What do you think about writing on the other side of the history? I mean, it would be nice read about a French or Indian Sharpe. thank you, greetings from Brazil.
Igor Lustosa
It's not likely, sorry!
Dear Mr. Cornwell 1/31/12 I recently wrote you a letter telling you how much I enjoy all your books and characters but especially the Saxon Tales and Uhtred. I was in the process of reading Death of Kings but had not got to the part where you killed off poor Lightning. Now why in the hell would you kill of that poor loyal dog? I expected Lightning to be a part of the battle and maybe get killed there BUT A SACRIFICE. Geez seems like a needless death for a loyal companion. As usual you did good but as always the damn book was not long enough. Regards, Ken
I suppose it was meant to shock? The worship of Thor did require sacrifices, and it was supposedly only effective if the animal was male and valued; thus poor Lightning. My dog hid for days after I wrote that passage. There was a scene in an earlier book where Ragnar sacrificed a horse to Thor and, oddly, no-one objected, but kill a dog and I duck for cover.
Hi. I love your Saxon series. Will you ever write a series about the Normans and William the Conqueror? I have yet to find a fiction book about that period...
Rob Pitkin
I've thought of the Normans, but I'm not sure I'll ever get round to it....
I agree with your statement at the end of the book, "The Death of Kings" of how your history is only taught from the 11th century on. I just read all the Saxon tales last week, and not only was I highly entertained, but I also learned a great deal about our shared history. I can't wait till Uhtred takes back his home. Keep on doin what you are doing... PS. I have a Sir Collin Campbell's line in my tree, and wonder if you have done any research about the Kings of Scotland and the Plantagenet relations?
Paul Alan Gober
I've never explored that relationship . . . I know there was one, but beyond that, nothing. Sorry.
Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have enjoyed reading all of your stories over the years and have decided to give historical fiction a try myself. I have started a manuscript based on some family members and my story uses their real names, though I have made up their deeds (built around real events). I will probably change their names in the end, but I am interested to hear what your advice would be. Thanks
John Pomeroy
Are they going to sue you? If so, change. If not, and they'll like it? Keep 'em!
Mr. Cornwell, First I would like to say I am a great fan of your work, especially the Warlord Chronicles. Currently, I am working on a graduate degree in Literature and this semester I am in a study of Arthurian literature. One topic that fascinates me is the "trial by combat" idea that you present in the duel between Owain and Arthur. I was wondering if you had a particular source (or sources) that link Owain to this type of battle, other than Chretien, a source which positively links Yvain/Owain to similar duels. Thanks! - Ben
I don't, it was fictional! Sorry.
Hi Mr Cornwell. Just been watching DVD's of the tv series Robin of Sherwood from the mid-80s. Great show, and if ever there was a part of English history crying out for the Bernard Cornwell treatment it must be the Robin Hood myths. Have you considered it? And intriguingly, in episode 1 the location used for Nottingham Castle was none other than Bamburgh!
Phil
I have considered Robin Hood, but I'm not sure I'll ever get to it!
Dear Mr Cornwell, My name is George and I am from Greece.I have to say to you that I like very much your books (I have read the Arthur's tale, Saxon stories and Grail Quest). I have also some questions. In Arthur's series you have a socked event with the Christian wedding of a dead prince with a young maiden. This is strange because Christians never did a ceremony like this (Orthodox Christians) and I did not found anything like that in my resources. I said that because this ceremony is not acceptable in Christian religion. Is this event imaginary, have you found something in old English tales? My second question is in Saxon stories with the Bitter Water, again in Christian Orthodox prayers we have no something like that. In all years of Byzantine empire and under Ottoman occupation the Christians priests did not do something like that? My question is again have you found something in old English tales that allow something like that and if yes , are there from Catholic or Protestants sources? Thank you very much from for your time. Kind regards George E. Georgas
Marrying the dead (which is legal in France under certain condition which are far too complex to describe here) was a fictional device, nothing more! I'm not sure what the Bitter Waters ceremony refers to - sorry.
Hello, Mr. Cornwell! Yesterday I received your letter,so THANK YOU! Hey, I have read the "Gallows Thief" (a title better than "The Condemned", title in Brazil), and Rider Sandman plays cricket. I wanted to ask if you play cricket? Thank you for your time! Good luck from Brazil!
Jéssica Frutuoso Mello
In my dreams I have scored many a century at Lords, but then, that's what dreams are for. Dull reality makes me confess that in the last game of my entirely undistinguished career, I was c & b for a duck, third ball. That was it.
Hello again Bernard hope you had a good xmas and new year. I have recently read your interview with George RR Martin and you say that there is a new period you want to write about and I wonder if its about Elizabeth the first as earlier said you think she should be called Elizabeth the great. Thanks for your books and time A.Stockwell
It's actually a quite different period! I do sometimes think about setting some stories during Elizabeth's reign, but as I said before - I have too much on my plate and life is regrettably short!