Your Questions

Good day Sir, first of all let me say that I'm a fan and enjoy your books immensely.  I’m wondering if you ever considered exploring your Canadian heritage and writing about the adventures of a Constable in the North West Mounted Police during its legendary march west.  Much like King Alfred, early NWMP Commissioner George Arthur French and Inspector Sam Steele had a vision of Canada and the NWMP.  Perhaps as this as a backdrop, an anti-hero Constable could operate with all the political and issues of the day. There is a rich history of the Canadian West and how the NWMP operated.  Just a thought… Best of the season otherwise and look forward to your next installment of Uthred son of Uthred who is also a son of Uthred.

Marc Hunter

I just found Forester's "The Gun" and "Rifleman Dodd".  They were pretty grim, dealing more with the guerilla fighting and less with the conventional combat you give the reader.  Part of the Forester voice is to stand back and remark on the situation.

Have you read them?  What do you think of them?

I have to say I like the way you put the necessary historical context to the reader without obvious lecturing. It's not easy.

I gave some young relatives Sutcliff's trilogy published several years ago.  I figured, no matter how educated they were, they needed four pages of history, or it may as well have been science fiction.

When Kipling introduces one of his Puck series by having Una--maybe twelve--shouting verses from Lays of Ancient Rome into the wind, Kipling presumes his readers know the poem and don't find anything odd about a kid knowing it as well.  But today, in the US...?

Thanks so much for building it into the novels so invisibly.

Richard Aubrey

Hello Mr. Bernard,

My name is Jovana and I'm from Montenegro.

I know you're busy man, but I hope you can find time to answer me. I don't know why, I can't explain it, but i became attached to one of your characters from book "Saxon stories". That character is Mildrith and to my regret you do not mention her after second book and we don't know is she alive and well, so I wanted to ask you to tell me something about her future, you are the only one who knows it. Does she, maybe, meets Uhtred again, does she really dedicates her whole life to God or maybe she starts new life, away from everyone and everything? And after all, is she happy? I would really like to know all that and I would be very grateful if you could give me a little more detailed response.

Thank you in advance,

Best regards.

Jovana

I have just finished reading the four Simon Scarrow novels about Wellington & Napoleon, did Simon contact you about using Richard Sharpe in his last novel of the series (albeit very brief) and have you read the series? Or have I put 2 & 2 together and come up with 5?

Philip Newton

Hi Bernard

Can I add my name to those calling for you to turn to Robin Hood?

I would be interested in particular in how you would go about tackling Robin Hood the aristocratic archer as depicted in a number of films and books. I have always found it grating that the Earl of Loxley or Wakefield or wherever is a top grade archer, because of course the longbow was the weapon of the yeomanry, not the aristocracy. (How are those eggs, Grandma?) I haven't ever read - poorly researched fiction excepted - of a top quality archer drawn from the aristocracy in the medieval period, I suppose not least because of the years of practice that would be required in childhood and adolescence, whilst instead the little aristocrats were busy learning how to be big aristocrats. Maybe you have?

I suppose he needn't be an archer, but some might think it would detract from the story for him to be anything else, so if/when you do turn to this, can I cast my vote for Robin having a yeoman background?

Chris Wagstaff

As they did with the Sharpe series, the BBC did a great job interpreting the Warrior Chronicles to the screen. The casting was perfect. They were just as I pictured them while reading the books. The final episode left me wanting for more. Will there be more?

Love all your books.

Richard Kadien

 

Gidday Bernard,

I have been watching The Last Kingdom tv series,& while it took a while to grow on me-love the books,& a brunette Uhtred was strange-I now love the show,especially Alfred.Can you tell us if a second series will be made?  I would love to see Finan the agile on the screen

.Cheers Wayne

.Merry Christmas.

 

The books are great. I have only read 8...1 to go. But the BBC series was better than Sharpe.   Please help them make the next Uhtred series just as good.  When will it be transmitted?

George Patterson

 

I am an uber fan...and have read everything. In fact some years ago...the Sharpe series kept me sane while pursuing a Ph.D. ... got to escape!!

