Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell

I have loved all of your novels, but mostly the 'Warrior Chronicles'. I can see that you, of all authors, have the dedication to history, not just European, to produce a wonderful set of pirate based books which could explain to the world that piracy (especially in 'The Golden Age of Piracy') was more than just thievery on the high seas, but a political statement that brought world banking to the fore. it is a shame to world history that this age is so much misunderstood.

Paul Smart

Dear Mr Cornwell,

first of all I would like to express my gratitude for your work - especially the Saxon Chronicles which I adore. Uhtred is my hero and I love him. He is so complex and charismatic that he made millions of people crazy about him all over the world ;) I have a question regarding him being played by Alexander Dreymon. In the tv series Uhtred has dark hair. In your books you underlined many times that he has norse looks - fair, long hair which made him look like Dane. You actually make it very clear how Uhtred looks like.  I wonder why the TV series Last Kingdom make up artist made Uthred have dark hair? Also the mustache looks like from a different epoch - to me quite a 18-th stylization.  Did they consult you on the way characters look like? Or didn't you have any influence over it? Thank you for your answer.

Patrycja

 

I am really enjoying the Saxon Series of novels. Thank you for them. I love historical novels and who better to write them than Mr Cornwell?

Having recently become aware of the "The Last Kingdom" series by the BBC and have had a look at a couple of trailers. The one thing that concerns me is that Uhtred on television has dark hair while Uhtred in your books has long blond hair and, as such is easily mistaken for a Dane.

This surprises (bothers) me as I thought they would stick more closely to the images of the character you painted in your stories.

Interested in your feedback.

Peter

In the past you've expressed the view that you are a story-teller and not an historian.  With the release of your first non-fiction historical account I was wondering whether your sentiment has shifted?

Alternatively, what is your view that historians are at a fundamental level story-tellers?  That their examination of the past is essentially a re-telling of bygone events, all filled with their own heroes and villains.  Would you consider your historical-fiction approach is an extension of the 'story-teller historian' more toward the 'story-teller' than the 'historian'.

When writing Waterloo, how different was the process compared to everything you have done previously?  Did you find that your day-to-day approach was different?

Cheers,

Ben.

Dear Mr cornwell,

I have read your warrior chronicles and I have to say it is in fact my favourite series of books. Of which the last Kingdom is my favourite book of all time. I have read these books as I have grown up, my father gave me the last Kingdom to read. The main reason of my contact is of the series created based on the books. I have recently seen the first episode, I feel it paced itself to quickly and skipped to many moments that developed Uthred as a character and drives him. I also feel It also focused to greatly on the politics of Saxon court while Uthred is not their. As the story is about Uthred and from his perspective is it not? I guess I just wish to know how you feel about the series? And I would sleep easier watching it knowing it has your stamp of approval or knowing that it's not everything you where expecting. I do not expect a reply. I understand you are a busy man and I only wished to express my gratitude for your work and opinion on the TV show. However to get your point of view would be fantastic.

Your work has inspired me to write short stories for personal enjoyment.

Many thanks,

Harry Newman

Dear Mr Cornwell,

apart from the usual " I read all your books and enjoyed it" which is actual the case but must be so boring for you to hear all the true things about yourself, You know by now that you´ve a narrative Talent to let the reader feel right in the middle of a shieldwall or a firing line. Apart from all of this  i´d like to drag your attention to a Point i find worth dicussing.

You´re pushing the blame more from Saltonstall in the direction of Wadsworth, arguing quite right that the central task was taking the fort and the naval battle more or less insignificant. But although i think Wadworth could have acted much better in some occasions but he had good reasons not to attack. He had pretty good intelligence about the british strength. His slight numerical advantage would be more than matched by the superior quality of the brits, green or not. They were well trained and disciplined men. Wadsworth had, apart from the marines, only soldiers of inferior quality and morale lacking Training, discipline and coherence. Do you really think, that if the american land forces had attacked, they would have prevailed? I dont think so,  one or two Volleys and a determined Charge and off they go. And if McLean was determined not to let his force perish in a pointless combat he did this under the assumpion that he was outnumbered by at least 3:1.

