Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell,
I hope that if you read this you are well and enjoying the summer, firstly thankyou for writing such entertaining books, Sharpe's havoc was the first book I ever read, since then I have read your books religiously. The reason I am leaving this comment is that I have just finished re-reading the Sharpe series and I was wondering if there is any chance of another book in the Sharpe series?

Jacob

Mr. Cornwell,

have you ever thought about writing a book on the Anglo Boer War ?
I ask this as a South African with really only one side to the war.

Thank you
Roy

I like all your books and have read most of them but I would love it if you would write the next book in the Starbuck Chronicles!  Is it coming soon?
Regards,
Richard (Tbone)

 

At the end of The bloody ground you stated that Starbuck would march again. Is he in jail for Case and Dennison or what? He's been sat on his bum for too long, no wonder the Yankees won!!
Andy Baldwin

 

 

I have read almost every one of your books, they all have been great reading.
I would surely like to see more of Starbuck. That is an excellent  series, I would to see it continued.
Thank you

Art Stafford

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell
I am a very avid reader and a huge fan of all your books. The Arthur Novels are my top favorite, I thought they were spectacular. I know I can imagine how many times you get the questions of when will Starbuck be recalled from his vacation and I hope its soon, could you shed a little light on if that would be? Perhaps after Uhtred has found his peace and the Saxon stories are closed.
I also wanted to ask about some of the other major battles you were thinking of covering in the Starbuck Chronicles? Judging by the civil war timelime The battle of Fredricksburg is a few months after Sharpsburg. There is also Gettysburg, the wilderness chancelorsville... I hope one day you can return and get Starbuck on with his adventure.

Your fan
Tom

Dear Mr Cornwell

I have spent many years enjoying your wonderful novels from Derfel though Uhrred and Thomas of Hookton you have provided many hours of reading pleasure for which I must thank you.

Could you tell me, as someone who has set so many books against a historical back drop and actual events, how do you  decide how much of historical liberty you can take?
.
When you begin writing do you draw broad outlines and then add detail later or do you prefer to write in great detail and work in a chronological order?

If you are able to offer a first time writer any insight I would be most grateful.

Kind regards

Hadley Davydaitis

I say Mr Cornwell! I'm a big fan of Lord Uhtred, and in preparation for my personal invasion of France this summer I've just very much enjoyed "Harlequin". But you credit a "Thomas Dugdale" with Sir Thomas Dagworth's feat of arms at Restellou, and that just won't do! William Blake gave Dagworth his due, and I see you include him in Vagabond, but as there are only a dozen houses in Dagworth (Suffolk) today, I must defend his reputation!

Thanks for a cracking yarn nonetheless,

Jeremy Steventon-Barnes (lately of Dagworth Hall, en route to La Roche Derrien)

Mr Cornwell,

I just had a few questions about the Lothbrok Brothers. Firstly, I've seen Ubba's name spelled many different way, most of which I'm assuming were simply spelled phonetically by historians of the time. Would it be a safe assumption, from your studies to pronounce the name as "who-bay", or am I way off base?

2ndly, Ubba and his brothers are given the surname "Lothbroksson" in your novels, I was just wondering if they were ever actually referred to in that way in history, or is that just something you did to avoid having 20 characters named "Ragnarsson"?

Lastly, I'd just like to say that I think "Redcoat" is one of your best works, and highly underrated, getting lost in the shuffle with the success of the Sharpe series and The Warrior Chronicles. I think that Captain Vane is one of the most well written, intensely human fictional characters I have had the privilege of reading.

Luke

I have read all the Saxon Chronicles books and have thoroughly enjoyed them.  I am particularly impressed by your description of war strategy.  I guess after reading them all, I have a nagging question.  How is it that Uhtred's women never become pregnant and he only has his three legitimate children?  Ok, so Brida had a miscarriage, did that make her infertile?  What about Yseult?  Did she have herbal contraception?  How about Hild?  Was she damaged by the gang rape? What about his most recent lovers, including Aethelflaed? It would seem a man like him would have numerous bastard children.  Just saying...

Maria Garaitonandia

Is the character 'Sharpe' perhaps Scottish or from the Borders?  If so, where might you place his birth and the ethnic background of his family (Celtic/Scottish-Welsh or Saxon/English).

Thanks --

Charlie McVey

Dear Bernard,

I was just wondering if you are planning on doing a book tour for The Pagan Lord? If so will you be in the UK?

I was disappointed last year to have missed you at Picadilly Waterstones and I hope your Wife made a swift recovery!

Many thanks
Tim

A fiend of mine recently died after a long struggle with cancer. We shared a love of historical fiction and nonfiction and I am happy to say I introduced him to your books, first with the Starbuck Chronicles and after that the Sharpe books. He in turn introduced me Nathaniel Philbrick. As Canadians we grew up with Pierre Burton and a love of Arctic History.

I was wondering if you had ever read Burton's two books on the War of 1812. They are incredible accounts about the war. I was recently in Niagrara on the Lake and followed General Brock's route. Also, have you thought of a Loyalist Story as an interesting character? I live in Loyalist country in Eastern Ontario where Loyalist houses and names remain today.

Thank you for the many books my friend Gary and I shared. Your books will continue to take me back in history constantly remind me of a great friend.

Bruce Young
Kingston, Ontario, Canada