Your Questions

Hi Bernard,

I have been a massive fan of yours for years, since I got Sharpe's Regiment from a car boot sail,and have read nearly everything you have written. I was over the moon when I read the Pagan Lord novel as I was born and bred in Tettenhalll where the battle took place.I had heard about the battle a number of times and the various places it could have taken place along the ridge. Your description was even more  realistic to me knowing the area as I do. Many thanks for the enjoyment I got from reading it.
Have you any more novels in the pipe line at present?

Regards

Andy

Hi Bernard,

why you like to write in first person?
Igor

Warlord Trilogy begins just after Roman Britain, Saxon Chronicles centuries later -- have you ever thought of writing a series set in Roman Britain (a bookend to the other two series)?
Don Franzen

Hi BC,

Firstly I'd like to thank you for your brilliant novels - I'm a huge fan, I haven't read all of them yet, but I have read the Saxon stories, Azincourt and started the Hook series. All of which I thoroughly enjoyed and can't put down. I have recommended your books to several friends and they too have become addicts of your work.
I can't emphasise how much I love your character Uhtred. I know he is a fictional character in a non-fictional world, but these books have made me extremely interested in the Danes/Vikings and English history. I am from Australia, yet my heritage is English. I have recently travelled from Oz to England to celebrate my Grandmother's 100th birthday, and during my visit have been busy seeing historic places and events, one of which being the recent Vikings Exhibition at the British Museum. Thanks to you, I have become a history fanatic!
Because of the Saxon stories I took great interest in the recent television series Vikings (which I also thoroughly enjoyed yet it has had mixed reviews) and was wondering if you had seen it and what your thoughts are on it?
I am anxiously awaiting the next, possibly last, book about Uhtred and whether he regains Bebbanburg.
Cheers,
James Parker

What does the swear word. Ursling/Ersling, if that is the way it is even spelt( we listen to the audio books) translate to in English
Thank you
Excellent writing.
Les Finch

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I have enjoyed and read nearly every book you have written which means I have spent quite a lot of my hard earned cash on you, but it's been worth every penny. I have noticed in your various characters , but particularly Lord Uthred , my favourite ,you have a healthy disrespect for the Mumbo jumbo and the blatant hypocrisy of religion in general and Christianity in particular . Having been born a catholic I have a very similar scepticism of religion and wondered if this is a conscious decision on your part or merely a plot line that allows characters like Uthred and Sharpe to delineate their enemies better? I wondered if the thought process is based on a personal antipathy to the nonsense you and I (I am 56) were taught ,possibly indoctrinated in,when we were young children in the 50/60's? I do not intend to offend ,but like Uthred I see how the power of the "nailed god" has in many instances caused far more trouble than the good it's protagonists would profess is its purpose. Either way I am glad you project characters who ,in our world ,would struggle to avoid being labelled non PC at best,and who provide me a least ,with some laugh out loud moments.
Best Regards,

Paul Hartford

I have read most if not all your books, some more than once.  We have a little exchange group that includes that my oldest sons and my brother.  Your books are generally a good read.
I have just finished The Pagan Lord.  There is a fairly consistent thread in your books that seems to be anti-christian, although there is some ambivalence.  There is, for example, a recognition of the ascendancy of the Christian god.
Other authors have also written about the passing of the 'old gods' in favour of the 'white Christ' or as Uhtred describes him, the 'nailed god.' There seems to be no reason that accounts for this change in fundamental world view.
How does one account for it?  I am left to wonder why such an unattractive god, represented generally by even more unattractive proponents, should have gained the ascendancy.  The implicit reasons that appear in your writings seem to be that there is some vague power play on the part of unpleasant, intolerant priests that accounts for it. In the light that you are writing historical novels where a certain fidelity to the history in question is embraced, I wonder that this aspect of your stories is not more nuanced.   I would suggest that one of several books by Rodney Stark would help to account for the rise of Christianity.  Here are several titles, The Victory of Reason, The Rise of Christianity, The Triumph of Christianity.  For a somewhat different take but one that has the added dimension of being written by someone who has deep roots in the culture of India as well as a solid experience of the West, may I recommend Vishal Mangalwadi's The Book that Made Your World.
You have a wonderful gift.  Thanks for sharing it with us all.
Cordially
Phil Delsaut

