Your Questions

Q

Mr Cornwell;

I read the vast majority of your books. I started reading them with the first Sharpe book released in the USA. back in 1981 I believe.
I have thoroughly enjoyed them all . I must say that as much as Richard Sharpe is a great character I think Uhtred of Bebbanburg is your best.
I found myself  literally saying out loud " don't die, don't die " at the end of The Pagan Lord.
You sent Uhtred over the precipice then pulled him back! Masterful writing!!!
I hope you meant Uhtred the elder would see the downfall of the Saxons, not his son..don't do that to us!!!
But Athelflaed only has about 7 yrs left historically and Uhtred will be almost 60 when she dies.
How many more books do you envision?? Hopefully 3 more.
Respectfully
Edward Caccavale

Submitted February 14, 2014

A

I'm still not sure how many more...maybe 3....maybe more than 3???

Q

Mr. Cornwell,
Do you do your own research for the Saxon series and if you do what resources  would you suggest to someone who would like to learn more about this period of time in English history?  I LOVE the Saxon series.  Please keep Uhtred around for as long as possible!!!  And write faster!!!!
Your avid reader,
Lucy Townley

Submitted February 14, 2014

A

I do.  For a listing of non-fiction works I used in researching this series click on this link (you will also find a 'Suggestions for Further Reading; link on every bookpage of this website): http://www.bernardcornwell.net/readingclub/?series=the-saxon-stories

Q

Love your work.  Please write a western.
Harvey Combs

Submitted February 14, 2014

A

Oh, I doubt it, but thank you!

Q

Hi Bernard,
Thanks for the good advice concerning my previous question! I'll be visiting my local library and try to obtain the books you mentioned. Moving on....This may seem an obvious question, but do you reckon the Republic of France owed its survival to Napoleon's earlier victories? Or, do you think it would have survived if he (or an alternative commander) hadn't triumphed against the Austrian and Piedmont-Sardinian alliance? Which other contemporary generals, in your opinion, might have saved the Revolutionary government?
Robert Douglas

Submitted February 13, 2014

A

Oh, I think France would have survived. Even when it was finally defeated it survived, it’s a geographical entity as well as a political one, bound together by language and culture. Bits might be lopped off at the edges, but France would surely have stayed more or less the same.  As for the generals – there were a lot of very good generals, but only one man capable of offering the political leadership, and that was crucial. So who else? We don’t know, because it didn’t happen.

Q

My son lent me Agincourt with instructions to return it. He doesn't keep many books, so that was a clue right there that this book was special. He had given me several of the Sharpe books to read and they were fascinating. Agincourt is a time capsule on paper. I'm an illustrator and immediately tried to find pictures of the battle, the armor, the bowmen, the towns, and the castles. I lived in Germany for 6 years and visited and painted castles. I found them fascinating and enimagic. I read a lot while I was there trying to understand the castles and the times. Agincourt is a masterpiece when it comes to creating visuals from printed words. 1415 is going to be one of those dates my odd brain will treasure; and I might even be able to work it into conversations. I talked about your book at our book club meeting on Wednesday and emailed information to members since I lot of them were interested in reading it.

I would be interested in how you write. Do you have a set time you write or place? Do you work all day? Do you keep a notebook? Do you do all your own research?

I've always said that Michaelangelo didn't have to get supper or do the laundry and that as why he managed so much work.

Do you go to the places you write about? I've always avoided battlefields and places with harsh history. I've found I can't seem to get it out of my mind once I've been there. When I get back to Europe, I want to go to the Agincourt battlefield because I would be rooting for Hook and I know he survived so that is a good thing.

Thank you for your wonderful work. It is inspiring. I hope you write a thousand more books. And now I've got to get supper started.

T. Watson Bogaard

Submitted February 13, 2014

A

I have an office, I write on a computer, I work from early in the morning till late afternoon, I do my own research.    I try to visit all the places I write about - I find it hugely useful.  Please give my best wishes to your son!

Q

I recently bought a copy of "1356" at Costco, and after reading it I wished I had discovered your works sooner.  I just finished reading "The Archer's Tale" and in the Historical Note, you speculated on the reason for the skill of the English archer.  I can't offer any documentation, but years ago I heard that the King of England outlawed all forms of sport and recreation for the common man except archery.  The only form of competition the average man could engage in was archery, and that is why they were so skilled.  I'm sure your knowledge and understanding of history is exponentially greater than mine, so maybe you can provide more information.

I am looking forward to reading "Agincourt".  For me, Agincourt has always been just an echo of history without much meaning, but after reading the book I expect that I will have a better understanding of the battle in its historical context.  I appreciate that you avoid taking literary license with historical facts.

Bravo!
Craig Johnson

Submitted February 13, 2014

A

Yes, you’re right, but that came later when English armies had come to depend on archery and there was a reluctance among the population to practice the sport. At the beginning it does seem to have been some kind of ‘craze’, and one result was the emergence of thousands of trained archers, but crazes pass and by the late fourteenth century there were complaints that there were not enough archers, thus the laws you refer to. They don’t seem to have worked very well, but a sure way to kill enthusiasm for something is to make it compulsory!

