Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am listening to Death of Kings and am loathe to reach the end for I know there will be no more of Uhtred's adventures for a while. Since I am listening, I am not sure of spelling, so forgive any errors I make, please. What I am confused about is that in the other Saxon books he is Uhtred of Bebenburg, but in this book he is Uhtred of another place...skips my poor 65 year old brain at the moment. Why is that?

Can you recommend a good history of that period in England's history before it was England? Are any of the fortresses mentioned in the books still standing? Ruins? Thank you so much! By the way, I live on the Cape as well. Are you going to be doing any book signings in any of the cape cod book stores? Vicki

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

I'm not sure why they made that change in the audiobook???

I suppose the classic history of Anglo-Saxon England is the one by F.M Stenton, but that might be a little dated. I like James Campbell's book (from Penguin), 'The Anglo-Saxons', and Justin Pollard's 'Life of Alfred' is well worth reading (and use the bibliography to find more). Many of the fortresses are still standing, though they'd be unrecognisable to a Saxon warrior - Bebbanburg (now Bamburgh) was overwhelmingly built from earth and timber, but in the post-Saxon period it was transformed into a stone castle, and that's more or less true of any of the forts. You can still see the Saxon earth walls at Wareham in Dorset which, other than Offa's Dyke, are the only Saxon fortifications still standing. I'm told there is a stretch of unexcavated Viking wall at Shoeburyness in Essex, but I can't confirm that. Of course most of the forts vanished over the centuries, but those that remain were all rebuilt in stone and that's what we see today.

No Cape Cod book store signings planned, sorry!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am listening to Death of Kings and am loathe to reach the end for I know there will be no more of Uhtred's adventures for a while. Since I am listening, I am not sure of spelling, so forgive any errors I make, please. What I am confused about is that in the other Saxon books he is Uhtred of Bebenburg, but in this book he is Uhtred of another place...skips my poor 65 year old brain at the moment. Why is that?

Can you recommend a good history of that period in England's history before it was England? Are any of the fortresses mentioned in the books still standing? Ruins? Thank you so much! By the way, I live on the Cape as well. Are you going to be doing any book signings in any of the cape cod book stores? Vicki

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

I'm not sure why they made that change in the audiobook???

I suppose the classic history of Anglo-Saxon England is the one by F.M Stenton, but that might be a little dated. I like James Campbell's book (from Penguin), 'The Anglo-Saxons', and Justin Pollard's 'Life of Alfred' is well worth reading (and use the bibliography to find more). Many of the fortresses are still standing, though they'd be unrecognisable to a Saxon warrior - Bebbanburg (now Bamburgh) was overwhelmingly built from earth and timber, but in the post-Saxon period it was transformed into a stone castle, and that's more or less true of any of the forts. You can still see the Saxon earth walls at Wareham in Dorset which, other than Offa's Dyke, are the only Saxon fortifications still standing. I'm told there is a stretch of unexcavated Viking wall at Shoeburyness in Essex, but I can't confirm that. Of course most of the forts vanished over the centuries, but those that remain were all rebuilt in stone and that's what we see today.

No Cape Cod book store signings planned, sorry!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am curious are you getting any more flack for killing off poor Lightning? I knew the Northman engaged in animal sacrifice to Odin and Thor but damn that incident floored me. I have owned bred shown and loved Dobermans for over thirty years and maybe because of that it bothered me as much as it did. There is however no doubt that you accomplished your goal, you sure shocked the HELL OUT OF ME. I remember the Ragnar sacrifice of one his favorite steeds and I was not happy with that incident, but Lightning was the one that got to me big time. Please please no more animal sacrifices and certainly not for my favorite character Uthred. Oh btw the last time I was in Cape Cod was in late Oct. in 1994 when we held the Dobermann National there and I remember very well fighting that damn wind off the ocean and freezing my ass off walking the dogs.(LOL) Regards, Ken

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

I think it was supposed to shock?? My dog hates it. Oh well, I'll try not to kill any more animals . . . no one seems to mind when a child gets killed, but touch a dog and I duck for cover.

Q

Good day to you Mr Cornwell, I´ve just finished reading your book Azincourt and couldn´t help to notice the similarities of that battle with the most famous of portuguese battles Aljubarrota in 1385, the portuguese numbered 6.500 and the castillian with their french, and aragonese allies 31.000 . The disposition was very close to yours the portuguese men-at-arms in the center and crossbowmen and a contigent of english archers in the flanks and several devices to stop the castillians in front. Was just wandering if you had ever heard of this battle, being english lol. Thank you for your great book´s especially the saxon stories, hope you have the time to answer!!

Orlando Santos

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

I have heard of it, but confess I know almost nothing about it so I'm very grateful for your summary and I'll definitely be finding out more! Thank you.

Q

Mr Cornwell, I have just recently gotten into the Sharpe series both the books and the movies and I was curious if there any plans to continue Sharpe's adventures and if so when would the new books be released?

