Your Questions

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell, Love your books. Who is your favourite character of all the characters you have written?

Also i am currently reading Winter King and can envision every page as a great film, what would your thoughts be on somebody making it into a film? would you give your permission? Thanks, keep well and keep writing. Rob

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

I have many favourites! Sharpe, Uhtred, Derfel and Ceinwyn from the Arthurian trilogy, Aethelflaed, and Lady Grace from Sharpe's Trafalgar, and, of course, the wondrous Obadiah Hakeswill .

Sure I'll give my permission; but I suspect it may prove too expensive to do.

Q

Mr Cornwell, Your fiction has spanned the history of Britain, from the building of Stonehenge all the way to Waterloo and beyond. It is one of many reasons I enjoy your work. One aspect of British history is conspicuous in its absence however. I refer to the Roman invasion and occupation, the impact and influence of which is ever present in your novels, particularly the Arthur and the Uhtred sagas. I realise other notable work is out there, such as Simon Scarrow, of whom i am also a big fan. I was just curious if you would ever be throwing your considerable hat into that particular gladiatorial arena? I also realise that the rightful lord of Bebbanburg still has much to achieve before he can lay serpent breath to rest, so I'm more than happy in the mean time! wyrd bid ful aread! Rob Hatton

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

No, I won't. I'll leave the Romans to others....

Q

I just finished a drawing of Derfel and am wanting to start on Uhtred. I'm sifting through all 5 books (I'm a yank and don't have the six yet, its on order). I'm having a hard time finding a single solid description of his war gear like Derfel gives before his duel with the saxon chieftain on Minnoth Baddon. If it isn't too much trouble correct what I have wrong or clear up what I'm confused about. Tall boots with strips of iron inside: you wont see the strips in the drawing because they are intentionally hidden. Mail hauberk: knee length, I don't know how far down the arms it goes or if he wheres additional forearm protection. Arm rings over the top of the mail. Helmet with mask and cheek pieces. full mask like the saxon helmet on your web page or just a visor over the eyes and nose like a viking helmet? the wolf on his helm is my biggest question, is it a full wolf on the crest (the very top) or just a wolfs face on the crown (the forehead portion) or something completely different.

Dan

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

I'm sure the mail sleeves would be full length! I doubt the helmet would be a full mask, but there would be a nasal strip and cheek pieces (so the effect is rather like a full mask). As to the wolf . . . the last things these guys wanted was a huge protuberance that would let an enemy knock the helmet askew or off (no horns on helmets, sorry), so I see the wolf as crouching on the crown of the helmet, but kind of blended in to that crown? The Sutton Hoo helmet (with its full mask) is thought to have been ceremonial, though it seems to me the eye-holes are large enough to make it practical for battle, though perhaps it was thought to be too expensive to risk in a fight.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have recently been introduced to your books. I am happy that you are such a prolific writer since that means it will be quite a while before I exhaust your ample supply.So far I have read 4 Uhtred books, Stonehenge, and Agincourt. I especially like that they are based in history. I have a question for you. My maiden name is Ransom, originally from England. There is very little on the history of that name and I have always assumed that the story of how we came to have that name is lost to the mysteries of history. But now I am reading your stories and see that ransoming people was quite common. Immediately I see various possibilities for the origin of the name. Do you have any comments on this? Thanks in advance for your time to answer this question. And Merry Christmas! Julie Ransom Fricke

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

I kind of doubt that it has any connection with the ransoms demanded of noble captives in the Middle Ages, it just seems a strange derivation - Wikipedia suggests it's a contraction of 'Ranulf's son' which seems more likely?

Q

Merry xmas, just finished Death of Kings, I managed to save reading it until the holidays. Fantastic read as always. I cant wait for the next book, it was exciting to read of Uhtred visiting my area in East Anglia. Have you considered doing a book about Boudicca? There is a scarcity of historical fiction around this era. Thank you for all the enjoyment that you have given me. I have read all your books. The Grail, Saxon stories are my favourites but I loved all the others as well. Have a brilliant New Year. Angela from Norfolk

In my last post I said that having read all your books, The saxon and The Grail stories are my favourite. I intended to say The Arthur Books instead of The Grail stories. I had to change this because it was The Arthur books that introduced me to Bernard Cornwell in the first place. I must have read nearly every interpretation of Arthur books that are available. The Mists of Avalon series were my favourite until I you brought Derfel into my life. What a wonderful, believable character, as they all were. I esp loved your version of Lancelot and Guinevere.Whenever I see an unusual mirror, I smile to myself and think how Lancelot would have liked to have it in his collection. And Merlin is just a fantastic piece of work, I love him. The Uhtred and Azincourt are the runners up, in my opinion. The rest of your books are entertaining, enjoyable, but not in the same class. Have a Great New Year, you & all your family

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

Thank you! I probably won't write a book on Boudicca, although it would make for an interesting story.

