Your Questions

Hi Bernard,

 

I'm a Huge fan, read every book and enjoyed them all. You very kindly publish a book (in the U.K.) timed to coincide with my Birthday, so I'm always looking forward to getting older, and now I age with Uther!

 

I understand the Uther series will end with the Battle of Brunanburh, and for that you will need to decide (perhaps you already have?) where to set the site for the Battle....however I'm convinced the Battlefield is not at any of the locations that anyone to my knowledge  (over the last century) has put forward, some suggestions I believe are in the right 'shire' but as an Ex Dragoon Guard with a trained and experienced eye for 'fighting ground' I'm not convinced by any of them.

 

I have read and understood all the guidelines for contact and I can assure you (and those lawyers) that I herewith give up any and all rights on any idea I might have on the location of the Brunanburh Battle-Field, you are welcome to all my thoughts and ideas, they are yours, free of charge.

 

I am pretty certain (all things considered) precisely where the Northern 'Allies' could have arranged to 'form up', given where they started from, and subsequently where they would have then waited (and prepared) for the Wessex/Mercian Army to arrive, if I'm right then it becomes obvious where the latter would have set up camp on the eve of the battle and where the battle was fought.

 

Wherever you choose, I know the book will be great, you are the very best of authors....another book in a 'Fort' series would be great, really enjoyed it.

Dean Nicholson

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I am reading all The Last Kingdom books which I originally bought one by one for my son but am now enjoying as much as he did.

I have just finished The Pagan Lord which, as someone from Wolverhampton,  I especially enjoyed because of its coverage of The Battle of Teotanheale or The Battle of Wodnesfeld as many locals maintain.

However I feel I must point out that Wodnesfeld is modern Wednesfield (a part of modern Wolverhampton) and not Wednesbury as stated in the Place Names list. I  do realise that this is a small point but it is a matter of fact and not conjecture and does matter to us Wulfrunian locals! It also makes sense of the part in the book where one local Saxon states that the nearby village is Teotenheale whilst this is contradicted by another stating it is Wodansfeld as the exact site of the battle is a source of local dispute to this day.

The mistake is easily rectified in future editions by just changing the entry in the Place Names list.

Meanwhile I am now reading The Empty Throne and am looking forward to reading the others in the series. Keep up the good work.

Regards,

Chris Irvine

I was just wondering how familiar you are with your family connection to Bamburgh Castle? I know I had in the past read an article where you mentioned when your family's possession of the Castle ended, but I don't remember what it was. I have just today finished Marc Morris' excellent book "The Norman Conquest". At the beginning of the book he covers some of the events that lead up to the Conquest, including how Edward the Confessor came to be King of England. In this vein, he covers the story of Uhtred of House Bamburgh, also known as Uhtred the Bold, the final Anglo Saxon Earl of Northumbria and the murder of his son and usurpation of Bamburgh Castle by Siward Digri. I thought this little nugget fit perfectly in my current reading, as I am also rereading the Saxon Stories in anticipation of the American release of "Flame Bearer".  I was wondering if you knew where exactly your particular branch of the family fit into this snippet of time in history. It is highly interesting, and would make your familiy connection to the Saxon Stories, and especially to "The Last Kingdom" possibly much deeper than you might have thought as it could also make you a lineal descendant of not only the real Uhtred the Bold, but of Bjorn Ironside, son of Ragnar Lothbrok and brother of Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan, Sigrud Snake in the Eye and, of course, Ubba. I won't post the breakdown of my reasoning, as I have a few more questions and don't want to create an even larger wall of text than I had already planned on.

 

I have also began reading "The Plantagenets " by Dan Jones. I apologize if this a time period in history that you don't get to study much, as you haven't written about it, but if I understand the geneology of Henry the II correctly, is he the lineal descendant of not only Rollo of Normandy and William the Conqueror, but also a number of characters in the Saxon Stories like Alfred, and Edward, but also of Kings Duncan and Malcom of "Macbeth", thus making him an ancestor of the real Macbeth?

 

Lastly, when you orignially wrote "the Warlord Chronicles", did you already envision writing a series involving Alfred the Great? I only ask because Your description of him looking like a Preist or Clerk are almost identical to your descriptions of Cerdic. So I was wondering if the Saxon Stories were in your head when you wrote that, or if you just used your description of Cerdic as a basis for Alfred. Sorry for the wall of text, and I can't wait to read Flame Bearer.

