Your Questions

Q

When will Uhtred reappear?
Michael Abbott

 

Hey Bernard. I'm an avid fan of your work. Have read most of your novels, cant get enough of them. My query is this: when will you be publishing the follow up to Death Of Kings?
Decky Pill

 

Hello Mr Cornwell,
As an avid reader of your stories and especially about Uhtred, I wondered If or when a sequel to the Death of Kings can be anticipated.
Kind Regards
Andrew

Submitted May 8, 2013

A

The follow up to Death of Kings is coming soon!  It will be called The Pagan Lord and should be published in the UK in September and in the US next January.

Q

Hello Mr Bernard,

I read Warlord chronicles of Arthur and reading Saxon tales. Are there some illustrations of Warlord chronicles or Saxon tales?
Regards,
Nika Khoperia
Georgia, Tbilisi

Submitted May 6, 2013

A

No, sorry, no illustrations.

Q

Hello Bernard,
I am looking into the history of Uhtred and was wondering if you knew where Uhtred is killed by Thurbrand the Hold.  Wiki shows Tadcaster or Worral as possibilities.  Is there a building / meeting hall this may have happened?
Also, if you do incorporate this into your storyline, would you consider continuing the storyline with the Blood Fued?  I am halfway through 1356 and must say I missed Thomas.
Many thanks,
David of Iver (near Thoney Island)

Submitted May 4, 2013

A

The Bloodfeud (are you thinking of that splendid book about Uhtred’s death?) is much later than my Uhtred’s time. The Uhtred of Bloodfeud lived in the 11th Century and is the guy who ends the family’s prominence in Northumbria – the survivors moved to Yorkshire, where they still are (and another branch in western Canada).  I do know that an Uhtred existed during the timeline of my novels, but we know almost nothing about him – I am a fiction writer!  I have seen his name on a charter, but beyond that he’s a mystery to me!

Q

I'm always impressed with your descriptions of the fear, horror, and rush of combat, particularly in your dark age and medieval characters. Uhtred has seen a lot of very close and very bloody action.  Will he eventually start to suffer from PTSD or have nightmares? In your research for these characters, have you found any historical evidence that any dark age or medieval warriors suffered psychologically from their experiences?
Andrew Berrier

Submitted May 4, 2013

A

I’ve found no evidence, but assume that PTSD existed, only unrecognized.  I did try to suggest that with Sharpe in the later books. Sharpe, like many men in that era, experienced 25 years of more or less constant warfare, so I’m sure that some of them were adversely affected. One interesting topic, that I know nothing about, is whether a society’s acceptance and familiarity with horrific events palliates the condition? In other words the horrible experiences don’t seem to be outside the norm, in which case someone like Uhtred won’t be as affected as someone who is accustomed to a peaceful and law-abiding society. As I said, I don’t know about that, but I am fairly sure Uhtred will have his nightmares!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell

I've just finished Fallen Angels: quite different from your usual style, but very enjoyable. The world of Lazen was an ideal setting: very self contained, but still part of the rest of the eighteenth century, almost with faint echoes of Gormenghast. I understand it's just a coincidence, but I particularly appreciated the cameo appearance of Captain Nathaniel Skeat. Can I have your permission to think of him as a distant descendant of Will Skeat, continuing his fight against the old enemy? Looking forward to the next installment of Uhtred in the autumn!

Best Wishes

Tony Mills

Submitted May 4, 2013

A

I’d forgotten entirely about Nathaniel Skeat.  Names are always a minor difficulty, but I know exactly where Skeat came from – on my desk, always, is a Dictionary of Etymology which is edited by Walter Skeat – so the name stares me in the face.

Q

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell.

Do you recall approximately how many years the Arthur trilogy spans, excluding the narrative bridges where Derfel is telling the queen the story?

Alan Kempner

Submitted May 4, 2013

A

Oh dear, I don’t recall, sorry. It was lengthy. My instinct says thirty years, but honestly that’s a blind guess.

Q

Sir,

after 1356 will there be any more Grail Quest books?  I certainly like Thomas of Hookton.  By the way, I look forward to The Pagan Lord coming soon.

Robert Allen

Submitted May 2, 2013

A

I like Thomas too!  But I'm not sure there will be more books featuring him.

Q

Hi Bernard,

It's me from Cape Town. I have been scrolling through all the comments and requests from your legion of fans,and you have my utmost sympathy. As I mentioned in a previous posting I am 71 years old, and am very aware of intimations of mortality. Come on guys! give the man a break. He could not possibly ascede to all your requests. Once again, my wife and I love your work,

Regards,

Steve Theron.

Submitted May 2, 2013

Q

Please help me pronounce Uhtred.
I can't get a solid answer.
Thank you
Pam

Submitted May 2, 2013

A

Uhtred? to rhyme with hoot, but with a slight guttural inflection - oot-red.

Q

I loved Gallows Thief and always felt that it had the potential for a series. Are there any plans to revisit it and take the characters on another journey?

Regards
Shane O'Reilly

Submitted April 26, 2013

A

I have considered a follow-up to Gallows Thief, but I'm not sure it will happen.