Q

Dear Bernard, Just wondering if I share your Cornwell ancestry. My Cornwell line goes back about 12 generations to VA. Where are your early Cornwells from? I'm the Genealogist General of the Sons of the American Revolution www.sar.org.
.

Col. Larry P. Cornwell, USAF-Ret.

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

I'm not certain where the Cornwells are from. That was my mother's surname and, as far as I can discover, the Cornwells came from East Anglia and moved to east London. That's surmise . . . I didn't meet my mother till late in her life, and she did not know much of her ancestry. I'd like to think we're related, but . . . .

Q

I've probably read the majority of your novels and enjoyed them all. One question in my mind is your graphic descriptions of combat, including the Shield Wall, and how it functions. The spearmen are behind the Wall but for a quick opening 'throw' before contact is made. Then they retreat behind the ranks. Whatever happened to the 'atlatl spear-chucker' concept that existed before the Saxon era? Had it disappeared by then? Seems like it would have made a decent war period means of aid in battles, not just for hunting purposes. Be nice to get an answer to this, thanks.

Paul Sakrekoff

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

There were throwing spears, though I've never heard of them being launched by an 'atlatl' system - I guess they didn't think of it! The spears, so far as we can tell, were thrown from behind the shield wall. It's difficult to imagine that they did much damage, but they would, of course, distract a man, force him to raise a shield (so exposing his lower body) and could encumber a shield if it lodged there. I don't think the shield wall threw spears. They have a shield and a hand weapon, and would hold onto those for the horrible clash to come.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished [and greatly enjoyed] Sharpe's Escape. As an Art teacher I'm convinced that the French officer who sketches Sharpe is a reference to a real artist and picture that I should recognise. Please put me out of my misery and tell me who it was based upon. There is also a scene in chapter 5 where a young Lieutenant discusses cricket with a captured French officer, that I assume is based on a real event. Am a I right or is it pure fiction? many thanks is advance Rob Morgan

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

I'm almost certain that the artist is fictional . . . it's some time since I wrote the book, but I think I'd remember if I was basing that character on a real person. The cricket reference is definitely fictional!

Q

To be very honest I am very new to the Sharpe series, which as a child I will admit I refused to watch/read due to it being old but through recently seeing Hornblower decided to look for similar time stories. I had two questions really 1. Do you know if there any any plans for Sharpe's devil, tiger etc to be visualized?

and 2. Is it ever explained as to the whereabouts of chosen man Cooper as all the rest including the premature Isaiah die but he is narrating that DVD documentary looking back? Thank you

Finlay Pollard

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

The film 'Sharpe's Challenge' is loosely based on Sharpe's Tiger and Sharpe's Fortress I believe (loosely being the operative word here). No plans to film Sharpe's Devil to my knowledge.

I'm not sure who chose Cooper to narrate that - it wasn't me - so I don't think anyone tried to work out the ramifications of the choice - a good one, all the same!

Q

Some historians defend that King Artur never existed and there are no substantial proofs that can confirm he really existed. They say it's more ancient folklore. I would like to know what do you think about this. Best Regards,

Luís Miguel Rodrigues

Submitted January 5, 2012

A

Mentioning King Arthur to historians is rather like telling doctors about the healing powers of crystals. No, there isn't any primary evidence for his existence, and perhaps there never will be. But we do know that there was a prominent British warlord who defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Mount Badon (no one denies that occurrence, though no one knows where Mount Badon is or even the exact year it took place), and there's a lot of circumstantial evidence that a great British warlord who came to be called Arthur existed . . . and my belief is that those two are one and the same man. Can I prove it? No. Can anyone disprove it? No, not unless some exciting new primary evidence turns up (most likely an inscribed stone). Arthur, of course, long lost touch with his beginnings . . .rather like the 4th Century Saint Nicholas who has mysteriously transmuted into Father Christmas! But I do believe there was a real man who gave rise to all the stories; we don't know his real name, or even when he lived precisely, but I'm convinced there was a British warlord who did great things and was transmuted into Arthur!