Your Questions

Q

I am very happy to say that I have read all 50 of your books and enjoyed 1356! Thank you for bringing back Thomas of Hookton. He is my favorite character. I first started reading you when I discovered Starbuck, so I think you can see where this is headed. I know you are working on the next Saxon Story(can't wait) so perhaps with 2015 marking the 150th anniversary end of the civil war, you can give Starbuck and crew a proper sendoff? That being said, I enjoy every aspect of which you write.

Michael Calkins

 

Mr. Cornwell,

I know this is a common question, but what's next?  You can keep the Saxon Series coming, I can't get enough of Uhtred.  However, I am curious if you ever plan another release of the Civil War series?  I would like to know what happens to Nate Starbuck.

Regards
Daniel Nicholson

Submitted February 12, 2013

A

I do hope to get back to Starbuck, but I can't say when.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell
I write to try to take some questions.
There is information that you will be at the Book Biennial of Rio de Janeiro (August 29 to September 8, 2013), to launch his new book, "1356", as happened recently with Agincourt. There is some foundation?
Another question, already commented here in his excellent blog that we are approaching the 200th anniversary of Waterloo, after the new book chronicles Saxon, what will? a book isolated over Waterloo? a new Sharpe?
If you can not or have not yet decided what will be next, since there is at least what is not? for example, there will be another of Ultred like 2013 will not be the last the following wait a little longer for our despair, eager to see the bottom of this saga ...
Well, I end here ...
grateful for all your attention
Marcelo Mendonça
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

I wish!  We both loved visiting Rio and would go back in an eyeblink, but I haven’t been asked to go, so I suppose it’s a rumour, sorry!

 

I'm not sure, need to finish this book first!  But maybe something new...

Q

Dear Mr.Cornwell.
A while ago you pointed me in the direction of a source of information on Saxon Britain. I found the book to be a tremendous help and wished to thank you for the assistance, and would also like to recommend, to anybody else wishing to follow the same lines, "The anglo-saxons at war" by Paul Hill. It's information about Saxon military structure is very well informed and a great source of info.
I've just finished reading Heretic again, readying myself to go dig into 1356, and found myself stuck with a niggling question. Sir Guillaume was undoubtedly my favourite character in that series. What has really plagued my mind was why his death was a vague passing mention. It might just be me, but I just felt he deserved a better end than a single sentence. The Thomas Hookton series is a phenomenal story, and I hope I don't seem to be detracting your excellent story telling skills with that note.

Regards,
Mike.

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

The callousness was intentional -  I suppose a reflection of how commonplace death was in that era of plague and warfare, but you’re probably right and I should have given him his due!

Q

Mr. Cornwell.

First, thankyou for all your books, I'm a student of history and admire the way you put together historical fact with  a compelling story. You can smell the image on the page, hope that makes sense!
1st question, are there any more Uhtred novels, I assume yes, as Bebbenburg still occupied.

2nd, is there a way to get advanced copies? I'll pay with pleasure and

3rd, surely a man of your talent HAS to write a bronze age or iron age series! Why hasn't warlord gone to film!!!!!!!!!

Andrew Bennett

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

There will be more Uhtred - one later this year.  Advanced copies are sent to those in the trade, so maybe you need to work in bookshop?

Bronze age or Iron age....really?  OK. Maybe. Perhaps. Definitely maybe. One day. Thank you!

Q

Dear Bernard
With the recent discovery of Richard the Third's remains in a car park in Leicester. Have you thought about a book (or series) set around this turbulent period in English history? Perhaps a one-off book about the battle of Bosworth.
Also do you think Richard the Third's remains should be re-buried in Leicester, York or even Westminster Abbey?
Congrats on 1356 just finished this book and it is excellent
Best wishes,

Steven

 

Hello Bernard,
The news this past week brought us the finding of the remains of Richard III (the last Plantagenet King) under a present day parking lot in Leicester (35-km from Bosworth where he was slain from a nasty halberd blow and multiple sword thrusts).
Question I have for you is why has Richard III been so reviled by his fellow Brits down through history? Is it simply because of Shakespeare? ("A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse", along with actors portraying him with a curvature of the spine).
Your thoughts?
Kind regards,
Billy Hunter
Fairfield Iowa United States

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

I haven’t thought about it . . . which doesn’t mean it won’t happen, just that it won’t happen anytime soon. And I’ve given absolutely no thought to where the remains of Richard III (presuming that they turn out to be the genuine article) should be reburied. Off the cuff I’d think he should stay in Leicester – York has plenty of memorials and London too many, and Leicester has a great claim to keep him.

