Your Questions

Q

Bernard,

Thanks so much for the books you write. I really enjoy the the Saxon Stories as well as the Grail Quest stories. Looking forward to the new Saxon book coming out here soon. It has been a little while since the last Grail book the Heretic. When could we expect to see a new Grail book?

Best Regards,
Dennis Blair

A

I do not have plans to add more books to the Grail series.  However, if you'd like to read more about Thomas of Hookton, you may be interested in the book 1356.  http://www.bernardcornwell.net/books/1356/


Q

Mr. Cornwell,

I have emailed you questions in the past and I always appreciate your honest and forthright responses. I was reading the Saxon series to completion for my sixth or seventh time, and I just noticed an oddity. Uhtred in his various leadership roles refers to a particular move, the boar's tusk, numerous times. But, as the series progresses you notate that same move with various interchanging names- i.e boars tusk, swine head, etc... Is there any specific reason for the change in vocabulary? Is there some historical significance to that?

Thank you (and I cannot wait for Pagan Lord),

Rich S

A

Both terms are used . . . I don’t think there’s any particular significance and no reason other than carelessness?


Q

Hello Mr Cornwell
I have just finished reading the Harlequin, and I have spotted a mistake where you quote that the city of Rennes is on the river Seine. From my memory it is on the confluence of two rivers the Ille and the Vilaine.
Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed the book, as all the others books and they are numerous that have been written by yourself. At the moment I am looking forward to the next installment of the Warrior Chronicles.
Dave

A

Oh probably . . . forgive me if I don’t look it up, I’ll just plead guilty.

 


Q

The quote "everything ends in tears" comes from Excalibur, a day or so after the battle of Mynydd Baddon when Derfel meets up with Merlin and Taliesin.  "'Fate is inexorable,'  (Merlin) said sourly, 'and everything ends in tears.'"  My question is about the first part of the quote, which is not only one of Merlin's favorites, but is used in the Saxon stories.  Can you tell me when you first ran across this?
Bob Burton

A

That comes from an Anglo-Saxon poem, The Wanderer, where it appears as Wyrd bið ful aræd. It’s a sad poem about a man’s reflections on the world after he has lost his lord, and he’s in an extremely pessimistic mood. No one knows exactly when it was written. Memory tells me that the earliest copy is 10th Century, but it probably predates that by many years.


Q

If you could own one weapon that you have written about, what would you choose?

Also, what are you writing at the moment?
William

A

I already own it . . . above the fireplace hangs a 1796 pattern Heavy Cavalry sword, the same kind that Sharpe uses. I know very little about the sword, except that it must have been used in battle because the back blade has been ground down to a leaf point (permission for which was only given when the blade was to be used on active service).  I’d quite like to possess a Baker Rifle too, but lord knows if I’ll ever get round to looking . . .

 

Right now it's a book of non-fiction - The Battle of Waterloo.


Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I know that you have said in the past that Uhtred is based on a real man that you are descended from. If I remember correctly, at the end of Agincourt you also stated that you are a relative of Sir John of Cornwaile. I'm just wondering if that would make, at least in the world you have created, Sir John a descendant of Uhtred?

Luke

A

John Cornwaille left no descendants, at least no legitimate ones, so I can’t think I claimed descent? Maybe I did in a rash moment! And I suspect he was of Norman descent, so alas, he’s not related to the Uhtreds!


Q

Dear Bernard
On the napoleon website, there is an interesting discussion on whether Wellington could have beaten Davout if they had ever faced each other and whether Suchet could have done better had been taken out of the Eastern theatre, I wondered what your own thoughts were on the subject? Do you think Davout could have bested Wellington and seeing as how Suchet lost at Castalla could he have done better than Soult in the main battles against Wellington or even Hill ?
Also will you ever visit Chester in the near future, when you visit the UK you only seem to do London, there are fans of your books in the north west too as well you know, besides the battle brunaburh was only round the corner on the wirral.
Yours sincerely
Geraint
P.S Dunno if you have read it or not but there is an excellent book called A bold and ambitious enterprise by Andrew Bamford on the British campaign in the Low Countries in 1813/14 commanded by Thomas Graham, which is worth a read especially since it's a campaign that has not been studied very much.

A

I have no idea! It’s one of those ‘what if’ questions. No one else managed to beat Wellington.  So my guess is that Wellington would have coped, he usually did!


Q

Bernard,
I Love it all, what's next?
Stewart O'Brien

 

A

The Pagan Lord has just been released in the UK.  It will be available in the US in January.  The book I'm writing now will be my first non-fiction book - the Battle of Waterloo.


Q

Will Thomas of Hookton story end with 1356? I hope not.  My next read will be The Fort or Stonehenge.

Michael Shaffer

A

I don't have plans for another story for Thomas now, but who knows?


Q

Good evening good sir!

I am curious which book you have published that has given you the largest monetary profit? I hope you don't see this as rude or intruding, I'm not asking an amount, just the title of the book that was responsible for it. I have always been very curious. Thank you for your time.

Best regards,

Paul

A

I have no idea!  I could ask my agent, I suppose. I’d be tempted to answer that it was the three Arthurian books, but that’s just a wild guess.