Your Questions

Q

I have read all of your books other than the Sharpe series and the Starbuck Chronicles (favorite is the Arthur books so far) but on the reviews of the Starbuck books, people mention wishing that you would write another book so they would know what happens to the characters.

Are there any plans to continue this series?

Noreen

Submitted August 10, 2016

A

Hopefully....some day....

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I just finished "Sharpe's Triumph" and really enjoyed it. One question, what part,if any, did Stevenson ' s  army play in the battle?

Thanks for the good read,

Jim

Submitted August 2, 2016

A

None at all. Stevenson marched towards the battlefield, hoping to arrive before it was all over, but he lost his way and his troops wandered aimlessly about the countryside till nightfall. Next morning he hanged his chief guide.

Q

Sir,

I believe there has been talk (or preliminary work) on a film based on your fine work Agincourt. I check IMDB (Internet Movie Database) regularly but can't find any information other than 'In development'. Can your readers look forward to seeing this story eventually make it to the silver screen?

Donald Burgio

Submitted August 2, 2016

A

I'm afraid you know as much as I do about it!

Q

Hello,

Being a big fan of Morgan in most things Arthurian, and having just finished Excalibur (Polish edition), I've got some questions and I'm happy you're taking them.

What has motivated or influenced your decision to make her not only turn Christian (which is rare and unconventional already) and so early (which is unique)? I know it was a relatively late addition to the myth, but why didn't you have her accompany Arthur on his final voyage? And what could have happened to her later, and Nimue for that matter, and are the gods and magic actually real within the book?

Besides, I wonder did you like any other versions of Morgan elsewhere? Also any chances for a TV series treatment like your Saxon stories now?

Thank you in advance,

Robert Glasel

Submitted August 2, 2016

A

I can’t remember, I wrote the books so long ago! But the Matter of Britain is endlessly malleable . . . .

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwel.

I've started reading your Sharpe books (Sharpe's Tiger and Sharpe's Triumph, and took a liking to 18th and early 19th century warfare. I have a question: where could I learn more about those drilling commands and tactics that you describe in your books? Things like: Fix Bayonets, Shoulder Arms... Was there some kind of standard manual for that?

Thanks!

Vinicius Costa

Submitted August 2, 2016

A

I can’t think of an easy, one size fits all, answer. I use various books, most of them long out of print like Wellington’s Army by Michael Glover and the General Orders of the Army published in 1815. Philip Haythornthwaite is very reliable, I would look for his books. Maybe an Osprey book?

Q

Mr Cornwell,

have any of your stories dealt with the battle of Chapultapec, where US Marine Corps officers and NCOs earned the blood stripe on their trousers?  If not can you recommend a novel that does, please, if you know of one?

Thank you,

Roger Lott

Submitted August 2, 2016

A

I haven’t, and I’m afraid I don’t know of any such novel – I’d love to hear of one!

 

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell!

I saw an interview with you, where you showed your office and the sword that hung above your fireplace. You told the interviewer you knew it was from Waterloo because it had a sharpened foreblade. Do you still have it? Where did you get it from?

Thanks and good luck on "The Flame Bearer,"

Max

Submitted August 2, 2016

A

I purchased the sword from a museum that de-acquisitioned it, as they call it. I think I said that I knew it had been carried into battle because the back-blade (not the fore-blade) was reshaped. The original had a straight back-blade and the fore-blade curved to meet it, making an asymmetrical point which, experience showed, made the sword glance off ribs when it was thrust. So troopers were encouraged to make the point symmetrical to prevent that.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell,

I have been a fan of your books since 1987 when I first found Sharpe's Eagle in a local newsagent,and you are obviously a man who loves and studies history.I have read and heard your comments about King Alfred being acclaimed The Great by common consent of historians,and how you would include Elizabeth 1 in the same category and would like to know why? A ruling monarch has three prime expectations from their subjects,to make a marriage of state for the benefit of the kingdom at large,to beget an heir, ten if possible and to defend the realm from all aggressors.I know she never married or had any children,and from what I have read it seems we would all be speaking Spanish if Drake and Raleigh didn't take it on themselves to attack the armada,please correct me about that if I am wrong because we don't learn english history in Australia.I probably sound like a smartarse,but am not trying to be, I really want to understand why the English love ER1 so much,because I just don't get it.I have read all your books and watched all the tv productions of Sharpe and Uhtred (even have a complete first edition of Sharpes series) and really want to hear your thoughts on Elizabeth. Thanks for listening and look forward to a reply,

regards

Mark

Submitted August 2, 2016

A

Well, there is no formal list of qualifications, let alone a commission, to establish that honorific. It’s a matter of opinion, and you know mine. Certainly Elizabeth failed to provide an heir, but by the same token, she managed to avoid the dynastic squabbles the would have followed, say, a marriage to the Count of Anjou, or the domestic strife if she had chosen an English husband. Besides, there was an heir! James of Scotland. If James had been Catholic then that would have been a problem, but he was a Protestant which was probably the most important factor in Elizabeth’s eyes. And, trust me, she made sure England’s defences were ready for the various Spanish assaults (there was more than one Armada, and Drake and Raleigh did not just ‘take it on themselves’ – they were part of a rebuilt English fleet). I admire her intelligence, her diplomacy, her patience, and the fact that she held England together despite the enormous religious strains imposed by the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, something that her successors were notably unable to do. As I said, there are no rules. I just like the woman!

 

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,

Thank you for all the good years of reading.

Im such a huge fan of Uthred and the series and was surprised to learn he did exist in real life.

With regards to the TV show I couldn't help but feel disappointed as I thought it skipped over massive chunks of much needed detail. It is a good production with equally good cast but as a reader I believe I have been cheated out of the proper full version. Each season should have been one book surely?

Additionally as with every books ending I wanted more haha (warlord chronicles). would you consider doing some pre-quels i.e. the story of High King Vortigen and Uther with connection with Hengist and Horsa, maybe from the viewpoint of a young child Arthur being told a story by a younger Merlin of how Uther became high king? Just a thought :)

Jarvis Davison

Submitted August 2, 2016

A

Almost certainly not – though who knows? But thank you for the thought!

 

Q

Will there be more books in this series, or is The Flame Bearer the last? I'm just finishing the Arthur trilogy and want to start on The Last Kingdom. I'm just curious about plans for more books, as I get impatient waiting for next books in series....

Joni Naylor

 

Hi,

I was curious if The Flame Bearer is going to be the final book of the Saxon Stories or if not, how many more books the series is going to contain?

Phil

Submitted August 1, 2016

A

The Flame Bearer is not the last book of the series...but I don't know how many more there will be until I write the next one!