Your Questions

I have just reread all four of the Starbuck Chronicles and all six of the Saxon Tales.  When do you expect to finish these series?  I love all of your books, but find it frustrating to be left hanging over the years waiting for the next book in a series.  I am 74 now.  Will I live long enough to find out what happens to Nathanial Starbuck?
Judy Wills

Dear Mr Cornwell
I came across this site (having just finished Death of Kings and looking for the next book I will read) and just had to thank you for the the pleasure that your books have bought me over the years, I have enjoyed every one I have read (and I've read most of them) and they have infused me with a love of and interest in history that 13 years of school never did.
As a pagan and modern day Heathen (not the kind that uses Heathenry as an excuse for extreme political views) I have particularly enjoyed The Warrior Chronicles, your take on the transition from pagan beliefs to Christianity is really interesting and when Uhtred dies, hopefully many books in the future, he does so with his sword in his hand, all be it as an old man.
My partner does re enactment and is very impressed with your description of the shield wall (I have stood behind one to make up numbers and that terrified me, 150 men with swords and axes banging shields coming toward you, even in fun gave me nightmares for a week) he loves it, blood, injuries and all, he wonders if you have ever been involved in re enactment or  are your battle descriptions purely imagination (fuelled by excellent research of course).
Again thank you, I look forward to reading future books.

Yours sincerely

Laurie Manning

Dear Mr. Cromwell,
I have one question about Uhtred.  Is he going to try and win his family's home from his uncle anytime soon?  I am 77 with some medical problems. I hope to be around long enough to see the end to this story line.  I am assuming he is recounting his memories of Alfred and company from the family castle.
Thank you very much for being one of  the best if not the best historical fiction writer I have ever read. I think I have read every one of your novels including all of the Sharpe's novels and have enjoyed them very much.  I found the Fort very enlightening.
Sincerely,
Scott Railton

is it your plan to continue these until you have covered the battle of brunanburgh please?
John Collins

 

hi its me mike powers again have just rented all of tom hookton adventures including his recent one . I have only two question this time and that is in the next book do you give some background on Uhtreds upsurping uncle ? i say this because I would really like to know the background story on elfric and Uhtreds father and,the dynamic between the two ,because as readers we are in the dark along with Uhtred about his birth family . Also i would like to know what he would try to do now that his time is growing short and his  nephew the proclaimed  sword of the saxons is alive and slowly moving north to threaten his sons inheritance . I don,t think from what little we know of him and what we do know about his nephew  that  swearing allegiance to eadlorman Uhtred of northumbria will be a viable option.
Michael Powers

Mr. Cornwell,

I recently started reading the Starbuck Chronicels again after many  years. I wanted to ask. What was your inspiration for the characher of Nathaniel Starbuck?  I must admit, like many in The Falcouner Legion, I'm not even sure I like him. I am, however, fascinated by him. As well as many other characters in the series. I was just curious as to how you decided to write about a young man from Massachusetts who ended up in the Army of Northern Virginia. I sincerely hope you decide to continue this epic story in the near future.

Shawn Eason

Somewhere I THOUGHT I read who was your FAVORITE  character among all your writings.  Now, I'm thinking it must have been simply a rambling in my mind as I re-read many of your books when I was full of the pain killer percocet that I was taking for a terribly broken ankle, because after more than an hour's searching this morning in COMMENTS and QUESTIONS on your website, I have not been able to find such!  Did I imagine that--even thinking your favorite character's name began with a "D?"   I myself would be hard put to name a favorite character, for many are so perfectly "nailed,"  though Uhtred and Sharpe SURELY top the list; and, incidentally, if Sharpe's SON by Lucille is EVER to be portrayed in a movie (Starbuck series) , the perfect casting, to me,  would be Gilles Marini:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Marini 
http://www.examiner.com/article/dancing-with-the-stars-gilles-marini-dances-for-you-and-to-celebrate-life 
As Sharpe's son by Lucille, his English would be French accented, as is Marini's.  Moreover, as you describe Sharpe's appearance, to me, Marini would be the perfect cast as the look-alike descendant—he’s tall, and is dark-haired; and you describe Sharpe as being attractive, at times even eliciting jealously of others in the military.  Anyway, I'm inserting the above because I was APPALLED at the casting, especially of Harper, on a Richard Sharpe YouTube video I saw months ago--the entire video didn't do the Sharpe series justice.  I was incensed.  Sean Bean did became popular as Sharpe; however, he doesn’t capture (just to me, perhaps) Sharpe’s appearance as you describe him, and perhaps not entirely his manner, as I interpreted it.   Maybe others of your readers may feel the same? Or disagree?

Elfreth

Dear Mr. Cornwell

Have you ever considered writing a book about Sagramor?

Thank you,

Steve

Mr. Cornwell,

I just discovered your books in my local library.  I haven't read any of your books but plan to do so.  I'm curious where you came up with the name Richard Sharpe?  I'm curious because as you can see, my maiden name is Sharpe but also my mother's maiden name was Richards and she was from London, England.   I found it rather amusing that both of my parents' last names were the name of a character in a fictional novel.  Thank you for making me smile because this month my Mother will be past away two years and my Dad has been gone almost 36 years.  I look forward to reading about this character and I'm looking for the TV series as well.

Thank you,
Alice S. Douglas

Mr Cornwell.
Apologies if this is a question frequently asked... Are you aware of any graphic novels based on your work? If not are there any being considered? The reason I ask is that I have purchased some excellent graphic novels based around the works of Tolkein, Michael Moorcock etc which i have used to entertain my children.  I would love to be able to introduce your work to them in this format, especially the Warlord series.
Kind regards
Chris McAndrew
Kent

I see from previous questions, you have not yet seen the series, The Vikings, but perhaps you could answer a question for me about weaponry.  The show has a scene where the Saxon warriors use bows and arrows against the raiding Norsemen. I don't recall Uhtred ever using using a bow and arrow in a battle.  When did bows and arrows first become a battle weapon?
Beth Partleton

Greetings Mr. Cornwell and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I am an avid fan of your books, I've read most of them and the only ones I haven't read are Gallow's Thief and the Sharpe series. This is more due to the fact that I prefer pre-renaissance era history and warfare then anything against the books themselves. I'm a particular fan of the Saxon Chronicles because it showcases a period of history that is, over all, glossed over by many teachers and history courses. I was just wondering about Uhtred and Bebbanburgh. You write his perspective as an old (for the era) man recounting his history but as the main focus of the series is the formation of England as a nation and not separate kingdoms, I was hoping if you could answer a simple and, hopefully, spoiler-free question. Do you plan to showcase the capture of Bebbanburgh and the resolution to Uthred's lifelong quest to reclaim his ancestral lands from Aelfric the Usurper?

I hope to hear from you and I wish you nothing but joy and luck in your endeavors.

Your devoted fan,
Josh Lyle