Please let your fans know immediately when the green light gets turned on for Season Two of The Last Kingdom!!

In the mean time....stay healthy and keep writing.

Loyd Ganey

Dear Mr Cornwell!

I've just finished Warriors of the Storm! Just one more great Uhtred book. Stiorra and Sigtryggr are a charming pair!

Several old characters died in this book. And I wanted to ask what do you feel about the antagonists in your books? Does Uhtred mirror your view on them? Or maybe sometimes you sympathize with them, their cause? Foe example I've always liked Haesten and understood his choice. I think Uhtred wasn't just to him

I've just started to read Warriors of the storm and almost at once was so much saddened by one of the oldest characters' death. I must admit Haesten was one of my most beloved characters along with Svein from the Pale Horseman (It's so sad they were dropped out of the TV series.) And not just because I love pagans more than their enemies, but because he was a really bright and colourful character, cheerful and witty. I really felt Uhtred didn't do him justice taking his sword away. I could never blame Haesten for breaking his oath for how could he fight against his own people? Uhtred himself too many times led Ragnar down even though claiming brotherhood.

So I wanted to ask what do you feel about the characters that are antagonists of the main ones? Do you sometimes feel sympathy for their cause? Or does for example Uhtred mirror your attitude towards them?

Thank you so much for all your wonderful books, especially for Arthur and Uhtred. Now I'm reading forth and worrying about one more beloved Dane - Sigtryggr Anna

 

 

Hi, I'm researching and writing a personal investigation (for an an undergrad assignment) on the heritage management of Vikings.

I was just wondering if you believe the Vikings/Norsemen/Danes are under represented and misrepresented in British heritage and if so - does it matter?

I'm loving The Last Kingdom and all your work ;)

Thank you

Kind regards

Mandy

Dear Mr Cornwell

From which of Uhtred's sons is your family descended please?

David A Bryden

Mr. Cornwell,

I started watching the Last Kingdom on BBCA America (because it looked very similar to Vikings on the History Channel) when it first came out and when I found out it was based on a book series I started reading the novels.  I just finished reading the 3rd book in the series.  I thorough enjoy your writing, including your details on the daily life (food eaten--calf's foot jelly; bathing habits, etc.) of England during the middle ages.  I'm a student of history myself, primarily church history (M.Div.), but I almost double-majored in history at the BA level.  Perhaps one day when I retire I'll complete my Ph.D. overseas in church history and historical theology.

In any case I have several questions regarding your writing and any literary recommendations you could provide:

Do you have books/authors you'd recommend reading that deal with the Vikings in Scotland and Ireland?  I'm interested in the overall Viking impact on the British Isles, but from a fictional standpoint.

Does Uhtred's pull between the Viking religion and Christianity, reflect elements of your own faith?  It seems like you are more than just a casual observer of religion when I read your stories, including the interplay between the various characters, good or bad.

Thank you and best wishes this holiday season.  Now onto Book Four.

Ken

 

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I am obviously an enormous fan of yours, as are my father and brother. We have all read the Saxon Chronicles and The Sharpe series. Even as I write this, I am watching The last Kingdom on BBC America. Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought I would be so lucky as to see Uhtred on screen.  Anyway, I'll try to keep this brief. I am writing to you because I am curious if you feel that you may have projected some of your own views of religion onto Uhtred. I ask this because I closely identify with the opinions of Uhtred and many of the Danes in your novels. Personally, I was raised Catholic but obviously that didn't take. When Uhtred and Mildreth bicker about god and baptisms and et cetera, it really gets my blood boiling. Sometimes I feel that the parallels to my life are too perfect. I have a recent ex-girlfriend who, towards the end of our relationship, started to become very religious (Southern Baptist - the worst kind). It wasn't long before we began to butt heads about everything (churchgoing, praying, even immunizations - she began refusing them for some absolutely absurd reason).

Sorry, enough about me. Long story short, do you find yourself drawing from your own perceptions and life experiences with religion when you gave Uhtred his skepticism and jaded opinions on the subject?

Thank you very much for your time.

Respectfully Yours,

Mike Doyle