Your Questions

Q

Hello Mr.Cornwell. I have just finished reading Gallows Thief. I loved it as I have loved others of your books. Particularly, the Regency period is a favourite era of mine in literature..thank God I didn't actually live through it!! May I expect,or are their further novels following the exploits of Sandman and Berrigan?I hope so. Best wishes, Anita (Melbourne Aust.)

A

I've considered a follow-up to Gallows Thief, but I'm not sure I'll ever get round to it!


Q

Hi Bernard, You are my favorite author by far, but who is you favorite author? Thanks A Stockwell

A

My favourite author is an obscure writer by the name of John Cowper Powys


Q

Sir: I've read all of your books except the Thriller series (of which I have 3) and Sharpes (I'm on to after Warlord Chronicles and The Death of Kings). I LOVE THEM ALL SO FAR!!!!! Question: Your bibliography state Sea Lord is book 2 of The Thrillers, but Crackdown and Stormchild both read Killer's Wake is the 2nd. Please help!

David Christopher

Just a question as to the order of the Thrillers novels? It says one thing on your website and a different thing inside the novels. Thanks, Tanner

A

Actually the Thrillers are all stand alone books and can be read in any order. And Sea Lord and Killer's Wake is the same book, different titles (the American publisher changed the title).


Q

Dear Bernard, It was through your website that I discovered two particular authors whom I now adore. Some years ago, George MacDonald Fraser, and more recently, William Trevor, whom I now simply can't get enough of. May I be so bold as to ask who you're reading right now, for pleasure? Thank you. Paul Reid, Ireland.

A

I'm reading Mark Ormrod's new biography of Edward III (called, unsurprisingly Edward III). It's massive and very very good. I usually read history for pleasure . . .


Q

Hi Bernard, have you, or are you, considering a sequel to Gallows Thief. I've just finished it during an 8 hour flight loved the character of Rider morally reminded me a little of Derfel(can't stop re-reading the warlord trilogy) also love the saxon series and the Grail quest, well everything you've written really. Can't you stop acting and start to pen a couple of books a year again? Looking forward meeting Thomas or will it be Sir Thomas of Hookton next? thanks for many hours of enjoyment. Darren Wharton

A

I'm afraid I'm booked for next years theatre season . . . . but it will come to an end one day, I'm sure. Thomas has been knighted, but doesn't really use the 'Sir' bit!


Q

If you live in the time of the winter king or maybe in Sharpe's time where do you think you would be on a battlefield?

Joe

A

A long way away, I hope. Like a VERY long way away, though if a time machine was invented then it would be interesting to shadow Wellington through any of his battles.


Q

Hi Bernard, Just wanted to wish you a very happy christmas and to thank you for your patience in signing my books year after year. May your pen continue to flourish for many years yet. A small request if I may...any chance you could dream up a particularly nasty death for the odious Bishop Asser. Regards Andy Green

A

I'll probably have to follow history . . . though I don't think we know how he died, so unless I discover a source which describes his end I can probably oblige you!


Q

Uhtred seems to share a lot of the same history of Thorkell The Tall. Any connection?

Randy Jackson

A

The only connection is a shared period of history . . . nothing else that I know of!


Q

Hi Bernard, I have recently finished the last book in the saxon series and have to say its one of your best so far. I have read most Sharpe books, Stonehenge, the grail series and others. I'm not an avid book reader, it takes me a couple of months to get through a book but I know your's are always compelling. So my question, no spoilers please but is there going to be another Saxon book? And is Uhtred going to have other twists and turns on his way back to Bebbanburg (apologies for spelling). I would like to see him go back to Denmark before retaking his home, and hope this hasn't ruined the possibility of it happening. Keep up the fantastic work! Mark Jackson.

A

There will be more to Uhtred's story!


Q

Mr. Cornwell, I am siting I the business class lounge for British Airways on a trip to Heathrow and on to Scandinavia. I am hoping to buy your next book in Heathrow. I am headed to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslow,Jutland.Any Viking suggestions?

What do you think of Fischer's book about Paul Revere 's ride . I agree that he did not do so well at Castine, but he does not seem to be the despicable character you portray him to be in The Fort.

John Ayres

I just finished listening to the audio version of "The Fort". Wonderful book, as all are. Paul Revere comes off very poorly. Is this historically accurate? I know that he was absolved of charges, but that always doesn't mean much.

Neville Edenborough

A

You're probably well into your trip by the time this reply reaches you, and it's not a very helpful reply because it's been years since I was last in Scandinavia . . . . I did visit the Gokstad Viking Ship museum, which was wonderful, but for the life of me I can't remember where it was! But you're in the right place to get really good guidance!

I liked Fischer's book! It was not intended, of course, as a biography of Revere, but a look at patriot activities leading to the Revolution and I'd refer you to his interesting essay in the appendixes which describes just how inaccurate Longfellow's depiction is. Despicable? No, not despicable (though plenty of Revere's contemporaries despised him), but not suited to be a soldier. Every incident concerning Revere in The Fort has at least two sources, and there's no doubt that his behaviour on the expedition was atrocious . . . . he even gets a reprimand in General Orders! My reading of him is that he never should have been given any sort of military command (unless it was the overall command, he might have made a very good general!). He was a fervent patriot, a great metal-worker, a successful businessman, a loving father, but he was also quarrelsome, resentful of orders, and definitely not cut out for a soldier's life!