Your Questions

Q

Hello Bernard!

I notice that in your novels characters often slip and fall in the middle of a fight. Especially Uhtred and Sharpe. There'll be some junk or other hazard around and they'll trip! Have you noticed this? Someone ought to explain to them that it's not safe engage in physical activity in a cluttered area. Someone could get hurt!

Thanks so much for writing all these great books. They've been a joy to read! I've even learned a thing or two about history.

-Ban Marks, from sunny California

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

You’re so right. Health and Safety would be rightly concerned and undoubtedly issue on-the-spot fines. Tripping must have been a real hazard, especially to men wearing visored helmets. I suspect Alfred’s victory at Aesc’s Hill was really brought about by the enemy falling into the ditch, and surely most of the French men-at-arms at Agincourt must have tripped on the casualties from the front rank

 

Q

I've been reading The Grail Quest again and I was wondering  how to pronounce Guinefort ? Is it like Guinevere? Or something else entirely?

Thanks,

Jonathan Mullins

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

I’d pronounce it as it’s written, but I confess I wrote the book so long ago that I don’t remember Guinefort at all.

 

 

Q

The last three Uhtred novels included maps with the modern border between Scotland and England rather than the actual 9th c. Northumbrian border shown in the earlier books. Was this a deliberate anachronism, I wonder, or an editorial oversight?

Alex McLeish

 

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

Probably carelessness . . . . I suspect the frontier was fairly vague (except where it coincided with a river) so it’s always slightly guesswork

 

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell.

I've just seen a poster of the new Last Kingdom BBC series and this Uthred has dark hair! I was gutted I hope they do the book justice.

I stayed at Cannington for a week in early July and I visited Cannington hill and the river parrett and immediately went home and started reading the last kingdom again. God I love that book. The road that lead us to the river was said to have been used by Alfred in 878 so the fact you placed cynuit at Cannington in very believable.

I always imagined cynuit taking place at cantisbury head in Lynton as the men of Devon gained the victory, but I  have read that back in 878 that much more of Exmoor and Cannington were within the borders of Devon in Saxon times.Do you think there is any truth in that?

Thanks for your time and the hours of happiness your books have given me.

Ian

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

There could be! I doubt the boundaries were precisely defined, but that’s just a guess.

 

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell.

Is there a chance that in some future novel or short story, Sharpe and his father will meet?  Or is the father out of the picture by the time Sharpe's story begins?

Alan Kempner

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

It's possible!

Q

The coffee roaster was allegedly named after the helmsman of the Pequod - and your Civil War Hero ?

Reinhard Scherbaum

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

He was! The Starbucks were a well-known family on Nantucket so, of course, intimately involved with the whaling trade.

 

Q

Bernard,

firstly just to say how thoroughly enjoyable the Saxon stories have been I'm totally hooked and engrossed with Uhtred. I have a question of some historical significance and not sure if you'll be able to answer it. I was born and raised in Brackenwood on the Wirral peninsula in England. I was intrigued in the Empty throne with references to Brombrough and Chester and wondered if Brackenwood was the supposed site of the battle of Brunanburh? I know there is much dispute about it but wondered what historical info you researched about it so I can make my own enquiries. Anyway hope you can help. Keep up the fantastic creativity and ideas. Your books are compelling :)

Geoff

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

I’m not sure about Brackenwood – it seems probable that the site of the battle is now a golf course! There’s going to be endless argument about where the site is, but I’m persuaded by Michael Livingston’s conclusions in his book The Battle of Brunanburh, a Casebook (Exeter University Press, 2011)  and I’d recommend reading that!

 

Q

Mr. Cornwell,

I recently finished The Last Kingdom and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was turned on to your books when I was going through my extensive family tree and came across the name Ragnar Lothbroc Halfdansson born 774 in Uppsala Sweden and died 865 Northumberland, England. Within a few short generations his ancestors were called Montgomerys, or "from the Mount of Gomer." In the historical notes in your book you mention historical and fictional characters, Ragnar being fictional and Halfdan being historical. In my family tree I show Halfdan Sigardsson being Ragnar's father. I'm curious could the Ragnar in my family tree be the same or similar to the one you write about in your book? Or is Ragnar merely legend even in my family tree? I understand you are a busy man but I would love to hear from you!

Best,

Ryan Montgomery

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

It sounds likely! It’s difficult to be certain because there are no reliable records of births and deaths in those early times, but why not?

Q

Really enjoy your books and have read many of them.  Anymore of Tom Hookton?

I was also raised on Hornblower and ended up in Brewster, Cape Cod 40 years ago.  A fortuitous move!!

Will Ladd

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

No further plans for Thomas at the moment.

Q

Bernard,

sorry if you've been asked this too many times before but have you considered getting David Benioff and D. B. Weiss of Game of Thrones fame to make a movie trilogy of the Arthur books?  I think they are the guys who could do it justice or perhaps Peter Jackson?  Love the books and never tire of re-reading them. They are the definitive Arthur story in my opinion. Thank you for writing them,

cheers

Iain

Submitted August 11, 2015

A

There has been talk of a movie, but honestly I don't pay much attention to it.  I'm not sure it will happen....., but if it does that's great!