Your Questions

Would you consider writing an historical novel, The Peasants Revolt, 1381,
using Watt Tyler and John Ball as the main characters?
Thanks for all the enjoyable reads I have already had.

Stan Phelan

Dear Bernard

I have read a number of your books with great pleasure - the subject matter is always of great interest and your depictions are fascinating.

However, I have started to read 1356 - again fascinating - but I am being distracted by the constant use of 'and'.  I openly confess to being poorly schooled in the proper use of the English language but to me there seems to be excessive use of 'and' in this novel which I have never noticed previously.

Is this a new direction or simply me overlooking your writing style previously?

Kind regards

Shaun

Mr. Cornwell:
I have read nearly all of your books and have enjoyed them immensely.   You are wonderful at getting inside the minds of the combatants and explaining their strategy and tactics.   I especially like the Hookton and Uhtred stories.

Since so many of your books revolve about battles in which a small but plucky force defeats a much larger but usually badly led enemy, have you ever considered writing about the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in 1741?  The defenders were outnumbered by at least 5 to 1, but were led by an admiral who out-disabled Nelson, because he had only one eye, one arm and one leg!   Unfortunately for your sympathies, the losing attackers were the Royal Navy, and they had to hide the victory medals which they had coined prematurely.   Still, it makes a great David vs. Goliath tale.

Your devoted fan,
Norman Brenner

Hi Mr Cornwell,
I've read most of your collection but I particularly like the Warrior Chronicles, especially when Uhtred was with his adoptive Viking family. Do you have any plans to write a back story about their exploits before they met up with Uhtred as I think this would make a great story.
Just half way through 1356 and it's not disappointing!
Many thanks

James

Bernard,
Have you ever come across the Charles Dickens short story entitled 'The Story of Richard Doubledick'? Despite the dubious name of the title character (no worse than Hornblower), it is an account that resonates of the Napoleonic period. India, Badajoz, Quatre Bras and Waterloo all feature among what is, at times, cloying sentimentality. But then Dickens was writing for an audience whose collective memory of that era was relatively immediate.
Even the title character, who rises through the ranks from drunken squaddie to officer, is a noble man. Sharpe would hate him, or at least curse him for his devotion to duty.
Have a look if you haven't read it.
Btw, I know you're fed up with people asking, but what about Nate Starbuck?
Thanks for hours of escapism,
Colm.

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I'm at the end of the Arthur Chronicles as we speak, reading it for the second time in my life, few years after the first, and it's interesting to see how other things get your attention, while on the first run they did not.

My question for you is about the battle song of Beli Mawr, you describe it in the books, and I looked on youtube to see if there's a version of it, but, alas, all I found were Metal Songs.

I Hoped to find a more "Tribal" or Warrior-like version, perhaps you know where to find one? If that's not possible, where did you get the inspiration to that song?

Thank you for your consideration on reading/replying to this, and thanks again for all your books!

Best Regards,
Lucas.

Dear Mr Cornwell

I'm currently in the middle of reading the grail quest.  I've also read both the sharpe and warlord books and I was just wondering which battle you feel most proud of writing as in the one you feel came across best?

My favourite book was sharpes company and I was was also wondering how you developed your style of writing ie are you influenced by any other writers style or is it solely your own?

Thankyou for the stories you tell and I look forward to reading your next

Mark (Belfast)

I really appreciate that the historical context in your stories generally follows reality, and where it doesn't, you mostly mention it in the notes. It's a smooth way to learn more historical detail. One point though - why did you move Navarre from the Spanish border up to near Normandy in 1365?
Michael Finlay

Dear Mr Cornwell

I recently read The Fort.  Once I had finished the main text I had a number of questions but these were all addressed in the Historical Note.  Intriguingly however, you included your thoughts on the military capabilities of a number of the characters featured in the book itself and of that period.  It made very interesting reading.  Would you be kind enough to reveal your top five military figures throughout history?

Thank you for The Fort.  It really is a superb piece of work, and if I may say so, the type of book at which you excel.

With very best wishes,

Robert.

Dear Mr Cornwell

Congratulations on publishing your latest novel ‘The Pagan Lord’. I am anticipating if/how Uhtred captures his former family home Bebbanburg.

How do you rate the chances of a non-native English speaking person to publish a book in the UK (apart from all other difficulties one might meet)?
I am currently living in the UK, but may not do so for more than another two years. That is not set in stone, though.
I am speaking English, but English is not my mother tongue.
I am wondering in which language I should write my works? My preference is to write in English and to make the UK my first country of publication. I am aware that the chances of getting something published are low in general. Nevertheless I prefer to set my sights high, and not to discourage myself too much.
However, as my nationality is not British, I am uncertain whether I should rather write it in my native tongue and approach publication in my home country.

Many thanks for your efforts.

Kind regards

Tamara Bukatz