 

Thanks,

Luke

I was just wondering if you intentionally married Sigtryggr into Uhtred's family as a vein to allow him to pass freely to Bebbanburg, or if it is another hidden reference to previous characters in your books, as the real Sigtryggr would have been a Grandson of the real Ivar the Boneless?

Luke

I've just finished Sharpe's Devil and after reading all 21 books cover to cover including the mini stories (I can't get hold of Sharpe's Ransom digitally) I find myself hoping two things as I've grown so attached, will you have one more story for Sharpe and Harper? and would you look to revise details in your stories for newer editions so that the books correspond with the details from the prequels and later novels. Like in Sharpe's Devil where it says he's never been part of a battle on ship...cough Trafalgar ha p.s Is there another Sharpe episode or revised companion in the works?

Sam Gordon

 

Hi, Bernard,

I'm a huge fan and I've read nearly all your books ! A couple of the sailing ones still to go!

Can you tell me, are you aware of any recent news regarding the proposed TV filming of your Starbuck novels? There was a message a while ago that a TV production was in the planning stage, but I am not aware of any recent updates. It would be great to know whether this is still underway. Hope so!

Best wishes,

Martin Jones

Hello Mr Cornwall.

I am an avid reader of your books, enjoying most particularly the Sharpes series.  However a friend of mine introduced me to the Starbuck series.  Since I had very little knowledge of the American Civil War, I found this inspired me to read up more of the history and events that occurred.  I thank you for this alone.  I noticed however that Bloody Ground leaves a hint at the end of another book - Is there in fact any such plans to have a 5th book in this series?  Regardless, I shall enjoy whichever book of yours I pick up to read next.

Janine

 

Hello Mr Cornwell

I,ve just finished reading these 4 brilliant books.At the end you say starbuck will fight again,could you please let me know when this might be as I thought there were some unfinished story lines that I am keen to read.

Many thanks

John

 

Dear Sir,

I have all of your books and always wait avidly for your new one.  Although most are written as a series, they are all individual stories and can be easily followed. My personal favourite is your version of Azincourt - I think it has been half way round the world as I take it as my holiday read regularly.  My reason for writing is that I have just re-read the Starbuck Chronicles for about the third time, and would like to know what happened to Starbuck?  Did you not think to make him into a mercenary or a Robin Hood character like Thomas of Hookton(Le Batard)?.  Is there a book somewhere that I have missed?  It would be interesting to know your thoughts.  I thoroughly enjoy reading your books and always await the new one.

Sincerely,

Charles Ryan

 

Starting off I'm a huge fan of all your books , particularly the Starbuck Chronicles and the Sharpe series. The only thing is when will we have more Starbuck?

Zach

 

Dear Bernard (I start by calling you Bernard as we have known each other for so long)

I have just completed the latest part of Uhtred's tale and despite trying to take my time find myself bereft at completing the book in a few days, in the knowledge that I will  have to wait an eternity before taking up his story again.

I know your fans will, as children waiting for Santa to come, be asking you the same question, when will the next book be published?!!!

I the whole Last Kingdom Series on my bookshelf and will be reading them again once the series has come to its inevitable conclusion, when will this black day arrive?  Do you know how many more books there will be in the series?

Thank you very much for sharing your talent of leaving your readers unable to tell the difference between historical fact and fiction.

yours with thanks

Margaret

Congratulations on a new epic installment of Uhtred! Forgive me if this is published elsewhere but are you doing any book signings or appearances in or around Charleston in the near future? I'm an elementary school teacher on Hilton Head Island and I always order your books from the UK and surprise my father when he comes down to visit with an "advance" copy. Many thanks for your time; my father and I thank you for our less than average bonding over Uhtred which never fails to confound the rest of our family.

Caroline Lane

Dear Bernard

After coming across this incredible article about Confederates in Brazil, I thought you might find it interesting and wondered if Starbuck could end up in Brazil after the war ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33245800

Geraint

P.S The battle of Chickamauga was called the Soldiers battle of the US civil war. Is there a chance you may ever write about it ?