Your Questions

Q

Mr Cornwell,

I'm a huge fan of your work (especially the the Arthur books and the newly-renamed "Last Kingdom" series), and I was wondering if you have any interest in pre-brittonic Anglo-Saxon history? I just finished Sharon Turner's book "The History of the Anglo Saxons", and therein, Turner postulates that the progenitors of the Anglo-Saxons are the ancient Scythian peoples of the Pontic Steppes. I was wondering if you're familiar with this theory, and if you have any interest in writing concerning this period? Perhaps something akin to your Stonehenge novel?

Thanks for the many hours of great reading!

 

Chris Tilton

A

Oh my lord, no! I would have to research the Scythians and the Pontic Steppes! On the whole I write what interests me, selfish I know, and that’s just too far back, too far away and too speculative! Sorry.

 


Q

I am currently reading your book Waterloo, and thoroughly enjoying it. Do you have plans to write any more narrative nonfiction?

Jason

A

It's unlikely - but I'm glad to know you are enjoying Waterloo!


Q

Hi

Please can you let us know which books will be covered in the second TV series of the last kingdom and when it's planned to be shown in the UK?

Many thanks

Richard

A

Season 2 will likely cover the next two books in the series 'The Lords of the North' and 'Sword Song'.

I believe the show will begin airing in early 2017.  I'm looking forward to it!


Q

Hi Mr Cornwell

The last sentence of your historical notes in "THE BLOODY GROUND" states that "Starbuck will march again". When?

Sincerely,

Fred Orman

A

Not sure???


Q

Having read your comments regarding Queen Elizabeth 1st.  It got my own unanswerable question swimming around my head.  One that I think can only have a person’s opinion.  And forgive me it’s a question I am about to ask your opinion on………………

Hindsight is such a wonderful thing at times, but do you think Anne Boleyn would have survived had Henry 8th known that the daughter they had together was going become the Queen she became?  I suspect he may have thought twice and having had those thoughts he still would have acted as history tells us he did.

On a more personal note.  As my favourite fictional character was named after a Rugby Union (I believe) player although he did not have the ‘e’ at the end of his name.  Do you still get the opportunity to watch the game?  Did you get to see any of the 2003 World Cup?

A mutual acquaintance of ours is really keen on the game.  I don’t think he ever believed it would take 13 years for England to win a ‘Grand Slam’ and it’s funny seeing how nervy he gets the week leading up to England playing a big match.  Have you been able to keep a watchful eye?

Oh and please give us one more Sharpe?

Lee

A

Well, who can say? I doubt it. He was probably chauvinist enough to insist on a male heir, and I suspect Anne Boleyn’s infidelity doomed her.

Oh I do watch – there’s an Irish-owned pub in Charleston SC which always carries the Six Nations live and the place fills with Euro-trash like me. It’s always a fun day!

I do! And like Eddie George a lot!


Q

Hello,

Is Television something you have finished with for ever, or if the right offer/material came along you would return to work in?

It has never been easier to watch Television, due to the proliferation of T.V channels and devices on which it is possible to watch T.V on, i.e Laptops, Smartphones etc.

Do you have any opinion on whether T.V has changed for the better or worse since your days in the 1970's?

Regards and thanks,

Adrian.

A

Me? Go back to the telly? They wouldn’t want me, I’m far too old! TV is a young person’s business, you need immense energy. No, I don’t want to return and have never thought for a moment about going back – I loved it when I worked for the BBC, but that was long long ago. I think there’s some very fine programmes being made today – a lot of them on cable channels. The business is changing enormously and eventually it will all move to the internet (I hope)


Q

Hello Bernard Cornwell, greetings from Norway!

After the first season of The Last Kingdom aired, your books have been popping up everywhere in norwegians bookstores, which led me to discover your writing, and I think it's amazing. I haven't been much of a reader, but your books have pretty much made me fall in love with books, which I thank you for.

I was wondering if when you write Historical fiction, is it possible to replace a minor historical person with your own made up one? I don't mean to replace him completely, but different actions like for example taking someone's life, or leading a group of men into battle.

Thank you very much!

Martin

A

Of course! It’s fiction! But confess the sin (i.e. that you made the change) in a note at the end of the book!


Q

I was in four Olympics Trials in Modern Pentathlon.  As you most likely know, the five events purport to depict what a military courier might have to do to get a message across a battlefield in the Napoleonic era battle.  In your book "Waterloo", was the German attack on the French flank after a message was delivered by a courier the final deciding factor that brought an end to the battle?  Thank you for your response.

Richard Rader

A

Oh, of course!  If the Prussians hadn’t been coming (or rather if Wellington had not trusted them to come) there probably would have been no battle. And remember Grouchy’s Corps, 33,000 men with 96 guns, was missing from Napoleon’s army because of the Prussians. It’s always difficult to say what might have happened, but Wellington’s line was worn very thin and if Napoleon had possessed more men? Who knows? But once the Prussians were closing on his left and the British-Dutch were still unmoved from the ridge, he was doomed.

 


Q

Just a question.  Is there any historical fact to the hounds in Lords of the North?

What a fun way to learn a bit of history.

Thank You,

Jim

A

I don’t think so, but honestly I don’t remember! Sorry!


Q

Hi!

Will you be writing more about Thomas? I'm obsessed! Please and thank you:)

Michelle

A

I've no more plans for Thomas now...