Your Questions

Q

Hi Bernard,

May I start by saying I absolutely love your writing and chase all the sharp series on DVD too.

My favourite of all are the warrior chronicles to date and I am nearly finished book 6 now with book 7 staring at me waiting to be read.

I know it's a small silly question but of all I have read I wondered why Uhtred sacrificed his dog instead of waiting to see if the priest could clear the spirits from the cave first.  Was is as simple as to do that was to recognise the Christian faiths power?  Being a huge dog lover - and at present at 4am sitting with my puppy ashes wouldn't sleep I can't even imagine the pain that would have caused to kill your favourite and shocked me so thought I would.

Probably the most trivial question ever sorry!

Your books make my journey to and from the city of London to work pleasure instead of the hell they could be and I have nearly missed my stop on  ore than one occasion as I get so engrossed.

Kind regards

Gill

Submitted July 2, 2014

A

It’s not trivial at all, and my dog is looking at me with a very worried expression as I write this!  The point of the death is that the religion demanded a sacrifice with real meaning, and if the loss doesn’t hurt then it won’t be effective. He’s using belt and braces, yes. He might have waited to see if Christian sorcery worked, but his own gods would have disapproved of that exercise of cynicism, so, alas

Q

Hi,
I came upon your books by accident, and greatly enjoyed reading one of your sailing books, I found the sailing knowledge, very true to life and then found out you were the author of Sharpe, who of course I had loved at TV level (soon to read some of those) back in the 80s.
What I have observed is that you must spend a huge amount of time doing factual research, historical and actual (sailing etc), how does that work out with living in America, writing as you do of European History largely, and how do you get round the European historical stuff, a firm base of Latin?
My interest is keen as I really enjoy the thrill of a metaphorical chase, through ancient manuscripts in search of clues etc. and enjoy writing, but find I cannot even start a True Romance (I wish I could I like the late Mary Stewarts style, which is not dissimilar to yours, you both have a very immediate feel, in her Arthurian/Merlin books the crystal cave etc) but was pondering  finding a good historic plot through actual people's lives and research.
So I  wished to say I really enjoy your books style immediacy and the pace of your novels and the historical accuracy I feel they contain, and wondered how does one get access to all that minutiae of detail and track down the historical backgrounds the battles and family feuds and the Grail history,
You seem to have dabbled in the Grail history Cathars etc and I was wondering if further books are forthcoming certainly the material is there, wouldn't St George's lance have been better as the sacred labce that was kept in Antioch? Too real.
Great stories well written

a fan
Kim

Submitted July 2, 2014

A

Luckily just about every book available in Europe is here in America! Many of them on my shelves, so I’m not aware of any disadvantage because of living here, none at all. Well, some. There’s no cricket on American television, but one day civilization will cross the Atlantic.  And there are lots of romances! Says he, glibly, but if it’s a novel, make it up! Or how about Abelard and Eloise? I’m not aware of anyone tackling that tale for a long time, and it’s a good one! I probably will never return to the Arthurian period – it’s tempting, but I’m writing other things and getting ancient as well. So it goes.

Q

At 2:25 PM, I finished Pagan Lord! Now I have over 6 months wait for the Empty Throne!  Shall I roll up in a fetal position, or re-read Arthur's trilogy and the Saxon tales again? Of course, I can in the interim urge Bernard Cornwell to give serious thought to the period from 525 AD to 865 AD. That has got to be an exciting period of time. Did the Britons fall back into barbarism, or were there glimmers of civilization hidden in the hills of Wales and lands of Cornwall? I do have work on my Civil War photography to think about! Anyway, it was an enjoyable time reading Arthur's tales and the Saxon times.

John Kelley

Submitted July 2, 2014

A

The Empty Throne was finished yesterday and will be published (at least in Britain) this October, so it really isn’t that long a wait! But thank you!  Glimmers of civilization? Yes, of course, the church survived there. I think it’s fair to say that the Britons fell back into tribal disorder and many of the marks of Roman civilization were lost entirely (and, of course, had never applied in the remoter parts of Britain), but the church did survive with its different traditions (date of Easter and so on). So though there were far fewer literate people the light of learning never did quite flicker out!

Q

A discussion came up today (at Princeton) regarding your work and Prometheus and although I have all of your books I am unable to find the reference. Please help and thank you for many enjoyable hours. ctsNeus

Submitted July 2, 2014

A

Dear me, I’m afraid I don’t remember any reference to Prometheus! I’m not saying it doesn’t exist – but after 54 books? Not a clue, sorry!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,
I must say how much I enjoyed The Burning Land and the series so far. I am hoping you can point me in the right direction to see if there is any veracity in the site of the Battle of Fearnhamme. I live in a village called Elstead midpoint between AEscengum (Eashing) and Fearnhamme (Farnham). Nearby is a common called Royal Common and for years I have heard it rumoured that its name came from a battle between the Saxons and Vikings. Please could you advise me if and where I can establish some facts that the link between Royal Common and the battle happened there or whether you applied some authors licence for the sake of the stories narrative?