Mitchell Newell

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

There will be more Sharpe, but not for a few years.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell. I am a big fan of yours from Brazil and I have a very difficult question that I would love to see answered. I was just now making a list of my 10 favorite writers of fiction and then I started thinking what would be your 10 favorite writers of fiction. I really would like to know who are the authors in your list. You're on my list, I mean, after creating Derfel, Sharpe and Uhtred, would be impossible not to be. Best Regards!

Michael Hasfel

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

Oh Lord, must I name ten? I'll give you three for now; Terry Pratchett, Stuart MacBride and C.J. Sansom, but there could be plenty more on the list!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading your book "The Fort". I have an interest in The French and Indian Wars and mostly tend to Pre Revolutionary history. The prevailing situations are very similar. In reading your notes a thought occurred to me, Perhaps Mr. Revere did steal the paymaster's chest. That is why he did not want to lose his baggage to the British. Then, since the chest was given up as lost, he simply "didn't disclose it's existence in his watchful care". This is possibly where he got the grubstake to start his industrial endeavors. A rumor exists in my family of some relatives of my grandfather robbing a bank in Western Mass. and hightailing it (back) to Canada, then returning to W.MA. and starting the family business (wait for it) Balise Chevrolet. I must say, I don't know if there is any truth to this rumor. I had thought about passing the book on to friends, but, if you are willing and provide instructions, I will send it to you to have you sign it. Then I will keep it, I don't have a whole lot of room, and usually don't keep novels. I also have an interest in Viking history and enjoy the "Saxon Tales" immensely. One question if I may, how long does it take you, in the case of a novel like "The Fort", to get from concept, through research, and to the finished work? I am working on getting home to New England (currently in Colorado) and hope that it works out soon (in the next year or so). Once home I should like to make your acquaintance, and thank you in person for your fine work. I see from your books that you live on the Cape, I grew up in Northampton and Amherst, in Hampshire County. Thanks again! Bob Balise

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

Usually takes around five or six months to write a book, but research is a lifelong occupation. I'm continually researching - if not for the book I'm currently writing, then for the one I'll write next, or that I'll write a year or two from now. I suppose I do dedicated research for two or three months before starting a book - though I'll have been reading the period for years - and I keep doing the research as I go along.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am curious are you getting any more flack for killing off poor Lightning? I knew the Northman engaged in animal sacrifice to Odin and Thor but damn that incident floored me. I have owned bred shown and loved Dobermans for over thirty years and maybe because of that it bothered me as much as it did. There is however no doubt that you accomplished your goal, you sure shocked the HELL OUT OF ME. I remember the Ragnar sacrifice of one his favorite steeds and I was not happy with that incident, but Lightning was the one that got to me big time. Please please no more animal sacrifices and certainly not for my favorite character Uthred. Oh btw the last time I was in Cape Cod was in late Oct. in 1994 when we held the Dobermann National there and I remember very well fighting that damn wind off the ocean and freezing my ass off walking the dogs.(LOL) Regards, Ken

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

I think it was supposed to shock?? My dog hates it. Oh well, I'll try not to kill any more animals . . . no one seems to mind when a child gets killed, but touch a dog and I duck for cover.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am curious are you getting any more flack for killing off poor Lightning? I knew the Northman engaged in animal sacrifice to Odin and Thor but damn that incident floored me. I have owned bred shown and loved Dobermans for over thirty years and maybe because of that it bothered me as much as it did. There is however no doubt that you accomplished your goal, you sure shocked the HELL OUT OF ME. I remember the Ragnar sacrifice of one his favorite steeds and I was not happy with that incident, but Lightning was the one that got to me big time. Please please no more animal sacrifices and certainly not for my favorite character Uthred. Oh btw the last time I was in Cape Cod was in late Oct. in 1994 when we held the Dobermann National there and I remember very well fighting that damn wind off the ocean and freezing my ass off walking the dogs.(LOL) Regards, Ken

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

I think it was supposed to shock?? My dog hates it. Oh well, I'll try not to kill any more animals . . . no one seems to mind when a child gets killed, but touch a dog and I duck for cover.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, I found the Sharpe series in the library when I was exploring the work of Sean Bean and quickly got hooked. I've only just finished the first book "Sharpe's Tiger", and am planning to go through them in historical order. I find the details (such as how many civilians traveled with the army) fascinating. I appreciate the amount of research that obviously goes into your work. Having explored this website for the first time I would like to encourage you to post more photos on your image gallery if you have them. Usually I prefer to read books before seeing adaptations of them on the screen, but in this case I am happy to have the images in my head as I read. I would like to see more photos of the locations of the Sharpe books if you have them, and I trust other readers would appreciate them as well. Best of luck to you, and thank you for your good work! Cheers, Joanne DelCarpine

Submitted February 27, 2012

A

Julian Paget's Wellington's Peninsular Wars and Ian Fletcher's Fields of Fire are two good sources available at libraries and Osprey's book on Bussaco has wonderful pictures of the ridge before it was covered in trees. The Lines of Torres Vedras are more difficult - they've been allowed to vanish under the plough, or erosion, but there are plenty of pics of the Fort of San Vincente which was one of the showpiece bastions. Pictures of the Indian battlefields are much scarcer, which is why we show them.