Your Questions

Q

Hi Bernard,

Hope you are well? I recently listened to sharpes assain during a work trip and found my love for him reignited after focusing on uhtred for a long period.

First of all i wanted to comment on how amazing your research is and if you knew that the historical community holds you research in high regard? I was actually allowed to reference your historical epilogue for sharpe's honour as a source in one of my history assignments at University.

Secondly did sharpe ever tell jane the real cause of her brothers death? I know they wouldn't whilst he was in love but did he ever let it slip subtly at some point during there estrangement?

Jim

Submitted September 8, 2022

A

Almost certainly not!

Q

Is anyone interested in doing a Netflix show with Sharpe as the main character similar to The Last Kingdom?

 

Enjoyed the BBC original series with Sean Bean but it would be great to have the entire series done again

 

Thanks

Alan

Submitted September 8, 2022

A

I don't know of any plans for it.

Q

Dear Sir Bernard Cornwell,

my name is Andreea and I'm from Italy. I am currently working on a thesis about the first three books of the Saxon Stories. It's a study from a historical and especially a philological point of view. I found the choice of words coming from Old English very interesting, and what I was wondering was whether or not there have been in your writing process some sources written in Old English that you have read. And how, if that ever happened, did you manage to invent new words that appear to be Old English?

I really hope you answer to this because I'm eager to know more. I also need to tell you how much I love your writing, as well as your stories!

P.S. I hope my English is not too bad, being my third language.

Andreea Mihaela Toma

Submitted August 30, 2022

A

Most of my original sources were either the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles or various Old English poems like The Wanderer.  I don’t remember inventing new words, though I did comb an AS dictionary for the names of Uhtred’s boats.

Q

hello there, Bernard

 

I'm very pleased that yesterday i thought of a BRILLIANT question to ask you!!!

Lets do a bit of Time Travelling and imagine that YOU are a young gentlemen of the Napoleonic Period and you want to "do your bit". What branch of Service would you choose?

Royal Navy? Marines? Artillery? Engineers? Rifles? Redcoat? Cavalry? or maybe a spot with the old EIC? or maybe (Horror of Horrors!) the FRENCH Army? After all they did have the best uniforms!

And how far do you think your skills and luck would get you? Major Cornwell? Maybe even General? or would you be one of those poor Subalterns who ended up dead as dodos in their first battle? Would you in fact be one of those junior officers you yourself enjoy killing off?

i think i would would want to be a Sgt. Either Red or Green. Good Sgts are what made the whole thing work!

Sgt Copley reporting for duty, Sir!

And in an unrelated question, in Sharpe's command, which I'm assuming you've finished...will  we be seeing the return of the much-missed Commendante Teresa?

 

Kind regards as ever

Sgt Matthew Copley

Submitted August 30, 2022

A

I suspect I would have wanted to join the Navy, but probably would have failed as an officer because of my lamentable inability to understand mathematics, and as promotion in the navy was on merit, and exam-based, I would have done much better to have joined the Greenjackets. I’d settle for Sergeant Cornwell of the 95th!

 

You will meet her, I promise.

Q

Good morning sir,

I have enjoyed your Sharpe and Saxon series VERY much. I see many similarities between Uhtred and Sharpe. Their military prowess (and perpetual luck) is matchless in their own stories. Who do you suppose would be the superior warrior between the two? Let's suppose that both are in their prime and fully geared for battle. If Sharpe was to be transported from the skirmish line into Mercia as Uhtred is patrolling (but not already in danger), and they both decide that the other is a threat, what happens? Would one win, or would they expertly beat each other to a pulp, then ironically become close friends?

Thank you for all that you do!! Have a great day.

 

-Michael

Submitted August 30, 2022

A

They're as good as each other, which is all you'll get from me!

Q

Good morning, Mr. Cornwell!

I'd like to know, what happened to the Uhtred family in the next centuries (12-20) of history? How long did this family hold Bebbenburg/Bamburg?

Thank You.

András Kiss from Hungary.

Submitted August 30, 2022

A

On the whole they thrived, and still do.  They lost Bebbanburg in 1016 thanks to treachery, a story well told in the late Richard Fletcher’s excellent book Bloodfeud, Murder and Revenge in Anglo Saxon England. The family removed to North Yorkshire where they owned land. One fought at Crecy where he distinguished himself, another was a royal chaplain, and still another a professor of mathematics at Cambridge University where he is said to have designed the slide rule and evidently ‘died of joy’ at hearing of the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.  One branch of the family emigrated to western Canada in the early 19th Century where they developed mining machinery with much success, and that’s the branch from which I am descended.

 

Q

Sir,

I am impressed that you have the patience to be so accessible; Thank you!

 

I stumbled into your books because I am an 'amateur' historian and the titles drew me in. I usually don't have time for fiction but lock down changed that........and I enjoyed so many glorious Cornwell yarns....

