Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell

First off I just wanted to say I am a huge fan.  Sharpe,  Starbuck, Uhtred and Arthur feel like old friends I can pick back up time after time.

I was just re-reading Harlequin and noticed a continuity error that it throws up in 1356. At the beginning of the book you describe how Thomas makes his bow in wonderful detail and also how he makes his arrows.  In 1356, the scarcity of arrows is a constant plot point and you reference how all the archers know how to make a bow but not the arrows.

Just wondering if you had noticed?

Kind regards,

Charlie Baxter

Hi Mr. Cornwell.

In your October 19th reply to Piotr Chmielarz's question on why Sharpe hadn't faced any Polish Lancers in the Peninsula, you replied that they were at Albuera and Sharpe wasn't, which was why he hadn't encountered them.  PLEASE tell me that you haven't abandoned the idea of having Sharpe at Albuera, the toughest fight of the Peninsula.  If there is one battle of his that still needs to be told, it is that one, don't you agree?

Alan Kempner

Hello, Bernard,

Met you at Canterbury last week, had pic taken with you and my son before the 'show', which was most entertaining! I've been looking at a phenomenal book called British Monarchs by Mike Ashley. He gives all the family trees of the English royal houses, and according to Chart 32, an Earl Uhtred of Northumbria was married to Elgiva, daughter of Ethelred the Unready - they had a daughter called Edith, but no mention of sons. Is it possible that somehow, through this union, (if the chart is accurate), that you are directly descended from Alfred the Great? Of course, you may already be aware of this 'connection'!

Regards,

Mick

Thank you for the many hours of enjoyment your books have provided.

How long to you take to recharge between novels?

Do you have novels that are started but are currently in limbo due to an idea for a different series that is now your main focus?

Thanks

Norman Benjamin

Mr. Cornwell

I first read your Sharpe's books after the BBC series appeared as a teenager.  As I now near retirement from my own military career, in which I spent most of my time as a combat officer, I have gained a deep appreciation for your insight into human character.  Were you ever in the service yourself?  My son is now reading your books at my urging as he prepares for his own military career.  I believe your books are the definitive works to understand the individual heroism the average soldier is capable of, and the corporate stupidity too often exhibited by their leadership.

I have also thoroughly enjoyed your Starbuck series, and was curious if you might ever continue the books through Appamatox?  Thank you for your time in reading and answering my short note.

Nick

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your always interesting and entertaining book.  You have taught me many interesting facts that have lead me to further study which is always beneficial!  I await your books.

I have also enjoyed the BBC production of The Last Kingdom.  When will Season 2 be televised?  I cannot find any information as to the date.  I am hoping that I have not missed it or, a real catastrophe....it has been terminated!!!!

I thank you for your many wonderful works.  I await your reply.

Helen Christ

Is another season of the Last Kingdom TV series planned?

Jay Abshier

Hi Bernard,

I recently came to see you give your talk at York! I absolutely loved it, meeting you was great! You mentioned in your talk that you're currently writing another book at the minute, is this the next  Uhtred book? I adore Uhtred, I just wish he was real haha. I'm pleased that you have around another 4 Uhtred books in mind.

Zoe Edwards

Dear Mr Cornwell,

my biggest praises to your works.

While reading the Saxon stories, I often felt like the vocabulary you used was predominantly Germanic, or at least much more than in "day-to-day" English or in the Sharpe books. My question: Am I mistaken, did you do that on purpose or is this an amazing linguistic coincidence?

Also, I have read that there is a theory that the English language is actually a creole derived from Old English, Old Norse and later Norman French. Do you have an opinion on that theory?

Best regards

Paul

Dear Bernard,

Thanks for your books, which have entertained and educated me enormously. I've never been on this site and I'm very impressed - how do you possibly find time to write all the replies to questions?

I'm going to sound like a smartarse, but Uhtred could not have ridden through a wood of oaks and sycamores because sycamores were not in Britain then.

All the best,

Pete