Keep the excellent and enjoyable writing up. Thank you.

Alastair C Widdup

Submitted July 2, 2014

A

I’m afraid I applied author’s licence!  I wish I’d known about Royal Common, but I didn’t, so I made an assumption about the relationship between the higher land and the river.

Q

Mr. Cornwell.

I recently have become addicted to your Sharpe series of books and was thrilled to see Sharpe's Sword dedicated to Peggy Blackburn who I believe was my grandmother's sister. I assume the person this book is dedicated to was married to Thomas Blackburn and lived in London. Were you very close to my great aunt?

Sincerly,

Andrew Suggitt.

Submitted July 2, 2014

A

I was indeed! I was very fortunate to be friends of Tom and Peggy – she was an extraordinary woman, remarkably clever and, above everything, wise. She’s much missed.

Q

Mr. Cornwell,
My name is Roberto and I am Brazilian. I am a reader and fan of your stories (I have ALL your books published here in Brazil). Read all at least twice.
Today, having nothing to do, so I decided to read the section site "Yours Questions".
To my surprise I saw a comment saying that at Starbucks has a character that's grandson Sharpe?
My English is terrible! Do you realize that almost had a heart attack??
If I do not start to learn English properly will stay depending upon our editor here in Brazil who have just released the 11th book. Are 21 or 22! They throw 2 every 3 years! Mean missing 13 years for me to finish this series; Or learn English! (Lol)
Anyway, just thinking that when I finish this series will be getting another grandchild Sharpe .... no, no! I will not think about it!
Please tell your manager give a tough personnel in the publisher here in Brazil! Do not want to read all his books again while I wait for the next release! May be same ebook! It will not be a problem!
Success!
Roberto

Submitted June 25, 2014

A

Actually the character in the Starbuck novels is Sharpe's son, not his grandson!  Hope your heart is okay!

Q

Are there  any plans for tv series/ films for the saxon books or the Starbuck books?

Kieran

Submitted June 25, 2014

A

No plans right now.

Q

I'm a huge fan of yours and I live in Brasília (Brazil). I have a lot of your books and I saw here that the Saxon Stories 7 was distributed last year in English. Could you told me (if you know or if there is that information) when "The Pagan Lord" will be translated to Portuguese and the sells will start from your brazilians fans? Thank you for your time and sorry about my poor english.

Roberto Amorim

 

Hello dear Bernard Cornwell !!
Well, forgive me my english (I'm brazilian and unfortunately not speak English)
I would say that "Saxon Chronicles" was and is for me the best saga / story already written! The story is very engaging and would like to thank the sensational readings that gave me (and also all Brazilians!)
I am anxiously awaiting the release here in Brazil the "Pagan Lord" (scheduled for 6/30/14)
Anyway, I wonder how many books over the series write in "Saxon Chronicles" and also the story that will follow, will have a death of Uhtred Uhtredsson / Ragnarsson and still continue the story (for example, told by his son after the death of Uhtred) .... I'm a big fan of yours, and if possible I would like you to answer or at least give me some idea about it .... Thank you for your attention Mr., anxiously await their response and hope to read soon "Pagan Lord" ....
Sincerely, your fan, Carlos Augusto

 

Dear Bernard Cornwell,
You are a most great wonderful writer if i know, and i'm your fan.
I read all the six books sold in Brazil, and i loved the history. Uhtred is "the man"!
So, and now?  I'm hungry!!!!
Please, say, when The Pagan Lord will be sold in Brazil?

Thanks for writing books, keep it up, thank their fans heart.

Gustavo Gomes

Submitted June 25, 2014

A

I think you are correct - The Pagan Lord - should be available in Brazil next week.  Sorry!  I still don't know how many books will be in this series!

Q

Okay, I reread the Saxon Tales.  Uhtred is as old as I am.  When can we finish the story?

Jerome Parker

 

What is the name of the title that follows Pagan Lord?
Thanks

John Kelley

 

When will the next book in the Saxon Stories about Uhtred come out??

Glen Alexander

Submitted June 25, 2014

A

The next book of Uhtred's tale will be The Empty Throne.  It will be published in the UK on 26 October 2014 and in the US on 6 January 2015.