean Bean only got the part because of his striking resemblance to you too?

 

I've just heard that you're writing a book based on A Midsummer Night's Dream. I mean, what? Is that's true? Are you finally entering on the fantasy area? Please, make those elfs bleed

Eilton Ribeiro

 

Good Day Mr Cornwell,

Yes I thoroughly enjoy reading all you books, and I am gradually completing my hardback collection of the Sharpe series but I digress. I checked your web pages to find out when you are going to publish book 11 of the 'Last Kingdom' series but I noticed that in one of your answers you said that this would not be your next published book, can I ask what the subject is going to be or would that be asking too much. Many thanks for the joy that you give to me and all your avid readers,

Ian

 

You do a really good job of researching your historical facts with what sources are to hand, so I was wondering how and from what source you were able to determine the ages of the brothers Lodbrok.  While their deaths seem fixed with some reasonable degree of accuracy, the only indication I have of the age of either brother is an unsourced wiki claim that Ivar was born in 794 (which seems highly dubious for a man on active and constant campaign in the 860s-70s).  Based on what you've said throughout the first three books (that Ivar's son is old enough to be Uhtred's father) and your description of Ubba as going gray where previously he was white, I'm assuming that Ivar was in his late forties to early fifties when he died, and Ubba about the same, with Ivar Ivarrson likewise in his forties.  Is that the right idea?  How did you ultimately estimate this, and what sources did you use?  I'd really love to know.

 

Steven

Dear Bernard

 

I've just finished reading the Uhtred books again and the question I've been thinking about is would there have been an England in a similar time period without the catalyst of the Danish invasions? I've read that there seems to have been an ongoing struggle between the various kingdoms of England in the preceding centuries but no one seems to have emergent dominant for any significant time period until after the Danish invasions gradually left Wessex as the only remaining and then strongest Saxon kingdom as the Danes were pushed back. So I'm without the Danes would the four kingdoms of England have likely remained separate for much longer?

 

Though I appreciate it's only possible to speculate I would be grateful on any views you have on this matte as someone who has written extensively about that time period and events before and after?

 

I'm a big fan of the idea of alternate history but find it unfortunate that most writing on it seems to mainly focus on the 20th century when there seems to over a thousand years of fascinating history before that where things could have been vastly different.

 

regards

 

Matthew

Mr. Cornwell,

When will Uhtred's story continue? I can't wait!

I LOVE your work,

Janice Forler

 

Hello,

I just finished reading The Flame Bearer (great!) and was wondering if there will be an 11th book?

Thank you

Andrea

 

Mr Cornwell,

I am enjoying the TV series, but would love to know if/when we will get the next book in the series.

Many thanks for all your books.

Carol

Bonjour Mr Cornwell.

Je suis un fan absolu de la saga d'Uthred depuis plusieurs années et j'ai le regret de voir qu'il n'y a toujours pas de traduction pour les tomes après Sword song... Pourrons nous,  un jour, avoir la joie de lire la suite en français?

 

Sorry, I don't speak english but i'm à big fan of your books.... In french...

 

Thank you

Francois Champion

 

Hello,

I'm french and I read many of your books, in french when there is a translation, and in english when there is not. (Saxon tale, Grail quest, War lord, Azincourt...) I would be happy to reread them in French if a French editor would have the good idea to publish a French edition. My English is not current, and some things escape me, and it makes me so disappointed..

Do you know if there is a project about that ? So many bad and horrible foreign books are translated in French, and yours are not, it's a pity ! Many French readers wait for it.

My 22 years old daughter read Warlord two times and Stonhenge in french, and loved it. She is reading Lords of the North in french, and I'm so disappointed to think that she will cannot read more than the fourth because she will not have enough patience to translate it. Your english is very clear and easy to understand for us but there are many words in the Uthred world we didn't learn at school and practice in our life. Reverso is my friend !

Actually I look forward the Flame Bearer, thank you for so pleasure !

Emmanuelle

Dear Mr Cornwell,

 

I'm a great fan of all your books and have read them as soon as a new one comes out. I was wondering if you are thinking of making a series of your book "Redcoat"? There are just so many possibilities for this story considering many battles were fought between the Indians and the fledgling USA as it expanded into the Ohio Valley...battles a former British soldier may have been called upon by circumstances to take part, albeit reluctantly (at first). Perhaps, a switch from infantry to dragoon/horse soldier.

 

Sincerely,

~~Fred Villegas~~

 

 

Hello and good day, I'm trying to find credible sources on any information on the Danish king that Widukind was with during the massacre at Verden. Do we know who the king was? I have Charlemagne Translated Sources that I've been finding good information in, but finding the kings name or his standard or info on him, is so far, proving to be difficult. Do you have any suggestions on where I could find information about the Norse leaders during the 780's?

I think on the whole the world is missing the huge viking element that is Charlemagne, and I really want to bring light to this, but I want to make sure my info from the North is as accurate as possible...which I know is hard, but any suggestions you have, would be greatly appreciated and welcomed!

Thank you so much for your time, I can't even imagine how busy you are.

Kindest wishes,

Kathleen Clark

Dear Bernard

 

Fantasy dinner party time - you're hosting and you can have five guests,  from any period in history.  Who's on your list?  And what do you serve them?  And how does it go?

 

Cheers!

 

Kenny

Love your books. I never thought I would say it, but I prefer them over  Hornblower and Flashman and well over Master & Commander.

I doubt to see this loaded question answered or printed, but you may have privately considered it.  Considering the current collapse of the native English birthrate, and the current immigration policies of the UK and EU, do you think it is just coincidence or fate that roughly every millennium England is conquered by an alien culture: 43 AD, 1066 AD, 206? AD?

A C Duesenberg

Hi Bernard,

 

Love the books, TV shows, everything you're connected with!  Ok, the sycophancy is out of the way.

 

I came across, and purchased, at a Salvation Army thrift store no less, a very interesting knife, the blade is about 8 inches long and doesn't look that old.  However, though probably a reproduction, the hilt is extremely intriguing and very ornately decorated bone or antler in the medieval styIe reminiscent of Anglo-Saxons or Viking design.  I just want a recommended academic to whom I could send a picture.  I'm going on a walking vacation to England in May, and may bring the knife to leave with someone at a credible institution if they were reasonably intrigued.  Thanks if you have a suggestion.

Harry Jennings