 

It’s Shakespeare . . . what a brilliant villain he made of Richard! And Shakespeare, of course, was writing what the Tudors wanted him to write. His life expectancy would have been severely shortened had he defended Richard III against Elizabeth’s grandfather, and Shakespeare was no fool. It’s odd, isn’t it, that Richard III was discovered (with a spinal deformity) beneath a car-park, and it’s believed Alfred the Great is similarly lost under another car-park.

 

 

Q

I just finished 1356, and noticed what I think are homages to Stephen King (Roland to the dark tower came), and maybe to George RR Martin ("you know nothing...").  Am I right?  Did I miss others?  Eh, if I'm wrong, so be it.  Anyway, I enjoyed the book as well (you occupy a whole shelf in our den...I hope it isn't too cramped)!
Steve Marsh

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

‘Roland to the dark tower came’ was a really a homage to Shakespeare who uses the line in King Lear!  It was then used by Robert Browning in a poem called Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came (which is the exact Shakespearean quote).  So I suspect Stephen King and I both borrowed from one or the other or both and I confess, fool that I am, that I didn’t know Stephen K had used it too. And much as I like George RR Martin I don’t think he’d claim possession of ‘you know nothing’!

Q

Sharpe's father was General Nairn. Nairn has a famous horse stable and is home to optimist park. Happy person
Kyle Prince

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

Nice idea. Not right, but nice!

Q

Hello again.

Three questions!
Do you plan on writing until you can no longer write anymore? Or do you plan on retiring someday far down the line?

I am trying to research an ancestor who served during the American revolution. Any ideas if American units kept ledgers or rosters of men? And if so where any might be located?

Finally. Have you ever considered writing about El Cid? It seems down your street.

Jared

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

I retired thirty something years ago. I’ll keep on writing till the end!

 

I have no idea!  It totally depends on which state he served and whether their archives survived. Most units did keep ledgers. I know the Massachusetts records are impressively intact, but have no idea about the other states. I’d start with your state’s website and look for the archives and see where that leads!

 

I haven’t. I did look at him some years ago and was fascinated to discover he’d spent some time fighting for the Muslims, and he is a marvellous character, but he’s not on the list right now. Sorry.

Q

Hi

- first off, let me say how much I enjoy reading your work, and PLEASE- let's have the next chapter in Uhtred's career soon! Just started 1356, and as a retired teacher of French and German, freely admit I'm a bit obsessive about languages. Early in the novel, the priest refers to his hawk as "une calade"- I tried to find out what that means, but all I got was a cobbled walkway in Provence. Please enlighten?
Pete Widdows

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

It’s an Anglo-Norman word and described a bird that was used to diagnose sickness . . or at least issue a prognosis!  More than that I really don’t know, except that I discovered it in a dictionary of Anglo-Norman French and presume it’s dropped out of modern usage.

Q

Dear Bernard,

Forgive the familiarity but, through your writing, you feel like an old friend. Much as I love to devour your series of books, I also really enjoyed the stand-alone Stonehenge where the ancient world really came to life for me. Do you have any plans for another novel set in ancient history? I realise that you are an English history specialist but wondered whether you had considered a setting in, say, ancient Egypt for example, or do you prefer to leave such topics to that South African fellow Smith? Looking forward to the new Uhtred later this year. Thank you for the many hours of reading pleasure.

Best regards,

Nick May, Plymouth UK.

Submitted February 11, 2013

A

I don’t have any such plans at the moment, which doesn’t mean I’ll never go back that far in time, but right now I have my hands full getting Uhtred into the tenth century and with another new series I plan to start next year . . . .