Your Questions

Q

I'm sure you've been asked this before however I seem to have missed your answer.

Is "Warlord" the last book in the Last Kingdom series?  If so it didn't feel like a wrap it up book.  Please tell me there is more coming.  You're my absolute favorite historical fiction writer. I've read all of your books. So that leads me to my next question....what else you got?

Eric David Hauptman

A

It is the final book of the series.

My next book is Sharpe's Assassin which will be published in the UK at the end of this month and in the US in November.

For a list of all my books, go to this page:  http://www.bernardcornwell.net/books-by-bernard-cornwell/

 


Q

Dear Bernard

Thank you for the hundreds of hours of pleasurable reading you've given me (and rising).  You've answered several questions recently about Starbuck, and how unlikely you are to return to him.  Which is your right as the author - and I think we all appreciate how openly and regularly you communicate with your readers.

Out of (devilish?) interest, have you considered writing a short story to kill off Starbuck and as many of the other main characters to completely end the series?  And if you did, would you want a blaze of glory, Rickenback falls type ending (er..I forget the antagonist, maybe his father?) or war-is-hell style pointless death?

Anyway, looking forward to the next book, whatever it is.

Kenny

 

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I just wanted to drop you a message to say how much I enjoyed the Starbucks Chronicles. I just spent a lovely 2 weeks on holiday in Greece and managed to make my way through all 4 of them. Fantastic books!

The final line in The Bloody Ground has me thinking - “Starbuck will March again”. Forgive me if that’s not quite right and I’m paraphrasing. Will Starbuck March again? Are you planning on continuing with the story? I have read somewhere that you are considering it but I thought that could just be rumor, so I thought I’d ask you myself.

Anyway, thank you again for your fantastic stories!

Kind regards

Jack Cooper

 

I have read and reread your works for most of my 60 years. The only thing that disappoints is the fact you have never completed The Starbuck Chronicles. My favourite by far. Is there any chance you will finish the series or am i going to be left sorely frustrated.

Thank you

Andrew Nicholson

 

Oh, please, could I beg you heartily enough to get me off of the cliff I've been dangling from for 25 years? His story is riveting, and I never dreamed there would be no conclusion.

Pamela J Tiede

A

I haven’t considered it, and probably won't – sorry!

Always assume they live happily ever after – they do!


Q

Dear Bernard

for future books I wondered if you'd ever thought about writing about the campaign of Isaac Brock at all. It's possible the Americans probably would've conquered Canada if not for him. Ironically he always wanted to go fight in Spain under Wellington though if he had, he might not have been as well known as he now is.

Jonathan Riley's book A Matter of Honour is worth a read on him. All the more so as its done by an Ex British Military Commander, so he should have some knowledge on the problems Brock faced.

Geraint

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Matter-Honour-Campaigns-Generalship-Isaac/dp/1896941656

A

It's not in my plans.


Q

Hello, my name is Andrew and I have been a fan of your books for several years. Agincourt is by far my favorite and it only just occurred to me that it would make a fantastic movie. I was wondering if you had ever considered this idea and if so what do you think of it?

A

There's been talk of it.....we'll see if it happens!


Q

Dear Bernard

I saw this Facebook Page on the French and Indian War which might be of interest to both you and other readers. I always wondered of you ever considered the French and Indian War. Particularly Wolfe and Quebec which is the most famous battle of course ?  How good was Wolfe do you think and if he had been alive in the American Revolution could he have turned the tide do you think ?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/150330128743308/?ref=share

I can recommend Three Victories and a Defeat the rise and fall of the first British Empire 1714 - 1783 by Brendan Simms. Its a masterful work and worth your time

Geraint

A

I think Wolfe was a brilliant officer and I’ve been reading about him recently, so yes I am considering his story, but can make no promises.  I suspect he would have made a better commander during the revolution, but there are too many unknowns that make it impossible to know what that would have accomplished.

 


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I'm currently doing some research for a book I'm writing. Specifically, I'm looking into how the Medieval English nobility came into being (especially the position of "Earl" which I'm given to understand predates most of the other titles) in the period before the Norman conquest but after the Roman Empire retreated from Britain. However, I'm having a little bit of trouble finding sources. And I was wondering if you could point me to any you might be aware of.

My sincere gratitude,

Marco

A

Probably your best source is a good etymological dictionary, and cleverly I’ve mislaid mine. But Earl is easy – it comes from the Danish Jarl – the leader of a warband. Duke is from the Latin Dux, which meant leader. I assume Count was from ‘county’ which in early mediaeval Europe was a much larger territory than current English or American counties – and simply was the most powerful man in the county, and Viscount, again an assumption, is ‘vice-count’, i.e. the next most powerful.  Originally a man could claim to be a Jarl and would hold the title by sheer force, but eventually all titles of nobility became the prerogative of the monarch.


Q

Excited for the new Sharpe book. Any thoughts on the news that Netflix is cancelling The Last Kingdom after season 5? Seems unfair to the Dane Slayer et al.

Thank you for the entertainment and escapism!

Robert Gorski

A

My main thought is regret, though we still have Season Five to look forward to (I think in early 2022).  I was not given any explanation for the series cancellation, nor did I ask for one. I’m just grateful for the extraordinary work that the producers, cast and crew have given the series.


Q

Dear Bernard.

As its the anniversary of the Battle of Marston Moor, the most decisive and largest Battle in the Civil War. I wondered if you'd ever been tempted to write about them. Not just Rupert but also Montrose and his year of miracles in the North.

And if your looking for something to read I recommend Reprobates by John Stubbs. A fantastic read on the Cavaliers in the Civil War. Some of the real life characters make Flashman and Hakeswill look like choir boys but great reading material https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0393344134/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Geraint

A

Thank you for the recommendation of Reprobates – oddly enough I started reading it a week ago and yes, it is extraordinary. Am I tempted? I have a distaste for the English Civil War, mainly I think because of a detestation of the Puritans. That could help writing any such stories, of course, but it isn’t presently on my radar.

 


Q

Mr. Cornwell,

Hope this message finds you well. Just wanted to thank you for the hours of entertainment. The Saxon Stories have become my favorite books and re-awakened my childhood passion for reading, specifically historical fiction. Uhtred is an extremely interesting and relatable character and his dynamic with Alfred was intriguing to say the least.

I know that you are done with Uhtred (and rightfully so - I love how his story ended) but you do that era so well! Have you considered another series in Saxon England, or following any of the other Germanic people of the era (Carolingians? early Normans? something set in Scandinavia?).

Thanks again!

Jordan Kinsey

A

I’m not sure I’m entirely done with Uhtred, though that might be wishful thinking. I haven’ considered another series in Saxon England, but might fill in some of Uhtred’s story. Or I might not. Don’t know.


Q

Dear Bernard

I saw this painting on the battles of Germantown and Paoli that featured in Redcoat and information on the Irish Officer who commissioned them. He'd actually served there. I wondered if you'd seen this https://www.amrevmuseum.org/learn-and-explore/collection/breaking-down-xavier-della-gatta-s-battle-of-germantown-painting

Geraint

A

I did not know of Xavier Della Gatta’s paintings and think they’re astonishing . . . so thank you, and I’ll look forward to seeing them the next time I’m in Philadelphia.