Your Questions

Hi Bernard,

It is fantastic to see your wonderful books brought to life in the BBC2 Series.  At last my wife "gets" why I am so engrossed in your books.  She is hooked on the TV series. Also, there was news of Azincourt being made into a movie? I was so looking forward to seeing REAL Warbows (Longbows) depicted in a movie but is seems to have fallen off the radar?  It would make a BRILLIANT movie - As the battle of Azincourt began in your book, my heart was thumping....I was "there" with Nick Hook, feeling the terror. Thanks for all the adventures Bernard - your books NEVER fail to thrill, inform and excite!

Ken Morton

Hi Bernard

I'm a huge fan of your work; also you are the only Author that I share with my son. We are keeping all our copies for his son to enjoy when he is older. Sorry about restricting your sales, but they may be in a different form of media by then.

My son's favourite is the "Last Kingdom" series, the current BBC series is superb; my favourites are the "Grail quest", I include "Azincourt" with these stories.

Are there any more adventures for Thomas of Hookton?

I'm sure he would be a successful Condottieri, leading the White Company with John Hawkwood, blackmailing the Pope; he has never shown any respect for prelates, and ending up in Italy playing one city state off against the other. Finally fighting in Spain with the Prince of Wales at Najera. I am positive you must have considered these options.

Thank for giving hours of pleasure over many years, and igniting an interest in history.

Regards

Bill Rafterty

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

 

I am a huge fan of yours from Greece. I am a historian and sometimes I find it difficult to read historical fiction but your books are AMAZING! I love the way you tell your stories and it feels like I am a part of the story while I am reading it... The Saxon/Viking world it's something foreign from my culture but I have to admit that your books made me read more history books about this era. I wonder if you could tell me more about Uhtred. He is a real person? And if the answer is yes, how do you learn about him??

Thank you for reading my message!

 

Maria

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I have enjoyed reading your books immensely ever since the early Sharpes. They have just enough history to balance the lovely plot lnes. I have a small problem wuth the Warlord books....Most Anglo-Saxon monarchs are poorly recorded...we don't know where they were for long periods of time or what they looked like. ... with one or two notable exceptions . One of these is Athelstan who in foreign and domestic sources...and at least one painting...is described and depicted as having golden blond hair....so I have to ask why the boy Athelstan has dark hair?

Best wishes,

Chris Lynden.

PS 'Ive just cleared my calendar for your new book...many thanks!

I eagerly await January, and the next installment of Uhtred.

have been watching the show, and wondered what you thought of it, or if you had seen any of it.

the one thing so far that really got me...the guy who played skorpa, imo, was amazing!

Deb Zeigler

Hello Bernard,

Can I start by saying I am a big fan of all your work, especially the warlord series. I love reading about Saxon history and your stories bring them to life. I have been watching the series the last kingdom, and was wondering what your thoughts of it are? To be honest I'm not impressed I feel they have changed too much, from the fight with Ubba to the shields the Saxons use, even Beocca isn't the same. I feel the BBC want to make the Saxons look weak in history and make it look as if the Danes and Saxons were alien races when in reality we were similar in many ways as you well know. I don't mean to moan because the books are brilliant I'm just disappointed with the BBC and the programme. What are you thoughts on the show are you happy with how it's turned out?

Kind regards,

Bradley

 

Hello Bernard

I am a big fan; the first book I ever read from start to finish was Sword song and couldn't put it down. My reading skills were terrible but thanks mainly to your books and not wanting to stop reading them; my ability has vastly improved over the years.I am pretty sure I have read everything of yours predating hand held fire arms. They are all brilliant books, Uhtred’s story of the birth of England is still my favourite, the whole era intrigues me.

So when I heard the last kingdom was to be televised I was quite excited. Now I understand that the story in a book doesn’t necessarily work on screen and they have to cut sections to accommodate the budget. However I have one major gripe that I just can’t let go. Uhtred’s sword is completely wrong, the one in the series isn’t even from the right era it looks more medieval and is two handed. Also I imagine a decorative amber pommel would make it quite difficult to wield, without a weighted pommel the blade would be completely out of balance. I think serpent breath is as much a part of the story as some of the characters and this small detail has made me a little worried of what they are going to change next.

Have you seen the series and what do you think about it so far? If so would you change anything if you could?

Ash

I've been watching the BBC America series version of your book. I'm ashamed to admit I had no clue there was such a book series until this show. I will now have to start getting these books when I can afford them. My question to you is this.....do you happen to know if there will be a second season of The Last Kingdom? From what I saw on Amazon, there's a number of books from which they could continue the tv series. I'm really enjoying this tv version. The actors are doing a great job! I'm just sucked into watching Uhtred and his many adventures. I'd hate to see it end! I know there are still your books, but it's fun to also see the words come to life. In any case, I wasn't sure if you would know about the possibility of whether another season is possible? Many, many thanks!

Sincerely,

Keryn Aikman

Hi Bernard,

I have a idea about Sharpes father.  The Rev. Doc Syn, hero of Russell Thorndykes novels.

He's a smuggler, swashbuckling and had a eye for the ladies, and returned to England in 1776.  How did I do?

Keep up the great work!

James

Dear Mr Cornwell

I was wondering whether or not the Winter King or any of the Arthur Trilogy books that you have produced may become a trilogy of films or even a tv series?

From a big fan

Jamie Bartley

God morgon Bernard.

Its sunday noon here in Stockholm, Sweden... and i have just finished the last page in The Last Kingdom. i would just like to take the oppurtunity to thank you for a very very joyful read. I loved the book and and have already purchased all the others that will follow. I have two questions regarding the first book. And would love it if you would have the possibility to answer when and if you have the time.

 

1. In the beginning of this story, Uhtreds father suggests that native brits also shared our (my) norse believes before christianity arrived to the islands. Its a subject i know very little of, but i am fully aware of studies that claim norse/scandianvian paganism had extreme simularities with pagan religions/belives in other parts of pre:christian Europe – finnish Kalavala, french pagansim, Wendels of the east, germanic tribes etc. But would you go as far as to say that pre:christian England even had our specific gods: Oden, Tor, Freja etc?

 

2. At the very end of the book (the last pages) you say that the attack in the north east by danes could be debated – are you then refering to the attack on Lindisfarne in june 793? You dont think that specific attack took place, there and then? I have visited Lindisfarne with my far and i have awlays thought that the attack was very very well documented by archeological findings and monk documetation.

 

Thank you very very much for this excellent book. I loved it. Starting the next one this afternoon. If you would ever find yourself in Stockholm, id love to buy you a pint of ale for a long historic chat at any local inn here!

 

THANK YOU

 

Til Valhall

 

/Klas