Your Questions

1) I just read your Breitbart interview (congratulations on your US citizenship -- what did you think of the civics test and the Oath? I've had something to do with both), and I wonder if you've read Russell Shorto's Island at the Center of the World?   It is certainly true that America is a nation based on a creed, not unlike Alfred's ambition, albeit secular and thus very different. I suppose you could even argue Alfred and the Danes shared a particular, literally marginal set of values -- Britain is an island, of course, and the Danes, et al, came from coasts where all kinds of things (commerce, piracy, etc) flourished that weren't as important in big river heart land countries. But -- to this lifelong student of what becoming American means -- Shorto makes a good case that the essential American dynamic started in the business environment of New Amsterdam, particularly the fight between the Company and Adrien van der Donck.  I'd recommend it.

2) But what I'm really curious about is your view of Marshall Ney and the legend (what else?) that he escaped to Charleston (where you live sometimes, no?) and eventually taught school in North Carolina.

I'm fascinated by the Denmark Vesey story (and may write about it, although I've never sold any fiction at all: feel no need to comment, it's a business I haven't mastered), and -- well, let's face it, even the remote possibility of some redhead with a notable accent  on the scene at the time is kinda irresistable.

I saw you dismissed it (with visible reluctance) in your excellent Waterloo, so I know what you think of the tale as an historical question.  I'm asking more what you think about it, as a story. One anecdote about the alleged Ney in NC has him striking a black kid who just happened to witness him being thrown, drunk, on a horse -- so it's not obvious where his sympathies might have been, if he HAD been in Charleston in the spring of 1822.

And yet....

Paul Donnelly

hello Mr. Cornwell,

I'd like to know which historical era is your favourite, and if you were able to "enter" one of your books to temporarily live among your characters which one would you choose?

good evening,

Filippo

Please can you advise if anymore novels are planned for grail series?  Just finished 1356 again

Regards

David Sharples

Hi Mr. Cornwell,

I don't remember reading any information about this in your book, but do you have any idea if the medieval traders have a practical way of knowing if a coin or other piece of gold or silver were real or fake? If so, what was it or can you recommend some book/papper that talks about this?

Thank you so much.

Regards.

Alexandre

Dear Bernard,

I very much enjoy reading Uhtred's story and your description about the adventurous way the various kingdoms will join and become "England". And I very much appreciate the historical notes at the end of each book!

Do you think it might be possible that someone - with your help - will write an "Uhtred Companion" with more historical background, maps and information about the daily life on farms and in cities? Something like the "Hornblower Companion" (Forester) or "Harbors and High Seas" (Patrick O'Brian) with a touch of "The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England" (Ian Mortimer)?

Best regards

Chris

Sir -

Greetings from an Anglican priest in beautiful Prosper, Texas.  Two questions.

First, have you encountered an Anglo/Saxon village and burial ground outside of Kent called, "Gilton?"  My wife, a medieval scholar, has evidence of such a village, our name sake.  You must include the name in your next book!

Secondly, I cannot help but think the History Channel series "Vikings" draws heavily from your books.  Are you aware of an intentional link?

The Rev Michael R Gilton

Hi

I have been a keen reader of the Saxon stories since the first one. Whilst waiting for the next installment I happened to read some original stories of Conan the Barbarian. I wondered if this character influenced the creation of Uhtred in any way?

Certainly they have some similarities such as uncanny warriors instinct, battle-joy, a way with the ladies (so to speak) and a funny way of inadvertently achieving good while pursuing their own ends. They both have similar attitudes to the supernatural, though in Conan's world the supernatural is real (not that this really adds anything for me).

Of course Uhtred is a far more authentic, realistic and complex character, woven into factual and relevant history, and is much more satisfying for it.

If you haven't read any of the Conan stories, they are easy reading and perhaps you'd enjoy them.

Paul Vincent

 

Reading your books and also reading the current news from the middle east, I am struck by how much they have in common. Government based on politicized religion, secular dictators trying to rule in spite of religion and doing so only with extreme brutality, ethnic hatreds, multiple warring factions trying to seize power and on and on.

It seems to me that all the elements of your novels on the saxon/dane conflict in early England could are at lay in the middle east of today. Only the technology has changed.

Has that occurred to you?

What are your preferred sources for the nuts and bolts of the history of the saxon/dane conflict?

Michael Cronin

Dear Sir

thanks for confirming to me Sharpe would have been faithful to Lady Grace and Lucille.

Now for the strangest question you've ever had.  When Sharpe first became romantically involved with Lucille, he couldn't have actually known about Rossendale.  Being as he was stuck in Normandy and Harper had not yet given him the bad news.  Do you think he knew something deep down, because of the lack of contact and the fact Jane had withdrawn all the money unnecessarily?  Or was it a case of he just fell in love with Lucille and knew deep down, he and Jane were a wrong fit?

Did you think Sharpe actually betrayed Sweet William?  I don't, even though there is an unwritten code.

And would an unmarried Sharpe (before he knew about Antonia) have allowed the fact that Kate was married to his friend Jorge Vicente and the mother of his daughter, stop him having his wicked way with Kate, were she to tell him she wanted him?

And in Sharpe's Regiment, did Lady Anne have any intentions with Sharpe herself?  Her reaction to finding out about Jane suggested she might have been a little envious. Or was it just a lust thing for her?

Last question and please forgive me.  Have you seen the Mel Gibson film, The Patriot?  I hear the not so nice, Colonel in that was loosely based on rumours about Simmerson's  "Cousin in Horse-Guards"?  Have you heard that rumour?  Sorry i got kind of intrigued with who Simmerson's cousin was after of course, reading Sharpe's Eagle.

Lee

Dear Sir

I appreciate it was one of the Sharpe Films that was not based on any of your books.  But if I could pick your Brain?

I don’t know if you’re familiar with this particular episode or not, although I’d imagine you would be……………….

Matt Trueman tells Sharpe he was fighting against the wrong people, because his view was he was fighting against the French Working classes.

If you are familiar with Sharpe’s Justice, Philip Glenister the actor who played Matt Trueman several years later played a Police Officer that made him a national favourite.  If you ever get the opportunity I would seriously recommend the British (and original) version of Life on Mars.  Philip Glenister played a 70s Police Office called DCI Gene Hunt.  Well worth a watch, I did try to watch the U.S version and could not get into it.

Was that a view shared by the working classes in real life at that time?  Because whilst I can see why they would have come to that point of view, as somebody with the benefit of hindsight I can see it’s a very single minded view, which does not take into consideration that those working class people were part of huge armies that were invading other people’s countries and taking “perks” that came with being part of conquering armies.

On the subject of the whole peninsular war.  What do you think was the real reason why Britain fought?  Was it because we saw what France was doing was ‘not cricket’?  Or was it more than likely to be about France threatening Britain’s financial interests/trade?  Again hindsight is a wonderful thing, and we don’t have a glorious history when it comes to other people’s countries, so please don’t feel this is a dig at France.

Thank you Sir.

Lee