Dear Mr Cornwell,
The final line of The Bloody Ground indicates that Nathaniel Starbuck will march again. That was in 1996. Is there going to be a follow up as I expected to be able to read your brilliant books up to the surrender of Lee's army of Northern Virginia in 1865.
Also there have been some accounts of the confederate first (See the exploits of the Hunley) where a Union ironclad was the first warship to be sunk by a submarine during wartime. That story would greatly benefit from your touch.
Kind Regards.
Anthony Wigg

Hi
I am just about to complete my reading(s) of Sharpe. Halfway through Waterloo and then on more. I have been reading them in Chronological Order rather than published sequence. Gives the continuity of the various  battles et al that your lad gets into. I have totally enjoyed him and I take Patrick Harper as a brother. I read in your facing page that you are still writing Sharpe. Is this true? Where else are you taking him? Or is that just too cheeky a question?
Congratulations on the development of a great character in what was a truly important time in history
Cheers
JO'S

Have you any new book about sharpe´s adventures? I ask you because I read some of them and I know that them finish theoricaly with "Sharpe´s Devils"
IF YOU THINK TO PUBLISH A NEW NOBEL ABOUT SHARPE´S ADVENTURES COULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT THIS NOVEL CAN REFER ABOUT THE SOUT AMERICA´S INDEPENDENCE OF THE SPANISH? MY QUESTION IS BECAUSE A LOT OF ENGLISH VETERANS AND OFICERS CAME TO SOUTH AMERICA TO FIGHT OF THE FORMER SPANISH COLONIES (FOR EXAMPLE GENERAL O´BRIEN (IRISH) WAS AN AIDE OF CAMP OF GENERAL SAN MARTIN. GENERAL AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PERSONAL GARD OF GENERAL SIMON BOLIVAR WERE ALL BRITISH (I READ THIS IN AN OSPREY PUBLISHING BOOK) ABOUT THE ARMIES OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN´S INDEPENDENCE WAR). AS YOU BOOK "SHARPE´ DEVILS" SITUATES HE IN CHILE IN 1821 AND THE WAR FINISH IN 1826 WITH THE BATTLE OF AYACUCHO HE CAN JOIN OR SAN MARTIN´S ARMY IN SOUTHERN PERU OR BOLIVAR´S ARMY IN NORTHEN PERU. EXCUSE ME IF I WERE INDISCRET OR DISTURB YOU WITH THIS SUGGESTION. GUSTAVO A. J. SCAVUZZO (ROSARIO - ARGENTINA).-

Hello Mr Cornwell,

I am a huge fan of your books; in particular the Uhtred series (my favourite books of all time!!!) and I am delighted to hear there is another on the horizon. From reading the comments on your website I have gathered that Uhtred (or at least his son Uhtred) will be fighting at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937. I have been reading many of the sagas over the past two years (As a result of your books) and seen it noted that Egil Skallagrimson claims to have fought for AEthelstan in the battle; I was wondering, have you given it any thought on whether he will feature as a character in the story? or is it too soon to say (seeing as though you do not plan your future books) it is completely fine if you do not want to give this information away haha.

 

One more question; I have looked frequently for the answer; how common were the sagas to the average person back in Uhtred's time (more so the mythological sagas) would they be considered common knowledge or would it have been rare for everyday people to know the stories. Thank you for all of the wonderful stories you write.

Nicolaas Nicholson

It is more of an observation than a question.  Treat it as you will.  You write about a time and place as if you've lived there.  Eighteen centuries ago?  Did you read extensively or how did you acquire such meticulous information on life that long ago?  Hard to imagine.  Mere reading would not seem to be an answer.
Eugene Nagel