Your Questions

Hello Mr Cornwell
Just a reply to the enquiry on your questions page about the willow stick and what it had to do with Archery. The phrase rang a bell and I looked in Robin Hood his Life and Legend by Bernard Miles (by the way that's the actor who played Magwitch in Great Expectations). Miles describes Robin first meeting the Outlaws - they have a competition, with an archery target that has a willow wand fastened to its centre 'they were splitting the wand, the most difficult of all archery contests...the wand was less than an inch across' maybe this has something to do with the idea of 'shot the willow stick for Agincourt?
Being from Nottingham the legend of Robin Hood has always interested me. Have you ever considered writing a novel about him?
Best Wishes and I hope it's not too long before you write another novel about Sharpe!
Daniel

oops....I mentioned that Bernard Miles played the character Magwitch, I got my wires crossed he was in Great Expectations, but not as Magwitch.

Hello Bernard.

You've said many times that you're not a historian and don't take notes of where you find information you use in your books and you enjoy not having the constraints of an historian, so what persuaded you to write a pure history book on Waterloo? Given there are many historical books on the battle, what will you be bringing in the book that others haven't? And, as a writer of historical fiction how did you find the constraints of history writing?

Separately, you've suggested in some of your answers to questions that you were planning a series set in Elizabethan times, but now will probably continue with Uthred (great!) - will the Elizabethan series come next or will you stick with Uthred until his tale is done?

Finally, I see Conn Iggulden has started a series on the Wars of the Roses - have you read the first book? Also, one of your readers has asked about novels on Richard III - one of the best I've read  is The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Penman (who is a fan of
your battle-writing ability BTW) - I believe she's revising it (or has??) following the discovery of his body.

Bests.

Chris

Hi Bernard,

I've enjoyed your books for many years now and I hope for many yet to come (by the way, when will Sharpe march again or has he hung up his Baker for good?)....thanks for the many hours of pleasure they have brought to all your readers!

One thing that I have always wondered about and perhaps, as a person keenly interested in history, you have too. It is a little twist on the three wishes theme.....if you were ever given the opportunity to observe (not particiapte in) any three events in history, what would they be?

As a former soldier, I have always thought the last thing I would want to watch is a battle where brave souls meet their end or are maimed for life, but of course, they still hold a somewhat morbid fascination! However, steering away from the likes of Agincourt, Trafalgar, Issus and so on , I think for me, it would be watching what the original use was for Stonehenge, the Gettysburg Address and finally, seeing how the Mutiny on the Bounty really went down!. What events would you like to have the chance to see?

Cheers and keep them coming!!

Andrew Beddow

Hi, Bernard Cornwell (sorry for my english).
Have a possibility of in the future you'll write another book of a.C era (like Stonehenge)? If yes (or if no too), what nation of the world in a.C era you will like to put in a book?
Igor

This is NOT an idea for a book.  However, I know that your books are thoroughly well researched and so you may have stumbled across an interesting, ancient and venerable institution The Honourable Artillery Company in London (UK). It has a diverse (and crazy) 500 year history together with a usefully 'undocumented' further 500 year 'pre-history' (pre Charter of 1537). If I were a writer (and I am not) I would rummage around it ( or even come and visit the institution which is still there in Moorgate) and come up with an idea for a story. There. Not a story line! I'm not a lawyer either (although tragically my daughter is).
Keep churning out the good stuff!

All good wishes

MJH

Dear Mr. Cornwell

I have red almost all your books, translated in italian because my english is not so good and I liked them very much. There is a character that is worth your pen, english by birth but, after Crecy, italian in his story: John Hawkwood by us called Giovanni Acuto. In this letter I think I have been inside your guidelines, I am 72 years old and I have never wrote a book nor I will in the future. I thank you for the beautifull hours I had reading your novels and I send you my best regards.
P.R. Franzoia

Bernard,

you ended Sharpe very neatly, except what happened to Jane, and what happened to Sharpe's daughter? That would really finish it off. And you have left us in limbo with Starbuck. When can we expect the next Starbuck Chronicle? Make it soon,I am getting older rapidly.

Yours devotedly
Mike McDonald

 

Bernard
after enjoying the Starbuck  chronicles it left me feeling that there is still some unfinished business
Colin Morgan

 

Hi Bernard,
I have just finished reading The Pagan Lord, magnificent read as always. It was nice to see my home town of Chesterfield mentioned too. I always look forward to any new novel that you write with eager anticipation, because I know I'm in for a real treat. Do you have any plans to add to the Starbuck chronicles?
Again, thank you for all the fantastic stories you write. They have given me great pleasure over the years.

Yours sincerely

Mark Milward.

Is there any possibility that you could do a books with Cossacks in it?  The northmen did go down into Ukraine.
Mary Nelson

Dear Bernard of Bebbanburg,
I've just finished Death of Kings in your most excellent Warrior Chronicles. In fact I've read the entire series in just under three weeks. I am writing you because I have a question regarding continuity between The Burning Land and Death of Kings.
Upon taking the fort at Beamfleot Uhtred discovers a considerable hoard of gold and silver amassed by Haesten's marauding Danes in Mercia. In the next book though Uhtred is destitute living on loaned land? This caused me a great deal of confusion. What happened to all that plunder? Surely it was not returned to the Mercians who played no part in the battle. Were the spoils Edward's to distribute - or rather Alfred's as he was yet living? This question obviously did not detract from my enjoyment of Death of Kings and I am really excited to hear any news you may have of my favourite, somewhat aged, warrior's next adventure.
I think I'll pick up The Fort while I wait.
You should tackle 1812 if you ever run out of ideas - unfortunately a commercial opportunity has been squandered by the passing of the centennial. Nevertheless you have at least one, two if you count my father, Canadian fans who would love to read it.
Hope you're well or at least not too bad.
Sincerely,
Evan Clark

Dear Mr Cornwell,

please could you write more of sea thrillers?  My first ever book I read was Sea lord and I've read it several times,I find your descriptions and style of writing is so easy to read.You're obviously an experienced sailor.
looking forward to more.
regards Bill.