Your Questions

Q

I saw a couple of suggestions as to the meaning of Uhtred's favourite saying and wondered if the old Scottish granny's one of 'what's for you, won't go past you', perhaps translates it best. It was said to me and all my friends as we were growing up (I'm now 65) and covered all future employment hopes, lost loves and anything else we wanted but didn't yet have. Love your books, the tv programs are great but don't do them justice!!!

Elizabeth

 

Dear mr Cornwell,

I would like to know if Fate is inevitable is the correct translation of wyrd bid ful arad. Because I like the german translation and I think this will be my next tattoo. So it should be right.

Yours faithfully,

Luke

Submitted January 11, 2016

A

That’s a good enough loose translation! But the original (from an Old English poem) is fairly short and sweet – fate is inexorable!

 

Q

Have you ever considered writing a Sharpe novel using Harper as the narrator? Unlike Sharpe, he seems a natural teller of tales and we might learn a great deal about the sergeant that is unavailable to Sharpe. Sharpe obviously loves his sergeant, but how well does he really know him? Harper could tell of a Sharpe campaign you have yet to relate or perhaps he could even tell a tale about himself out of the army. Just an idea. I'm reading through your Sharpe books now and am enjoying the experience quite a lot.

Jerry Toews

 

Submitted January 11, 2016

A

Hmmm, I haven’t, and I’m not sure I ever will. I do want to write at least one more Sharpe novel, but I think it’s best told in the third person.

 

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell,

A couple of questions if I may. Will Uhtred ever get to fight for and keep  Bebbenburg? If yes would you please put me out of my misery and tell me when it will (if it is) be published or even written. Fascinated at the thought of Sharpe re-joining the fight. I can't imagine where in time and place this would be as far as I recall (and I have a bad memory) nothing much happened from after 1815 until the Boer Wars in the late 19th Century. Your books have been read by me many times as has Sharpes adventures on DVD. I really do not know who is the most entertaining writer between, your good self, Wilbur Smith, Simon Scarrow and EE (Doc) Smith. I just hope you continue to write for many years to come.

Don Kinder

 

Hello Bernard,

Will the Uhtred series continue after his death? I particularly enjoyed the chapter written through his sons eyes.

Kind regards

Will

 

Good morning,

I have become a bit fan of your books and I read about one a month in average. I've just finished the Warriors of the Storm. Is it the last one from Uthred's story?

How does he finish? What is the final book of my hero?

Thanks in advance

Flo

 

I started off watching the Last Kingdom on BBCAmerica and loved the show. I think it's the best thing on TV right now. I have now begun reading the series. There appears to be 9 books in the series, and was wondering if you had an idea how many more books until the concluding novel?

Thanks,

Brian Weber

 

How many more books do you think it'll be before we get to the end of Uhtred's tale?

Riki

Submitted January 11, 2016

A

I wish I did! I’m writing the 10th and all I can tell you is that won’t be the last.

I’m so glad you enjoyed that because I wasn’t (and am still not) sure that it worked. I think Uhtred will have to live to an impossibly old age! I’ll have to tackle the problem of what voice to use when he’s beyond climbing aboard a horse or wielding Serpent-Breath – a problem for the next year or two!

 

 

Q

Dear Bernard,

I have enjoyed your books immensely and have read them all. However, I feel badly let down by the choice of actor that plays Uhtred. He is not how I imagine Uhtred to be and more so he is not the Uhtred of your books. The choice of actor for Alfred was perfect and spot on. Why was such a mistake made in casting Uhtred? I really am very disappointed indeed.

Sean Paul Kennedy

 

Dear mr Cornwell

I would like to know your opinion about the tv series of the last kingdom. Offcourse they make spectaculair tv,  but to a hardcore fan of your books the hardly do your books any justice. For example; SerpentBreath in your books she's a beaty offcourse, but simple, intended to be a tool, but still a masterpiece to the smith who made her. In the tv series Uthred walks up to a smith and just orders a carnival sword with some shiny bauble in her heft for like 12 pieces of silver. My second grief is the fight to the death wich was ordered by king Alfred between Uhtred and Steape Snotor (one of my personal favourite characters). To my utter horror they made Uhtred fight Aelfric! . Thats where i stopt watching, started wondering if the producers actually read any off your books, and decided to read your saxon stories for the 8th time.

Last off all i like to say that i can't wait for your next book. I'm curious how Uhtred will finally capture Bebbanburg.

Greetings from Dordrecht Holland

Jeroen

Submitted January 11, 2016

A

I'm delighted with the TV series!

Q

I am an avid reader of all your books except the Sharpe series. I liked your ideas on the origins of Stonehenge you portrayed in "Stonehenge - A Novel of 2000 BC".