 

I, perhaps like you, seek answers to the 'great questions' and many illustrious commentators assert that the answers can be found in history. So I compiled a comprehensive time line of the most important events in history. (And no, I don't want you to read it!).

One area that is very difficult to nail is the period of sub-roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon settlement (and ending in 1066).

It even appears to me that there is currently much 'revision' of what we know about this period. This is always a worry!

It is clear from your books that you must have a good understanding of this period and I would be grateful if you could signpost me towards a book (or books) that can give me a working grasp of the significant characters and events but, ideally without too much minutiae.... I can imagine that this must have been a fractured period but some historians like to bulk out with unwanted trivia which obscures the MEANINGFUL bits. So a concise history please!

 

To give an example of the way I like to cut to the quick; an understanding of the hundred years war (IMHO) requires only this sentence; It marked the end of England's ambitions in Europe and precipitated the wars of the roses which united England in 1485 and allowed England to move (and expand) into the modern period. Everything else is just dates of battles!

 

Ok - red pen me!

 

Thanks again, Sir.

With all good wishes

Marcus Harriott

Submitted August 30, 2022

A

I won’t red-pen you and there’s nothing wrong in trying to detect an easily grasped explanation for historical eras.  The best book I can recommend to you for the Anglo-Saxon period (i.e. between the Roman evacuation and the Norman Conquest) has to be Marc Morris’s superb recent book The Anglo-Saxons, A History of the Beginnings of England, published by Hutchinson in London. The sub-title of Marc’s book is the summation you’re looking for – the cardinal event of those centuries was the creation of a lasting nation state.  Similar processes were happening elsewhere.  How significant that is is for you to decide!

Q

Good evening Mr. Cornwell,

I wanted to take a moment and thank you for the amazing series of The Last Kingdom. I am currently at “The Pagan Lord” and it’s the first time I’ve been indulging a book so intensely!

My question to you is this:

I recall you mentioned you a descendant from Uthred himself. I was wondering how did you find this out? As you can see, my last name is Beben and I’ve been curious for a long time to know where that comes from and if I am descendant from pagans or a specific War Lord. Is beben from the word Bebbanburg or is that more wishful thinking I appreciate any advice you have in helping me find my way towards my past I wish you a lovely day!

Signed,

Adriana Beben

Wasp Sting's admirer

Submitted August 30, 2022

A

I discovered it from a family genealogy kept by my father which, so far as I can tell, is accurate. The fortress itself was captured by Ida, a Saxon invader, in 547 AD.  Ida’s grandson, Aethelfrith, married a woman named Bebba snd named the fortress after her – so Bebba’s  Fort.   I can’t tell you whether Beben is related to Bebba – but I suppose it’s possible?

 

Q

Mr. Cornwell,

Out of curiosity, what do you envision is the time frame between the end of The Winter King series (Derfel as an old monk) and the beginning of The Saxon Stories (Uhtred as a child)?

Thank you!

Caroline

Submitted August 30, 2022

A

The Winter King begins in 480 AD, so let’s assume the trilogy finishes in about 530 AD, and Uhtred’s story begins in the late 9th Century AD – so about 350 years.

 

Q

Will you be doing any book signings when the new Sharpe book comes out? I bought Sharpe's assassin the day it came out and was the first book I ever read and ever since I haven't been able to put a book down, my father made me watch Sharpe as a child and I can't say I was a fan but now I'm a father myself I found myself becoming my father and enjoyed rewatching the complete series with my own children. I've nearly finished the Sharpe collection and look forward to reading the warlord chronicles too, finally I recently had a tattoo of Sharpe, my mom wasn't pleased as in nice script underneath it says "bastard"

Tom

 

Dear Mr.Cornwell,

I write to thank you most warmly for the Sharpe series.

I first read them 20 years ago and was transfixed.

2nd time was about 12 years ago - similar.

I am now working my way through again and they are as fresh as paint. I have just finished (at 2.30am !) Sharpe's Trafalgar. As ex RN, I found it a most moving work.

They all remain quite unputdownable (if there is such a word !).

What is also immensely impressive is the extraordinary amount of work that you quite obviously put in on research.

Sharpe's Waterloo caused a friend and I to take a battlefield tour there which was wonderful.

So wonderful, in fact, that a couple of years ago we took our wives who were equally transfixed.

On that occasion we stayed in the newly refurbished 2 room apartment in the Hougoumont Farm which was delightful.

We also enjoyed a great evening in your audience at Daunt Books in Marylebone near us about 3 or 4 years ago. (although probably longer ?)

Can you tell me, please, if you plan any more appearances at book shops/launches in the UK in the foreseeable future as we would very much like to be there ?

Once again, warmest thanks and immense congratulations on such a magical series.

With best regards

John Anderson

 

Submitted August 30, 2022

A

I think there is a good chance I will - but we don't have an itinerary yet.  Keep an eye on the homepage of this website as it will be posted there.