Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,

Thank you for your fantastic work, am currently deeply immersed in the warrior chronicles.

You frequently refer to Alfred as the only British monarch to have received the title of great - is the omission of Cnut purposeful given that he is not of English descent?

Thanks,

Matthias

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

Luckily there’s no formal committee that awards the honorific. I guess that in the history I learned he was never given the title so I never think of Cnut the Great. It still sounds strange to my ear, but that’s just me. I wish Elizabeth I was called Elizabeth the Great, and I can call her that, but no one else needs to.

 

Q

Love your books, especially Sharpe and Starbuck. Any chance of a remake of the Sharpe TV series, updated using your actual timeline as well modern digital tech(ie. big CGI battle scenes)? Also a Starbuck series? The History Channel would be a great venue.

Bob Gorski

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

No plans for either right now.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell

firstly may I congratulate you on your success as an author. I have been enthralled by the books of yours I have had the privelage to read so far. My question is in the warrior chronicles in which we meet the Ubba and his brothers; am I right in saying he is killed in a battle at Cynuit? I live in Bideford a town on the coast in North Devon. Three miles from me in a village called Northam ios a stretch of road named locally as Bloody Corner. On this corner is a plaque saying it is the place where Ubba the Dane was slain. I was just left a bit confused as to why did should be here in North Devon?

Regards

Brian Cutler

 

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

Why not? I can’t remember now why I set it there, but . . . . assume it’s a raid? That could happen anywhere. I don’t think you need look for a strategic reason, but the Vikings would land any place that offered plunder, so why not near Bideford?

 

Q

Hi There -

I'm a tremendous fan. I was curious if there's a medical precedent for the wound Uhtred suffered and the respite he received when punctured by Ice-spite. Is his severe pain and sudden recovery based on fact?

 

Many thanks for all your hard work and brilliant stories.

David

 

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

I refer you to my medical adviser who, unlike me, is a doctor! And yes, a bad wound could lead to infection, but not necessarily. At the battle of Quatre Bras in 1815 Ensign Christie took (I think) 22 wounds, including a lance through the eye that emerged in his mouth, and he survived and, frankly, medical knowledge of infection was no more advanced in 1815 than in 815! They did have some remedies that were surprisingly effective – spider-webs on a wound is one, and it works (to an extent). But it was really a question of luck whether a wound went gangrenous or not.

Q

Hi,

 

You recently answered a question about your favorite TV prog I Claudius, I've just finished Goodbye To All That, Robert (von Ranke) Graves WW1 biography.

I found it very moving and amazingly detailed. Just wondered if you had read it and if WW1 was an area of interest for you and how you rate him as a writer?

 

By the way, what happened  to Steappa I missed it if he died or will he be back in the next book?

 

Is your next book anything to do with Drake? As a huge fan of you,Patrick O'Brian and Alexander Kent the idea of you starting a naval series is making my mouth water.

 

How about John Trenchard for Sharpe's dad?

Mike Davidson

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

I rate Graves very highly and yes, I’ve read Goodbye to all That . . . . but I’ve no great interest in World War I.

 

I think we'll see Steapa again....

 

My next book will be Uhtred!

 

Sorry, no!

 

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,

 

Are you aware of the talented groups of programmers who modify popular strategic video games to create fan-made settings of the historical worlds you bring to life? These are few I've found (I'm sure there's more):

 

Britannia 479 AD- Made for the game Crusader Kings 2 and based on your Warlord Chronicles. The Last Kingdom- Created for Medieval 2 Total War. Sharpe version 1.72- Created for Empire Total War.

 

What are opinions on these creations? Do you think there'll ever be an official Cornwell video game?

Jody Holland

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

I didn’t know, and thank you!  I’ll take a look!

 

Q

Hi Bernard,

as a proud Northumbrian I must say that I enjoy your writings in "The Warrior Chronicles" series and have just finished "The Empty Throne". Yet another success for our hero Uhtred of Bebbanburg. I note that you are presently working on book 9 in the series so may I ask, is our Lord Uhtred any nearer to regaining his birthright of the throne of Bebbanburg? In addition, I can't wait until "The Last Kingdom" appears on our TV screens. Do you have any input into the screenwriter's interpretation of the story? I do hope the film company does your writing the justice it deserves. Good luck for the future and please retain your muse.

David Vose

 

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

We'll have to wait and see!

 

My input is very limited!

Q

Hello.

 

I'm a big fan of your books for a very long time, and I'm curious, since you've been writing for so many years, have you ever had a run in with a strange fan ?

 

Also I think the answer to all of these people who bug you about who would win in a fight between Derfel and Uthred is easy, its Derfel, since he spent his life perfecting the art of killing Saxons.

 

Kind regards.

Damien

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

The strangest was a man who wanted me to go to a ‘dreaming cave’ in Wales to resurrect King Arthur and I confess I turned down the invitation. Then there was the wonderful girl who sent me selfies as an appreciation…..

 

Ah, an argument I won’t settle!

Q

Dear Bernard

As they are now making a film of the battle of New Orleans.

http://www.wwl.com/pages/20691991.php?contentType=4&contentId=16624757

 

I wondered as a 1 off if you would ever consider or have considered having a go so to speak from writing the story from  British side. Admittedly it would be different from your other works as you would be writing the main character in a losing battle rather than in victory.

It was also a rare time when the 95th went up against other Rifleman.

To be fair as well the British were successful on the other side of the river and afterwards did redeem themselves by capturing Fort Boywer (Jackson didn't think it could be done) .

Also in regards the British plan Wellington thought it a good plan that went wrong, would you agree or was it a bad plan regardless ?

Yours sincerely

Geraint

P.S It should be said Packenhams orders appear to directly contradict the whole premise of the film though:

http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/Warof1812/2011/Issue16/c_PakenhamOrders.html

Submitted February 5, 2015

A

I did think about it! But I suspect the idea got swamped by events in Europe! I don’t know a whole lot about the battle, Wellington always blamed the Navy for the loss, but I suspect Pakenham was really to blame and Wellington was merely showing family loyalty. I suspect if Pakenham had waited one day then the result would have been different, but that’s an airy opinion off the top of my bad memory. The wonderful Elizabeth Longford (a Pakenham) was invited to the 150th anniversary as a representative of the losers and told me she had a wonderful time!

 

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

 

Firstly, let me congratulate you on your amazing books. I have enjoyed them all but have developed an admiration and enjoyment of Uhtred. My question relates to his story, well actually it is two questions. Forgive the liberty. Firstly, why when Ragnar died, for someone who Uhtred thought of as a brother, you seemed to just pass over his death very quickly. Was this deliberate or were you tired of his place in Uhtreds story? Secondly, will we see Steapa again?

 

I apologize for rambling and taking up your time.

 

With regards

 

Adam Roberts.

 

Submitted February 4, 2015

A

It was deliberate . . . . maybe a mistake . . .  but Ragnar had somewhat faded from the stories so I thought it best.

I do think we'll see Steapa again....