Your Questions

I am very exited about the books on Uthred, his friends and enemies, and the integration into the historical contex

There was someone asking for more detailed maps in the books. I second that!

When I felt somewhat "lost", I used maps from these sites:

http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=show&page=Maps

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/history%5Feurope.html

Are you using any other maps? Or can you recommend other sites?

Cheers

Chris

I am in the middle of Azincourt and could not help but wonder if there was any relation between Nicholas Hook and Thomas of Hookton?  I know there might be a clue farther on in the book but I got exited. I am knew to your books and the genre, and I've enjoyed every moment of captivating reading. Never stop writing.

Josh

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

Curious if you are familiar with the British campaigns in Uruguay and Argentina prior to Copenhagen. Since the second invasion involved the 95th Rifles fighting in the vicinity of Buenos Aires, I was wondering if that might be a future Sharpe story?

 

Thanks,

Will

 

Could I ask if you have any more Sharpe books planned?

Malcolm Whitlock

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

My name is Plinio and I am a Brazilian, so i apologise for my english.

First of all, I want do say that I love your books, especially the Saxon Chronicles, Sharpe Series. All your books show that great research had bee done.

Now, I would wanto know if you will b writing more sharp´s books.

I hope so!

Plinio

 

 

I discovered you on TV via Richard Sharpe. Loved the stories (and Sean Bean, who is the perfect Sharpe). I've also become your No.1 fan. I've bought the Grail Quest books and Agincourt. Is it likely that there could be more Nick Hook stories? I know Thomas of Hookton is now home in England. You have such a great way with words that I see pictures instead of sentences during the battle scenes and actually shed tears when Thomas lost his first love and child. They've all been great books.  I now plan on collecting the Warrior/Saxon Chronicles. Now that I've been retired for almost 15 yrs. I get to do my favorite thing: read and discovering new genres other than romance (which I still read). Keep up the good work.

Rita Martinez

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

 

I am a huge fan of your Arthur trilogy and the Saxon Chronicles.      I know some of the Sharpe stories have been adapted for television previously but I think there could be a great demand for a great Arthur story such as yours.  A couple of years ago the Cinemax channel in the United States aired a horrible Arthur series that was cancelled after one season and the relatively recent Arthur movie with Clive Owen wasn't much better.  At any rate, there has been a dearth of great Arthur adaptations recently.    Have you have ever considered pitching The Arthur trilogy or even the Saxon Chronicles as a television series?

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Sincerely,

 

James Northway

 

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I'm Italian and I'm 15 years old.I've already read your books of the series of "Excalibur", "The Grail Quest" and "The Saxon Stories" and I'll read "The Sharpe Stories" coming soon.I'm very interested in historical novels and, after many readings of every kind of historical settings, your books are the best; so, lots of compliments from me.I take this opportunty to ask you: how many books will be published to complete the "Saxon Stories" series?Thank you very much for your attention.

Best regards

Gabriele

PS: I'm sorry about my English, I hope you'll understand all the text; now I'm attending the high school (I've just finished the first class), so I think I'll improve my English with the years to come.

 

Hi,

I read twice the Saxon stories because i love them. I want only to now, because I'm Italian and I have to attend the traslation, how many books do you need to finish the series?

I do not want to hurry you, it's only Italian curiosity.

 

Matteo

 

Bernard,

I just wanted to drop you a note in appreciation, I have read much of your work, but am now reading my way through the Saxon Stories collection, and I think, perhaps, it is your best ever.

 

On European Steel

 

I do appreciate that you have researched history and technology to the extent that you even understand historical European sword making. You are the only author I have read who has accurately described the making of twisted soft and hard steel swords in Europe. I am very fond of George R. R. Martin, and think he is a great writer, but it does distress me whenever he talks of “re-forging” valerian steel (a watered steel) by melting it down and re-casting it in the shape of a new sword – which, of course, would only leave you with a blade of pig-iron. It is a small matter, yet if you are going to write novels all about swords, it is better, I think, to know how swords are made.

 

Stirrups?

 

And while I am in such a picky pedantic mood, please let me pose a small question to you. In a number of places in the Saxon Stories you mention riders using stirrups.  Some might question whether stirrups were in use in Britain by the late ninth century. The use of stirrups was starting to spread across Europe by then, and had, for instance, reached Sweden. The use of stirrups would revolutionize warfare from the 10th century on – shifting the balance of strength from infantry to heavy cavalry. This would last until the English longbow shifts the balance back to foot soldiers, something you describe so well in The Grail Quest  books.

 

However, I think a number of historians would at least raise an eyebrow at your suggestion that they were in common use in Britain by the 870 or so. Also, forgive me if I am wrong, but now I vaguely remember you mentioning stirrups in the Warlord Chronicle  -- Arthur used stirrups? Again, forgive me if I have mis-remembered this and wrongly accuse you. If you did not put Arthur in stirrups, you must be the only author who did not.

 

Anyway, the stirrup thing is a small niggle. I do love your books, as I do love those of Martin, so I think I will send a copy of this missive to him.

 

Please, both of you --  Live Long, and Keep Writing.

 

Cruin MacGriogair.

Dear Mr Cornwell

I have enjoyed reading you books for a number of years and especially so on the Kindle.  I note that your book Waterloo is available on Kindle but I can't understand why it is 53% more expensive for the Kindle version vs. paperback?  (£12.15 vs. £7.92) I would rather buy the Kindle version but with the large price difference I may revert to paper or just wait it out.

It really looks like Amazon are making huge profits for the Kindle edition event when taking into account the VAT and server costs...I dare say the printing costs and distribution costs must also weigh in favour of Kindle and against the paperback.

Grateful for your thoughts.

With kind regards,

Jon

Hi Mr. Cornwell,

first of all I would like to say that I love every book you've ever written, especially Sharpe. I'm sorry if this is just a waist of your time, but I can't find the answer anywhere. I was wondering if guard battalions, like the 1st foot guards or the Coldstream guards had grenadier companies in their battalions?

Thank you very much

Kyle