As an experienced leader he´d have inevtably grasped that he had a far weaker force before him that he had assumed before, it seems to me completely incomprehensible that he´d not changed his mind and had blown the americans to bits.

with best regards

Johannes

PS: I´m going to start with Waterloo now, curious to see how you do as a historian

Dear Mr Cornwell,

thank you for your books which bring so much joy to my life.

In the scriptures (Sh#, Book Siege, Chap 8, Page 116) is written “… being a well-trained young man who had been told constantly by his parents never to leave a light burning in an empty room, he pinched out the flame of the Eternal Presence before going back to the courtyard.” – First I was pissing myself laughing. But when I read the passage over and over, it came to my mind that perhaps the young man was you and it could be some kind of your revenge to extinguish the Eternal Flame in that book. But maybe I’m entirely wrong? Please would you bring some light to the scandalous behaviour :-)  of that young man?

Best regards Michael

(from Germany)

Dear Bernard,

Sorry to say this Bernard, but on page 272 of Warriors of the Storm you say that, " my son took a score of men who hacked the bushes down and dragged them back to make a barricade." He couldn't have done because, Uhtred junior had been sent by Uhtred to Lady Aethelflaed to get help and hadn't returned. I think you meant to say Finan, or someone else. It's easily done, but I thought I'd better warn you. Otherwise, I've been thrilled by the storytelling in the nine books of the formerly called Warrior series, as I have been with all your books - I'm a devoted reader of yours!

Colin Spear

 

Hi Bernard!

Have just finished reading 'Warriors of the Storm', which was an enjoyable read as have been the rest of the series. I'm not sure if an error has crept in though... on page 272 Uhtred says that in order to protect the entrance to the old Roman fort 'my son took a score of men who hacked the bushes down and dragged them back to make a barricade'. On page 277 Uhtred's son is one of three horsemen who came from 'the northern trees', and, on page 278, Uhtred's son tells his father 'You were easy to find'. Presumably Uhtred's son can't be in two places at the same time, so is this a mistake or am I misunderstanding the situation?

At the end of the book, you imply that Uhtred's next move will be north to try and retake Bebbanburg. Does that mean that the next book is likely to be the last in the series, after all Uhtred is getting old now!?

Thank you for writing books that are such enjoyable reading. I think I have read very nearly all of them. I do think that the 'Grail Quest' series are the best you have written (I believe that I read somewhere that they are your favourites). The only book I didn't like was 'Stonehenge', which I have to admit I did find boring, and couldn't bring myself to finish - maybe I missed out on something!?

I hope this feedback is of interest to you. Keep up the good work!

Best regards

John Blanning

Hello Mr Cornwell,

I just wanted to say, again, that I am a huge fan and love all of your works. Warriors of the Storm was especially brilliant. I loved the true identify of Mus.

One last crack at Sharpe's father, is it Francis Davey, the vicar from the novel Jamaica Inn?

Or could Sharpe's father be one of the Rottingdean smugglers. Either the gang leader Captain Dunk, or the skilled horseman and gang lookout the vicar Dr Thomas Hooker?

Luke Fieldhouse

Dear Bernard

Just reading Warriors Of the Storm .Surely one of your very best in The Saxon series. Thank you again for brightening up a dull Autumn.

It was good to hear a reference to the Barrel of Loam .Do you think he can be persuaded to come out of retirement from Wiltunscir. I have a retired GP friend who is missing him greatly !

Neil Brownlee

Thanks for the latest Uhtred I knocked it back in one go as usual.

Whats Next? I'm going back to Starbuck to use  like a nicotine patch until next October.

How about Lord Bathhurst for Sharpe's father?

As a member of the Scarlet Pimpernels League he qualifies  as a smuggler, I'd love to believe Sharpe's old man was a Lord. Plus it was a Lord Bathurst who built Aplsley House........nicely holistic I think.

If not are we looking for a pepole smuggler?

Michael Davidson