Your Questions

Q

Enjoyed all your works, but most recently Uhtred of Babbenburg series, and can't wait for the next instalment! - Will that be the final one, and anyway I'm sure he will recover from his wounds!? I wonder if anyone will be brave enough to make these into a television series or film! - Love the insults!
Regarding the remains of King Alfred I think they will have to do a thorough dig and sieve of the Hyde Abbey site if anymore are to be discovered.
Regards,
Richard Hersey

 

Is another book coming after Pagan Lord ?
Roger Hedges

 

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I´m just a very interested reader of the Saxon stories, so in first line, thank you so much for many moments of pleasure, thrill and challenges to improve my english.
Finally, my question is very simple: When do you think, can I carry on with my excercises in reading english books? Is a new Uthred novel within reach?
Such a silly question, but it´s your own fault.
It would be kind read some answering lines, many success and good vibes for your writing.
Kind regards and sincerely yours,
Rüdiger Iske
Nordhorn / territory of the wild (and mad!) Tubantiants

Submitted January 24, 2014

A

I am working on the next book of Uhtred's story now.  I think it safe to say this will not be the last book of the series.

Q

Hi Bernard.First of all can I say that the Sharpe books are amazing. I first heard of Sharpe on the tv and now am trying to get through the books. Will there be a new one published soon? Sharpe has been a huge part of my life - my parents even made me the uniform of the 95th! I am on my way to completing the books and so would love for a new one to be coming out

Kind regards.

Shaun Gower

 

Hi Bernard,
I have to say I'm thoroughly addicted to your stories about Richard Sharpe and just wanted to ask if you have any plans to write any more Sharpe novels? I've just reread the series for the umpteenth time and would love to have some more stories and battles with Sharpe and Harper to enjoy?
Kind Regards
Nath

Submitted January 22, 2014

A

Sorry!  A new Sharpe book is probably still a few years away.

Q

From the BBC Website
Bone fragment 'could be King Alfred or son Edward'
A fragment of pelvis bone unearthed in Winchester in 1999 may belong to King Alfred the Great or his son Edward the Elder, academics have said .It was found at a previous dig at Hyde Abbey and has been dated to 895-1017 - the era the king died.
Experts were originally testing remains exhumed last year from an unmarked grave at St Bartholomew's Church, where it was thought he was buried .But they were found to be from the 1300s, not 899, when the king died.
The fragment of pelvis had been among animal remains stored at Winchester's City Museum and were tested by academics at Winchester University after their study into the exhumed remains failed. The university and the community group behind the search, Hyde900, are calling for further excavations at Hyde Abbey Gardens in the hunt for more remains.
Carbon dating
Experts said the bone, recovered from the site of the abbey, came from a man who was about 40 years old at the time of his death, leading them to believe it could be either Alfred or his son Edward.
King Alfred the Great
His remains are known to have been moved several times since he was buried in Winchester's old minster in 899 AD. They were moved in 904 to a new church to be alongside his wife and children, before being moved again to Hyde Abbey in 1110.The abbey was destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 and studies indicate the tomb was robbed. It is believed some bones were put on display in the 19th Century before being buried at St Bartholomew Church.
Dr Katie Tucker, who has been examining the bones, said: "These are the bones that were found closest to the site of the high altar."As far as we know, from the chronicles and the records, the only individuals close to the site of the high altar who are the right age when they died and the right date when they died would either be Alfred or Edward."
The remains at St Bartholomew's Church were exhumed last year amid security fears after publicity surrounding the discovery of Richard III's remains. But carbon dating showed they were from the wrong era.
Susanne Haselgrove

 

I just read an article regarding a team of researchers locating what might be one of Alfred the Great's bones.  I think that your writings have created an immediate connection with that article.  I can't wait to read the latest book in your series.
Mike Toporowsky

 

Soooooo -- do you think that's Alfred himself that they found in the cardboard box at Winchester?
Paul D.

 

I read this article and immediately thought of you! http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/01/17/bone-found-at-english-abbey-could-belong-to-king-alfred-great/
P.S.  You are my absolute favorite author, and I offer you continued thanks for all your amazing work.
Cheryl Osenga

Submitted January 18, 2014

A

I saw the article, think it’s a wonderful discovery, but will wait till the DNA testing before I open the Irish whiskey!

Q

Mr. Cromwell,

I'm a frequent poster to your question section and have read all of your books apart from 1356 and the Pagan Lord. One thing I've always enjoyed about your characters is how human they are. The "bad guys " of your stories aren't always bad men, they simply have different agendas then the main characther, and are usually very similar to them. I think that is how it had to be in real life. For instance, do you think Michael Scammel and Richard Sharpe would have gotten along? I think they would have.

