Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell

 

I recently purchased and read “Gallows Thief”.  Thank you for this thoroughly interesting novel.  I found the detail about early C19 life in London, including the use of the colourful ‘flash’ language, the cricket incidents and the misery of coach travel, to be fascinating and the descriptions of Old Bailey quite sobering.

 

Tom Keneally, the respected Australian author, noted in his book “The Commonwealth of Thieves” that the use of ‘flash’ was so prevalent amongst the convicts in the colony that, in early court proceeding, an interpreter was required.

 

I noted that, in the “Gallows Thief”, there are a couple of references to Australia.  One reference is when Sandman is threating Meg with ‘A voyage to Australia and life in a penal settlement’.  May I respectfully suggest that in 1817 the use of the word ‘Australia’ would not have been in common usage.  Maybe either ‘Botany Bay’ or ‘New South Wales’ would have been used?

 

Matthew Flinders, the amazing English navigator and cartographer, in his 1814 ‘Voyage to Terra Australis’ suggests the name Australia.  The first time that the name Australia appears to have been officially used was in a despatch to Lord Bathurst of 4 April 1817 in which Governor Lachlan Macquarie acknowledges the receipt of Matthew Flinders' charts of Australia.  On 12 December 1817, Macquarie recommended to the Colonial Office that it be formally adopted.  In 1824, the Admiralty agreed that the continent should be known officially as Australia. (Wikipedia)

 

I expect that, from time to time, you receive pedantic comments from readers about your books.  As I have an interest in the exploration and early history of Australia, I tender this as my excuse for this message.

 

With apologies

 

Keith McLeod

Hello!

I am obviously a great fan of Your writing ( especially Uhtred ) and currently trying to persuade myself that I can also write a historical fiction. From one of your videos available on youtube I learned that you still read tremendous amounts of history and that I assume helps in writing stories about Uhtred, Richard Sharpe etc. My question is if you have ever considered  writing a story about non-anglo heroes? Will Your knowledge about 18th/19th century world, political situation, events etc be enough to write a story that follows ( for example ) Tadeusz Kosciuszko? And how long do you think research for this sample story could take You. I am Polish myself and for that reason I would love to apologize for my terrible English. I do try and improve it ( this is where your fantastic writing comes very helpful ).

Kind Regards

Pawel Ulinski.

How did Uhtred end up in the monastery? Is there a book 11 that tells us?

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all 10.

Satchidananda

When are you going to finish the Starbuck Novels?

John L'Amie

 

I just finished your  Starbuck series. Great stuff!. Your Historical Note of The Bloody Ground ended with, "Starbuck will march again." Just one question, when?

Charlie Rupnick

 

Are we going to see any more of Nate Starbuck? I really like all of your work and would like to see Nate finish the Civil War.

Thank you,

Bob

 

 

Any Starbuck books coming?

Steve Rodriguez

 

 

Hi Bernard,

I've just finished The Flame Bearer . It is Uhtred back at his brilliant best.What's next and when ? Also, my son is a huge fan of the 'Copperhead 'series is there any chance of the series being continued ?

Regards.

Chris Page

 

Dear Mr Cornwell

Will the Warlord Chronicles ever be televised or even made into films?  It would be interesting viewing.

Regards

Kim

Thank you for both entertaining and educating us!  Will there be more of " The last Kingdom" series?

David Miller

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

In late November I opened up a copy of THE LAST KINGDOM and read straight through to the end of THE FLAME BEARER. I suppose one might say I was taken hostage (but very pleasantly).

My question is, will more books in this series be coming, and, if so, approximately when? I love these books, and most devoutly hope there will be another. I'll also be looking into your other works, perhaps the Grail books next.

Respectfully yours,

Larry Chavis

Mississippi, USA

 

Bernard,

Just finished The Flame Bearer. When can we expect the next book ?

Best wishes,

Jim

 

I just finished "The Flame Bearer." The last sentence of the of the "historical notes" gives the impression that there will be another book in the absolutely wonderful series. Is that true, and if so, when will it be available?

Melody Foley

Hi

It might be better If Uhtred kept his estate in the midlands as it gives him a reason to travel south, as you said he did when he was older in an earlier book when he burnt the scrolls in the monastary.

 

Colin

Hello,

When you have a new book published, what is your philosophy regarding reviews of your book(s)? Do you read all of them, some of them or none of them? Is there any particular reviewer, whose opinion you rate highly, and you have to read? Or any particular newspaper and/or magazine's review's of your book(s) you have to read?

Regards and thanks,

Adrian.

Bernard,

I am immensely enjoying the Saxon Chronicles. I would like to know if all medieval or Dark Age warriors named their swords, such as Wasp Sting or Serpent Breath. I hadn't heard of this before.

Also, what is the phonetic pronunciation of "wyrd bid ful araed"?(Fate is inexorable)  And what language is this?

Tom Blake,

Massachusetts

Dear Mr. Cornwell

I have just finished reading the Flame Bearer. Along with the rest of the Last Kingdom Series, these are the best fiction books depicting the turbulent  story of the creation of England.

What would you think of the books being included in the National Curriculum?

I am sure they would bring alive this part of early English history for many students.

Looking forward to meeting Uhtred again.

 

kind regards

 

Mike Newell