Your Questions

Q

I am a huge fan of your books. Are there any books coming out this year? I would be happy with any of them :)
Also, what book are you currently reading?
Peter

Submitted March 10, 2014

A

The Empty Throne, the eighth book of Uhtred's story, will be published in the UK in October.

 

What book am I currently reading?

About six at once, but the chief one (and the most interesting) is Britain Against Napoleon, by Roger Knight, which is absorbing and brilliant. It’s not about the military campaigns, but rather the organizational feats, financial arrangements and government services which made the campaigns possible. It’s a marvelous book!

Q

Mr. Cornwell,

I would like to start this message in saying that your trilogy The Warlord Chronicles have inspired me to write my final thesis paper for my undergraduate degree in English on how your story of Arthur is one of the most believable ones written. I am comparing stories throughout history to yours and arguing that The Warlord Chronicles are filled with historical accuracy, and that they represent an Arthur in which readers can relate.
With that being said, I was wondering if you would be able to explain to me your inspiration in writing the trilogy, and which pieces of literature you used in your research. I would love to included your feedback in my paper as a source and I am hoping you have time to provide me with this information.
However, I must admit in addition to me contacting you in order to have information for my paper, I also wanted to have the opportunity to express my thanks for giving me the satisfaction of having an Arthur that is truly great. Your stories are my favorite of all literature I have read about Arthur and it has been a pleasure to meet all of the characters on a personal level. So thank you Mr. Cornwell and I appreciate anything you can give me.

Best Regards,
Kelly Rodak

Submitted March 10, 2014

A

Well, thank you!  The inspiration? I did want to create an Arthurian story that was true to the late fifth and early sixth centuries, which meant abandoning plate armour and great-walled stone castles! I also wanted to jettison the magic, but it crept in anyway because, frankly, Arthur without Merlin is like tonic without gin. As  for the sources . . . . I wrote the books so long ago that I don’t remember all of them, and besides they were too many to list here. There was a lot of archaeological material, some unpublished, and the usual Arthurian ‘encyclopaedias’ and compilations (much of it worthless).  Probably the most useful sources were The Laws of Hywel Dda (yes, I know they’re much later, but my theory is that the laws contain much material that was codified over the previous three or four hundred years), the works of Iolo Goch and the Black Book of Carmarthen. In other words – any early Welsh material – it was priceless!

Q

I recently read  Lord Cochrane the Dauntless and wandered if you had read it.  Surely here is a historical figure that deserves more literary attention and acknowledgement.  Not always likeable but someone who took "doing the right thing" and fighting injustice to his heart. He fought all around the world in his naval career, loved his country, he was an inventor and innovator, and died virtually a pauper and in disgrace, only to be slightly acknowledged after his death.  Today he is still virtually unheard of in Britain despite what he did for Britain, Greece, Brazil, Chile and Peru and is more well known in Chile than here.  Do you never fancy righting a wrong?
He was a Georgian superhero without any superpowers....a Georgian Kickass, fighting injustice and corruption.  Probably a difficult costume to design but I can almost see the wig...
Grant

Submitted March 10, 2014

A

Well, I agree, and yes I’ve read almost everything I can find on Cochrane (who appears briefly in Sharpe’s Devil). There’s a fascinating photograph of him in his 80’s, and he still looks formidable. He was, as you say, a remarkable man!

 

Q

Thanks for the great entertainment over the years. I Would love to have you work harder on another series about U.S. Marines fighting on the Barbary Coast 1805ish. Please hurry as I am running out of birthday gift ideas for my brother. Thank you, Jerry Jones.

Submitted March 10, 2014

A

If I live to be 100 it’s a possibility. Pray for me.

Q

Hi Bernard,
I was wondering if you had an interest in the war of 1812-1814 between Britain and the USA? Having written stories featuring Wellington and his campaigns, would you be interested in doing a story concerning his brother-in-law: Edward Pakenham? However, it seems he didn't share Arthur Wellesley's superb skills as a general!
Robert Douglas

Submitted March 10, 2014

A

That campaign has never really interested me – Pakenham (in my view) was a fool for not waiting for the RN ships. Wellington always blamed the admiral, but that was family loyalty rather than anything else. Thanks, but I’ll pass

 

 

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell

I started with Death of Kings not knowing it was part of a series then I read 1356 again not knowing it was part of a series. I have since read all the Grail Quest books and have now started at the beginning of the Saxon Stories. I am enjoying reading the Saxon Stories as I know very little about these times and they are very enlightening the one thing that has puzzled me is how Saxon names quickly disappeared after the Norman invasion. Was it a case that the Normans wanted to eradicate all things Saxon.
Roger Howes

Submitted March 10, 2014

A

No, the Saxon names lingered on, but not in the aristocracy. Norman names also disappeared (know anyone called Odo?) The Normans eradicated the top layers of Saxon society, but the rest survived and, in the end, it was their language and, to a large sense, culture that prevailed.

Q

hello.
This year we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the 1st World War, like the author suggest a novel in this war

Greetings

Sergio Bruno

Portugal

Submitted March 10, 2014

A

I don't have plans to write a book set during either World War.

Q

I would just like to write a short message to say thank you for making reading enjoyable for me again; I am 19 years old and have never been a huge lover of reading until I got into your Warrior Chronicles series.
I am currently on book 7th The Pagan Lord and the High Gate has just closed on Uhtred at Bebbanburg!
I'm sure the ending of your latest installment will provide the answer but will there be any further books in The Warrior Chronicles?
Many thanks for many hours of enjoyable reading and if you could recommend any more books with a similar style to The Warrior Chronicles it would be greatly appreciated (feel free to recommend your own!).

Josh Bold

 

your New Book is five star when I started to read was not able to put it down .Will
Uhtred ride to victory? Thank you

DOUG

First let me say how much your books of Uhtred have helped me through a rough time! I had a double mastectomy and problems associated but had found your series on Uhtred and used them to put my mind into another realm! Now I have searched to find the series finale-is there one? I think I have read them all going from library to library-will Uhtred finally get Bebbanburg? What is the final book? Thank you again
Bonnie

Submitted March 10, 2014

A

I am working on the next book of Uhtred's story now.  It will be called The Empty Throne and hopefully will be ready for publication in the UK in October.

Q

I really enjoyed the three Sharpe short stories, are there anymore more in the pipeline?
John

Submitted March 5, 2014

A

Not right now; but never say never!

Q

How many books have you written?
The Pale Horseman was interesting, With regard to the characters who are true persons, were their actions portrayed in a manner that is true to life or did you take liberties in how they were portrayed ?
Alvroz

Submitted March 5, 2014

A

I have published 54 books - and two more will be published this year.

 

Oh, I took vast liberties!  We know so little of the ‘real’ history that we have to take liberties, though luckily we do have good contemporary descriptions of Alfred himself. As for the rest/ It’s mostly imagination!