Your Questions

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!

Q

Hi Bernard

I was just thinking about the series the Last Kingdom. Is there going to a second and how long do I have to wait for it? I have enjoyed the books very much and I am also looking forward to the next one in Oct.

Regards

Helen Powell

Submitted August 1, 2016

A

I do know a second season of the tv series The Last Kingdom is currently being filmed, but I haven't yet heard when it will air.  We'll be sure to post the details to this website once we learn them!

Q

I love your books, and will read anything by you (I swear), but would you ever think about writing a book focused on the Life of a Gladiator, perhaps having to do with Spartacus and the Third Servile War? I am just watching the Spartacus TV show, and it has me wondering.

Samuel W. Gaul

Submitted July 27, 2016

A

No plans for it.

Q

gday Bernard

Been enjoying your books for thirty years now and will continue while you keep writing for us . I do like your AWI stories and was wondering if you have ever been tempted to do an French and Indian war story ?

Paul Taylor

Submitted July 27, 2016

A

I have considered it...but it's not high on the list.

Q

Dear Bernard.

 

I have been rereading Death of Kings and The Pagan Lord and came across the seven kings quote.

 

Seven Kings: Athelstan, Edmund I, Eadred, Eadwig, Edgar the Peaceful, Edward the Martyr, Athelred the Unready?

 

The Woman you Love: Athelflaed?

 

Alfred's son will not rule: Technically Edward did not rule England, merely and enlarged Wessex?

 

Wessex will die: It died at Battle in 1066 if not earlier with its merging into the crown of England.

 

The Saxon will kill what he loves: Athelred the Unready more or less destroyed his own kingship with his massacre of the Danes in 1002.

 

The Danes will gain everything: Sveyn Forkbeard and or Cnut the Great.

 

Is that somewhere close?

 

Regards and can't wait for the next book.

 

Dr Nicholas Saunders

Submitted July 27, 2016

A

Not wholly close. The seven kings are the seven (very minor, mostly) who the chroniclers report were killed at the battle of Brunanburh. The rest follows from that . . . .

 

Q

Hello,

Did you ever consider starting a Bernard Cornwell short story/novella/novel awards for new writers Something similar to the "Ian St James" short story awards. The rationale being, it would encourage writers on historical fiction and generate publicity for you etc.

Regards and thanks,

Adrian.

Submitted July 27, 2016

A

No, because then I would have to judge, or at least take responsibility for the judging, and I don’t feel competent to do that, or comfortable making such judgments.  We do have a charitable foundation that gives, I think generously, to causes that we care about – orphans of AIDS victims, damaged veterans, and other causes – but much as I admire the Ian St James scheme I have no urge to imitate it.

 

Q

Hi

I've just finished reading Azincourt for, I think, about the 3rd time.  Great story, as were the Thomas of Hookton books.  Do you have any plans to write any sequels "starring" Nick Hook and Melisande?

Best regards

Brian Gibson

Submitted July 27, 2016

A

Sorry, not in my plans!