Your Questions

Mr. Cornwell-

Thank you so much for all the pleasure you have brought to me through Uhtred and The Saxon Tales. I have read them several times and am slowly reading The Empty Throne (because I don't want it to end...but now that I've learned about Warriors of the Storm, I can read it in earnest now!) I hope there are more planned...even if the story has to continue with Uhtred Uhtredson rather than Uhtred Ragnarsson.

I'm curious, is there anything about Uhtred's story that would surprise the Bernard Cornwell who sat down to write The Last Kingdom? Had you planned 9 (and hopefully counting!) stories out?

Jamie McKee

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I've often thought of writing to you before with various questions about the Sharpe series. However, each time I've figured that I should wait until I've read a few more (I'm only on Trafalgar). But there have been two questions which have been nagging at me for a few weeks. The first, and more important: is Richard Sharpe a psycho/sociopath? While he certainly possesses empathy and a strange sort of morality, he kills freely and with little remorse or reflection. I like the character very much, don't get me wrong, but this thought's been bugging me since he described his need to kill during the action of the Siege of Seringapatam. I also tend to dislike everyone he kills, and to be honest most deserve it, but there's just an ease with which he does it that makes me wonder.

The second: is Serg. Hakeswill supposed representative of a snake? Perhaps it's my own projection, because I always picture him with slit eyes and no nose, but the adjectives used to describe him tend to be in the vein of "venomous," "slithering," and so on and so forth. If this is the case, is Sharpe supposed to represent a lion or some other "courageous" animal?

Just want you to know I love your books. I read the Fort first, and I got through it in a week or two. I'm not the biggest reader, but I always manage to go through your books at an incredible pace.

All the best,

Adrian Remnant

Dear Sir

I'm an Italian reader (therefore sorry for my bad English).

At the moment I'm reading the last Thomas book "1356" in the Italian translation. In the second part "Avignon" is well described the Navarra siege, and there is often remarked that "Navarra is near Normandy"....  Is it correct?

I know that Navarra was south-west of France at the border with Spain..

Thank you for your kind clarification.

Regards

Ettore

What is three pound ten a week worth today?

Colin Lowe

Hello Mr Cornwell

Is it true that the Wessex stories are being made into a new series for tv? I love the books and have read them all, I am sure the series will not be as good as the books but if it stays close to your writing it should be fantastic. Waiting in anticipation!!! Regards Helen Powell Dorset England.

Helen Powell

 

I'm really enjoying reading your books, but having watched endless episodes of Sharpe is there any hope for a visual version of the saxon series

Thanks

Nigel

I often wish I had a better grasp of what a haubergeon or other clothing looked like or was made of. Many of the terms and armor etc. would be helpful in understanding the times. I would even buy a booklet or down load one if it is available. Thanks for considering my request.

Beth

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I’m reading your book, Azincourt, with enthusiasim.

As I’m also shooting longbow (modern), I’m interested in ancient technics. One detail in your book raised my interest. In the beginning, where Hook was trying to shoot Perrill, you write(page 4):

“His left thumb trapped the arrow, and his…”

Is this writing based on facts or is it part of writer’s freedom?

As far as I have understood, the arrow was kept on the left side of the bow and the thumb on the right side. So, if he really trapped the arrow with thumb, he must have kept the arrow on the right side of the bow. And if so, he must have kept the string with his thumb (with two fingers supporting) instead of two or three fingers (called “Mediterranean loose”). Even though the ancient archers did not know “Archers Paradox”, they quite surely were using two/tree fingers with arrow on left side and thumb style on right side of the bow. At least the best archers, like Hook.

In most competitions today, the rules only accept “Mediterranian” with explanations like “it belongs to tradition”. However, there are examples of very good and fast archers that are using thumb style and shooting right side of the bow.  For example Kyodo achers and many horse riding archers use it. They also anchor below the ear, which at least modern longbow archers do not do. This is very interesting because by keeping the arrow on right side of the bow, the arrow and the aiming eye are in better line with the target.

So, it would be interesting to know, whether the ancient archers were using either or both styles, I think yes…but then the myth of cutting only two fingers should be questioned. They should also cut the thumb.

Mr. Cornwell, sorry for my long message, but I have no other reference for this “forgotten shooting style (thumb style)” than your fantastic book.

Best regards,

Jarkko Lehtinen

Hello Mr. Cornwell, are you fine?

My name is Vitor,  I'm from Brazil, and I would like your help if possible.

First of all, thank you very much for the Warrior Chronicles, I've just finished reading the second book and I can't wait to read the next one!

Anyway,  I'm creating a swordplay group in Brazil basedin the Danish culture. However, we don't have much material to research in this area, specially in portuguese.

The name of the group was based in the name that Uhtred and Leofric gave to their boat, "Fyrdraca". My friends and I thought that this name would certainly fit with the group's culture basis, but when I made some research on the name (specially in English), I've found that this name comes from the old English itself. On the other hand,  there is a viking ship with the same name in the USA, if I'm not mistaken.

In a nutshell, what is the etymology of the name Fyrdraca?

And I would also ask you that if you could send us some research on the well known vikings, to use as material to proceed the group foundation in a real story. And, if you couldn't,  to lead us to a researcher in this area,  if you know him/her.

Anyway, thank you very much for the attention and for your books, and sorry for any mistakes that I probably made, I still have a lot to learn with the English language

Att.

Vitor Oliveira Lima

Dear Bernard,

I am a huge fan, have read your books - more than once, they give me immense enjoyment and have helped me through some difficult times.  Absolutely love the dark ages stories, started off with the Arthur books then moved onto the Saxon stories, Your mixture of fact and fiction is perfect. I particularly like the way you describe your characters and their settings, Interested to know your thoughts on the casting for the upcoming BBC Last Kingdom particularly Uhtred, hope you had a say in the casting?

Appreciate you must be overwhelmed with fans request so completely understand if you don't respond.

All the very best

Simon

Hi,

I like all your books! Today I finished the empty throne and still waiting for your next book! I like Horatio Hornblower (C.S.Forester), Charles Heyden (HMS-Themis by Sean.T.Russel, Rom-Series (Simon Scarrow) and a series from a German writer with name Ulf Schiewe. Ulf Schiewe wrote an Norman-Saga. Do you heard about them? It's to bad that you don't speak German, because I think you will like it too! Benjamin