I have just a couple of questions, not very far into Pagan Lord, so I apologize if it is answered in the book, but how many years have passed since the end of death of kings?

Is the Sire De Lanferlle a real person, or based off of a real person? If so, who? Thank you for always answering my questions
Luke

Submitted January 18, 2014

A

Ten years.

 

He’s fictional!

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I have a question about ranged weapons in two different ages.

In the middle ages, the crossbow had greater range, but took longer to fire than the longbow. In your books during this time period the longbow was a huge factor in winning the day. During the Napoleonic era, the rifle had greater range, and it won the day despite taking longer to load than a musket.

Why do the qualities of the weapons (range, time to shoot) have opposite effects in these two time periods?
Glen K

Submitted January 18, 2014

A

I’m not sure the effect is opposite?  After all in the Napoleonic Wars the overwhelming weapon of choice (for the infantry) was the incredibly inaccurate musket.  Its virtue was rate of fire, meaning a battalion of troops armed with a musket could lay down a huge volume of fire compared to riflemen. The French refused to adopt the rifle in that period on the grounds that it took too long to load, and they certainly suffered from the British riflemen who were able to pick off enemy officers at a much greater range than a musket. So the rifle was essentially an accessory to the musket and no general would have wanted a rifle-only force because at close range, where battles were decided, it would lose the contest. What the longbow and the musket have in common is a high rate of ‘fire’ (in fact the longbow was far superior, being able to loose up to 15 or 16 missiles a minute). Benjamin Franklin and the Duke of Wellington both wished that longbows were available, but by their time there were simply not enough men trained in their use, and it took years to become an archer.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,

In the first place, I'd like to say you are my favourite writer! I've read most of your books (aiming to read them all) and they are all so great that I just can't decide which one I like the most! Keep up the great work!

Now, for my question:
What is, in your opinion, the most amazing battle in which Britain was involved, and why? Also, if it is one that you have not yet written about, what is the reason for that?

Kinds regards from your brazilian fan
Tulio

Submitted January 18, 2014

A

I’m going to say Waterloo (though without giving your good question very much thought, apologies). I suppose I’m influenced by the fact that I recently finished a non-fiction book about the battle, and was struck again and again by the horror of it and by the miraculous nature of the victory.  As for England? Agincourt must be way up there.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell:

In Sharpe's Revenge, you describe a scene in which the victorious British Army, being sent home, is not permitted to return with its wives and children, the soldiers being forcibly separated from their families.  Even by the standards of the time, it was a cruel and brutal decision.  In your research, did you find out who was responsible for the order? I would like to find out more about it.
I have a passion for history and absolutely love your books!

Sincerely,

Joseph B. Heimer

Submitted January 17, 2014

A

Almost certainly the British government was responsible, but who in that government? I don’t know. It happened, though. Wives who were officially ‘on the strength’ were allowed home, but the thousands of local girls who had married unofficially and borne children, were abandoned on the quayside. I agree, a horrible decision.

Q

Hello Bernard,

thanks for all the brilliant stories.  I'm an ex archer and was wondering why the medieval archers used ash for arrows when it is knotty and bends easily as every boy knows hazel is perfect for arrows can you explain?
Alan Wright

Submitted January 17, 2014

A

I can’t!  It’s possible that they did use hazel? I have no idea, except that most authorities talk of ash being used.

Q

Mr. Cornwell,

I missed your University of Hartford speech (Which is crushing as I live in this damn state) and I was in Maine probably the summer after you did your book trashing (justifiably) Paul Revere.

I was listening to the song "Arthur McBride" yesterday.  After all these years it struck me that perhaps you too were listening to that song when you came up with Sargeant Harper's last name.  Were you?

Stay well and keep them great stories coming!

Tom

Submitted January 17, 2014

A

I was not! Harper is named for a friend of mine in Northern Ireland.

Q

Mr.Cornwell

I'm a big fan of your books, but I am curious.  Is The Pagan Lord the last saxon tales book?  I finished reading it and the ending kind of had me confused. I loved the book it really was amazing but I can't tell if their will be a sequel.

Thank you so much for all the great books you create
Alex

 

I have reading The Pagan Lord, I enjoyed it very much, is there a sequel to this, if so,
when? There was one item which intrigued me, it was on the fly leaf a dedication, a phrase in Irish, roughly translated meaning "to you a thousand thanks"
Jim Maher

 

Morning,
My wife and I have just finished the seventh and latest in a long line of brilliant novels, Pagan Lord, which we have thoroughly enjoyed. We desperately want to know if you have, are or going to write another novel in the series as we feel there is so much more to come.
We would love to know when there might be another novel released.
Keep up the great writing, the Warrior Chronicles are truly amazing.
Kind regards,
Richard & Sam

Submitted January 17, 2014

A

There is more to Uhtred's story and I am currently writing the next book.