Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell,
About 8 years ago, being in London during a hard time for me and my family, I randomly ran into a Waterstones bookstore in Hampstead. There it happened: I bought "The Winter King" and was thus introduced into Britain's lovely world through your writing. Derfel became my favorite hero and soon after finishing the trilogy, back in Greece, I begun buying one after another your books, awed by Thomas of Hookton (whom I was the most happy to meet again at 1356) and amazed by the Saxon Chronicles. I love history, always had. I also admire England, but your books influenced me to love this nation, to  have a hard look behind its historical curtain, at the point of me willing to have my master degree studies on English history. I do thank God many times of creating such an adorable writer like you !
Pardon my long introduction. What I wanted to ask is what did you have in mind at the end of Excalibur ..... Was this scene a metaphor? Did it symbolise something? ........ Please, I'd be really grateful if you could give me your opinion concerning the ending of the Warlord Chronicles, my favorite books of yours so far, with such a strong emotional ending.

Simon

Dear Bernard,

I've not finished reading all the books yet. I have got as far as Siege. What is your favourite Sharpe?.

Sue

Thank you for writing such great historical fiction.  As a history buff I have enjoyed any book of yours that I have read and I especially like the included historical note to "set the record straight" at the end of the novels.  My question is has anyone ever figured out the riddle to Sharpe's father?  Thank you and I will continue to enjoy your novels!
Matt Wallenhorst

Dear Mr.Cornwell:

I just finished reading "Vagabond" today, and I like it very much. Will you writing a story about the Roman Empire at the time of the Marian Reforms?

Yours truly,

Paul of Toronto

Dear Bernard

1) After reading 1356 and while enjoying it I was struck by the fact that in 5 books on Archers and there battles only 1 side actually had Archers. Politely put they are a bit 1 sided. I wondered if you had ever considered a book where both sides had Archers where it would be a fair fight.

2) Is Starbuck next after the Uhtred novel?

3) And will Starbuck ever encounter the most famous unit in the Army of the Potomac, the Iron Brigade ?

4)  Spin off novel about Fredrickson in the War of 1812 will it ever happen ?

Yours sincerely
P.S Two good books you might be interested in reading if you have not read.
A) The Glengarry Light Infantry 1812-1816 by Winston Johnston. A  good detailed history about a Regiment that modeled itself on the 95th right down to the same uniforms, but served in Canada rather than Spain.
B) The Iron Brigade in the Civil War by Lance Herdegen. They are know only for the 1st day at Gettysburg, yet they fought throughout the whole war. This book sheds some good light on that.

Mr. Cornwell, Waes thu Hael.

I must confess to deriving a certain savage joy from the well honed insults that Uhtred hurls at his foes. The contents of his word hoard are every bit as sharp and unyeilding as the edge on Serpent's Breath. I was curious to know if, when you are writing them, you have to test them by reading them aloud. I have a vision of you, sat at your desk, roaring out insults. Are you ever tempted to use them in anger on uninvited telesales callers?

Incidentally, here in the Stour/Orwell estuary, we still remember the sea battle between Alfred's fleet and the Danes that you wrote about. In fact, my son's school jumper has a viking ship on it and the class pet is called Guthrum.

I'm looking forward to the seventh novel in the series. With any luck, age will not have diminished the sharpness of Uhtred's tongue.

Regards

James

Thank you for all the great time I have had in reading all of your books.
In many of the Sharpe novels (e.g. Sharpe's Gold) you refer to atrocities committed by the French on the Portugese and Spanish civilian population.
What was the reason that the French soldiers felt that atrocities were permitted?  Was there a root cause?  Why were the soldiers so vicious?
There would appear to be many honorable and just leaders in the French army who did not seem to be able to curb the practice.  Why?

Don Ballantyne

Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I just came across this link: http://www.imdb.com/list/qn6U_DolYxg/ and I was wondering if they are actually planning on filming this or if this is just some fictional list someone made for themselves. Maybe you know more in this case?
Best Regards,
Miriam Lippold

 

Dear Sir ,

thank you for all of your published works that I have read so far and those i have yet to enjoy! My father and I seem to connect most deeply when discussing your books and the history described. Being up to date with the Uhtred stories after having purchased them all since Yule my Dad and I have had much to talk about and in our excitement we did a search to find out if any TV Series/Feature Film was planned, IMDB immediately gave a list of 48 people cast in the various roles including the guy who played THOR in the Marvel movie as Uhtred and the rest a stellar cast but can find no other evidence and considering you havent finished the series yet I was dissappointed to realise it was a fake listing. I have trawled through many questions and answers to find out about any plans for such a project but have been unsuccesful, if you have answered this question over and again I apologise for the tedium but could you confirm either way future prospects for Uhtred on screen. Rest
assured Mr Cornwell the books are enough if there be no plans afoot.
Again thank you for your works, I wish you and your loved ones the best of health.

Frank Johnson Jnr

Dear Bernard,
This past summer I discovered your beautiful gift of story telling. I was, in a past life, a history teacher for 39 years with a deep love of all things English and consider myself somewhat well read in that history.  After reading Agincourt, I moved on to the Grail Quests, then the Saxon stories (my favorites) and am just about to finish the Warlord Chronicles. One of my habits is to cross check events, characters, etc. in the novels I read and I send my compliments on your work. I have also had the pleasure of visiting so many of the sites you describe. Well done.

Now, to Battle Abbey. I have had the pleasure of wandering the battle field there a few times and have always wondered what the sites and sounds would have been like that gruesome day 14 October 1066. Would you possibly consider telling the story? One last question. When will the next edition of the Saxon Chronicles appear?

Thanks again for your wonderful stories.

Jerry Braglio

Mr. Cornwell:

My wife and I love " Thomas of Hookton"  who usually deals with life choices in a analytical and practical way.    In crisis, Thomas often discards convetion and makes decisions that will bring about the desired results.  Most of your leading characters do not rely on "Faith" to solve any crisis or change an outcome; they usually use their skills and experience to find solutions to affect the end results. In fact Thomas usually scoffs at prayer as a waste of time that could be spend solving a problem.   Your heroes are not always successful; nor should they be.  Show me a person that says they never made a mistake, and  he or she is a liar, because everyone makes mistakes. Mr. Cornwell, I do not consider you a champion for the "None".  I admire your characters that rely on themselves, and their skilled bondman for victory and defeat in your novels.  I hope that Thomas is not hedging his bets by saying faith in "god" can not be proved or disproved, so why not believe since it does
not hurt anyone.  If  there is life after death for the belivers why not enjoy eternal life  versus going to hell? In 1356 Thomas's friar friend declares that Thomas is a good christian.  1356 is another Thomas tale that I could not put down until the battle was won.  The "None" do not have many fictional heroes, and I hope that we are not losing Thomas of Hookton!  This note is not criticism - I am just worried that Thomas has had a "born again event" and did'n't tell us about it.

Sincerely,

John Clabe Long