Q

Dear Mr Conwell:
I am long-time reader and occasional letter writer. When I was a young teenager( I'm 23now,) I got an idea for a Civil War novel and gave up because I thought the place I set up my fictional unit was too contrived and I think I was too young to create characters that functioned as passable people rather than stereotypes of what I thought both Irish people and adults in general acted like.   But as I was doing research for a project on labor history in Pennsylvania at University I discovered there was a civil war era unit formed not far where I had placed mine. And the fire was lit again. It's just interesting that the characters from my novel as a teenager won't fall away after so many have and I feel them change and become more realistic as I read more about the war. I just wonder if that ever happened to you? Should I trust the ghosts of characters rattling around in my brain or focus on newer writing?
Also  the historical novelist Robert Goolrick told me at a book signing that he thought writing historical novelist was to create your historical reality like a movie set designer and drop your characters into it and let it shape them. I wonder if you could comment on your process.
And lastly, I kind of feel conflicted about my writing sometimes. I have a great aversion of war out of generally pacifist principals (these weren't forced views like those of your adopted parents--I watched a friend mine who fought in Vietnam die slowly of agent orange induced cancer and it made me hate war, really. And yet, I love books like yours, Patrick O'Brien's and John Jakes and even Morgan Llywelyn's that find adventure in war. Can one write stories like that because they find those situations interesting and yet not give credence to war itself? One of my friends who its Philosophy major suggested I was being hypocritical. What do you think of that?
I know this much to consider and thanks for your time. Also I wanted to thank you for sending a birthday wish to me via Facebook the other day. When you do that with your fans, it always makes me crack a smile.
Sincerely,
Adam Azzalino

Submitted February 13, 2014

A

Why not use the characters that have been inhabiting your thoughts for so long? As you write them, they will change!  And I’m sure Robert Goolrick is right, but I suspect we all do it differently. For me the most important thing is always story, but of course you need a rich backdrop to the tale and that’s the ‘movie set’.

And why not feel conflicted? Only the dangerous and deranged think war is a good thing. It’s a terrible thing, also an inevitability, and to ignore it is to ignore a very large (if regrettable) part of life. And yes, war does have an appeal. It is, perhaps, one of the ultimate tests and that makes it interesting. How do different people react to that ordeal? You can write about war and use its background as an amazingly rich adventure and still condemn it. You’re not giving credence to war, it’s there, you can’t change that, though you might be guilty of encouraging a love of war, and that probably isn’t a great idea. But war does fascinate us, especially those of us who haven’t experienced a lot of it. If, like me, you’re primarily a story-teller rather than someone who explores the intricacies of the human spirit, then war simply provides a wonderfully rich environment for stories and, frequently, a moral dilemma. None of which makes it good, any more than murder is good, but remains the basis of 95% of crime novels!

Q

I thoroughly enjoyed the Starbuck chronicles but it seems to have been left unfinished! In the historical note to the last book you say that "Starbuck will march again" Will there be more Starbuck? Please?
David Lines

 

Mr. Cornwell,
I've just started in on THE PAGAN LORD, and it's top notch, sir. I think the Saxon stories have now edged out your other works as my favorite. So, two questions then: I know you've been asked this ten thousand times before, but will we EVER see any more of Nathaniel Starbuck? How about a tale set in Roman Britain? Is there any hope for that?
Thanks for all of the fabulous stories!
Chris Grega

 

Dear Mr Cornwell
I have just finished The Bloody Ground and must congratulate you on a quite superb series. Having read almost all of your books, including the magnificent Sharpe and the even better Warrior Chronicles, I did not expect an even better read. I was very wrong. Nate Starbuck rivals Uhtred as the ultimate hero, and I could not help but want the Confederacy to win every confrontation, even if in reality I disagreed strongly with their attitude towards slavery. I wanted to ask you, if there is any chance you will write more books based around Nate and the civil war or did you finish at Antietam, for a particular reason? Either way I will continue to read your novels until there are no more. Many thanks.
Simon Smith

Submitted February 13, 2014

A

I do hope to return to Starbuck one day...no plans for the Romans!

Q

Greetings Mr Cornwell,

I am a huge fan of your books. I was re-reading your Uhtred novels and seen mention of warhammers used in battle, I was just wondering how common this was, especially seeing how expensive swords were back then? And because Thor was famous for fighting with a hammer. Another thing I wondered is who is your favourite English monarch? Kind Regards,
Nicci

Submitted February 13, 2014

A

I really don’t know how common they were; certainly they were in use in the middle ages, when they were remarkably effective against plate armour. I suspect they were less common in Anglo-Saxon times, but not unknown?

 

Elizabeth I, by a long long way!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I have long been waiting your last book of the Saxon series and just got The Pagan Lord last week.  It was, as usual, a wonderful read but I felt a little short.  I finished it in two or three days and now I have to wait again until October(?).  Have you ever thought of having someone partner your books with you to speed up the process?  Perhaps, with research or gathering information?  It's like having your favorite sitcom on TV having their episodes a year a part.  I hope you take my input as a compliment and not as a criticism.  Best of luck in your writing.
Sincerely,
Jay D Miles

Submitted February 13, 2014

A

The simply answer is no - no writing partners for me!