You may be interested to know that this is now becoming a valid theory announced by the Wiltshire and Swindon Heritage Centre in their December News Sheet. Find out more at http://wshc.eu/images/pdf/2015_12_Intelligencer.pdf

Colin Loader

 

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I have read over 30 of your books, basically only having missed a few I could not get hold of.

If I recall your Stonehenge, you were pretty close to the mark on what has been claimed recently in the news about where the stones came from.

Would you please compare the new findings with what your book described, in terms of how close your story is to the now reported details?

Thank you,

Max Gillman, Economics Professor, UMSL.edu

 

"Evidence that bluestones were quarried in Wales 500 years before they were put up in Wiltshire prompts theory that Stonehenge is ‘second-hand monument’"http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/07/stonehenge-first-erected-in-wales-secondhand-monument

If I remember correctly this was your theory was it not? lol

Steven Trotter

Submitted January 11, 2016

A

Not really mine! The source of the Bluestones was very well known and, indeed, a sunken bluestone (probably from a wrecked raft) was discovered on the sea-bed off Milford Haven. And yes, I think it was a ‘pilfered’ monument, re-erected on Salisbury Plain. The sarsens, of course, came from much nearer – but even so, what a task it must have been to move them!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

This is my third shot at riddle about Sharpe's father. This one is total stab in the dark, after my first two  tries (Sir John Moore and Roger Ridout). Is he, maybe, Richard Delancey,  from C. Northcote Parkinson's series of novels? He lives in adequate times, he is smuggler, he is from Guersney, and (I presume) Sharpe got his name after his father. Problem is, I have no idea how does riddle fits in his name ("Take you out, put me in and a horse appears in this happy person"). I see "lance" in "Delancey", so that could be some clue about horse, but again..shaky reasoning.

I also have few Questions for you. What is the next book you are writing (after Warriors of the Storm)?

When can we expect next Starbuck novel?  This series is, IMHO, one of the best you wrote, it would be shame to left it unfinished.

And last, I  know you said few times that you do not plan any more books about Thomas Hookton, but, what about Owain Lawgoch? He is such a "Cornwellesque" (trademark here) character. He was leader of Welsh mercenaries who fought for French (or maybe more precise - "against English") in 100 years war. He managed to capture Captal de Buch, to conquer Guersney , he was at battle of Poitiers and he was also grand-grand-grandson of Llywelyn the Great. So, wouldn't he be a great enemy/friend/ally to Thomas Hookton?

 

Best Regards,

your biggest fan from Serbia

Miro Kordić

Submitted January 11, 2016

A

A lovely try, quite lovely. Totally wrong, but so impressive!

I am working on the next book of Uhtred's story now.  Not sure when I'll get back to Starbuck...

I’ll just say ‘maybe, but don’t hold your breath?”

 

 

Q

First I been enjoying your Sharpe stories since they were on PBS. Are there any more Sharpe books in the works or movie's? Sharpe's children meeting?

James Golieri

Submitted January 7, 2016

A

Nothing with Sharpe 'in the works' at the moment.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwall

I have been reading your Saxon stories for a number of years, since the first book was printed and am fascinated by them, I have just reread them all and have read warriors of the Storm, could you tell me if there is a follow up please,  you can't leave it there I have been waiting from the beginning for Uhtred to regain his inheritance Thank you for taking the time and trouble to read this note,

yours in anticipation

June

 

Is there a book to follow Warrior of the Storm?

Raymond Parr

 

Hello.

I'm a big fan of the Warrior Chronicles/Saxon Stories and would love to know when I might be able to read the next instalment (I've just finished 'Warriors of the Storm').

And thanks for writing such great stories that I have fallen in love with.

Sarah.

Submitted January 7, 2016

A

I am writing the 10th book of the series now!

Q

Hello,

The success of  the  Sharpe television movies starring Sean Bean, in some part fueled the demand for more Richard Sharpe novels.  What type of feedback did the TV people give you? What it quite  general? , i.e Can write more Sharpe novels and fast!  Or was the feedback more specific? Such as: can you write about a specific battle and/ or can you set a Sharpe novel in an exotic location, like India?

Regards and thanks,

Adrian.

Submitted January 7, 2016

A

They were never specific, indeed, the only feedback I remember was a request for a Spanish hero, which was the genesis of Sharpe’s Battle.

 

Q

I just learned that you are quite fond of our little place on the Earth (Charleston, SC) and come here often. Will you be doing any events here in 2016, signings and such? I couldn't find a calendar on the website to research it on my own so I apologize for such a pedestrian request. And on the off chance you like to mingle with the common folk, first round is on me should our paths cross. Hope you are well, travel safe.

Jason Scott

Submitted January 7, 2016

A

There isn't anything on the calendar right now, but if that changes we will be sure to post it to the homepage of this website.  And, yes, I am very fond of Charleston!