Your Questions

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell...I am obsessed with your saxon books and also the warlord trilogy...especially the latter...one thing in particular I'm curious to know more about...in 'the winter king' it spoke of a time when people called it the 'Bad Time' when Merlin came back from the north mad and weeping...I'm dying to know what happened to him! I know I said throughout the 3 books that Merlin had suffered the 3wounds and I suspect it had something to do with that...but id love to know more...

Jorge Irwin

Submitted November 22, 2011

A

Oh god, I wrote the books so long ago that I've totally forgotten. I wish I could be more helpful, but short of reading them all over again I honestly can't recall it at all!

Q

G'day Firstly thanks for the Sharpe series. Discovered them a couple of years ago and just order the final 2 that I need to read - not in order though.... 2 questions - as a medal collector have you ever worked out the medals that Sharpe would have been entitled to? - and 2, you have awakened in me a real interest in the peninsular war and Waterloo, can you point me towards the best books for discovering more about them. I know you mention a few at the end of some of the books.. Thanks

Russell Cameron

Submitted November 22, 2011

A

The British army didn't award medals during the Napoleonic Wars (except to generals, and those were really memorials, not gallantry awards), though he would have qualified for the Waterloo Medal which was awarded to survivors of the battle afterward. Just that one!

I do recommend The Peninsular War by Charles Esdaile. For further recommendations be sure to take a look at the 'Suggestions for Further Reading' page for the Sharpe books (you'll find a link on the Sharpe's books page of this website).

Q

Dear Bernard, Please tell me if you get bored with my constant questions, it's just I'm highly interested in your wonderful historical fiction as a whole now. I've finished Sharpe's Tiger now, wow, another awesome read. But what I'd like to know this time, is in regards to any author's writing of fiction with regards to history, do you feel there are any particular periods of history that have been woefully underused or written about? And if so, why? I am asking because I'm looking to start writing a history tale of some sort, due to reading your superb books, and it's truly whetted my appetite for history now and I wish to start studying and I just wondered whether there are any particular historical events that have intrigued you that as yet you've not written about in some way or the other? Doubtless to say it will take a while to get an idea for a novel, but I've always found that asking people to give me a little inspiration has always been of great help to me, as I seem to find it easier writing a tale when others have had some input into it.

Matthew Rabjohns

Submitted November 22, 2011

A

I'm certain there are lots! One thought is the Wars of the Roses . . . . even the English Civil War. In US history there's surely room for more on the War of 1812 or the Spanish-American war. As for me, I do have one period which I'd really like to write about, but I tend not to say what in case someone gets there first!

Q

Hi Bernard I have just read your Stonehenge book for the 3rd time. It was as good as the 1st time i read it, and my question is how do you manage to write books that stay as good as they are, each time that we read them? A Stockwell

my dad also has a question for you and he wants to know how would you feel about having one of your books turned into a game (on pc)? and which one would it be?

Submitted November 22, 2011

A

Thanks! I think there's been some talk of a game, but I'm afraid I don't pay too much attention to it!

Q

will there be a follow up to death of kings for the ending seemed to suggest that

Brian Watt

Hello! I have just finished re-reading Death of Kings, another absolutely riveting tale of Uhtred. I first fell in love with your writings after getting my hands on a copy of Stonhenge and am now the proud owner of all your books with the exception of the Sharpe books which are not to my taste. My question is regarding the closing lines in the historical note of Death of Kings, "...so Uhtred must fight again." Dare one hope that this means further Saxon/Uhtred books? and if so perhaps you would be able to give a tentative date? I do appreciate these things take time, however, please excuse the impatience of an avid fan. With kindest regards, Vicky Cadd

Sir I am fascinated with the period of history covered in The Arthur Books, The Warlord Chronicles and The Grail Quest, but particularly The Warlord Chronicles. I wondered, having just finished reading The Death Of Kings will Uhtred ever return home, I await the sequel with relish and some impatience.

Andrew Woolley

Hello, Just finished "death of kings"....... Amazing I have loved all you creations. I have read all of the Saxon, Sharpe and warlord stories to date. I have them all on my book shelf. When can I add another Sharpe or Saxon story to my collection? You must get this question a lot and you clearly do have a life other than writing but these books are awesome and I can't thank you enough. Alisdair Castle-Smith

Hi Bernard, Love your books, thankyou. I have just read one of your answers that said it will be a few years until the next Saxon story. I nearly choked on my tea! Surely you were joking? You cant leave us without Uhtred for that long. Please reconsider. :)

Neil

Mr Cornwell, I am a huge fan of yours and impatience is driving me to contact you. I assumed (quite wrongly!) that the Death of Kings would be the last installment of the Saxon series of books. May I ask when the next one is due to be published? Also, is there a teaser available as in your previous books? I can't wait for the next one. Regarding your bookshop visits, are there any plans for you to visit Manchester, England any time soon? Thank you for reading and in anticipation of your reply. Regards Paul

Submitted November 22, 2011

A

There will be more of Uhtred's story, but not for a few years....

Q

Mr Cornwell. In vagabond historical note you mention that king David was ransomed by one John Coupland. Could you tell me your source for this information or indicate a suitable search site for this information. my grandfather was John William Coupland. Sincerely, William Coupland.

Submitted November 22, 2011

A

I really can't remember where that information came from - the trouble is I make notes, but because I don't need to footnote I don't bother with citations and it could have come from any one of a dozen books. I suspect that all we know it is the name of the man who discovered King David hiding under a bridge - he captured him, and then, if I remember rightly, the king was sold on . . . which was normal. John Coupland could never afford to keep the captive king in proper style, so he would sell his future ransom at a discount. I seem to remember he was knighted as well . . . but you're almost certainly related!

Q

I have just recently discovered your writing. I have read the first four books in the saxon series in the last two weeks. I cant put them down. I love them. Which series would you recommend I read next?

My next question is I have tried to locate information on the arm rings you mention in the Saxon series and I have been unable to locate information on them. Can you help? Thanks so much and might i suggest stop writing other series and just write the saxon series. You're great!!

Lanny Boone

Submitted November 11, 2011

A

Perhaps you'd like to take a took at the Arthur books? Or maybe the Grail Quest series? Maybe Sharpe?

You can find pictures of them - plenty have been discovered in archaeological digs. Take a look at The Viking World, by James Graham-Campbell, you'll find a picture on p. 118. Think bracelet - chunky - most often silver. Useful currency if you've run out of coins. Get out your battle-axe and chop the ring into scraps. If the merchant won't take them, use battle-axe on him. Two basic forms - flat metal, or else plaited rods twisted into a ring.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, Your novels are wonderful... can you tell me when your novel ''the burning land'' and ''DEATH OF KINGS'' will be translate in french, please? thank very much Wilfried

could you tell me if your book " the burning land " will be translated into French ? I love your books but unfortunately for me, I do not speak English very well.Waiting to be able to read

Graziella Burckel

Submitted November 11, 2011

A

We don't have a pubication schedule for these books from the French publisher at this time, sorry! Hopefully that will change soon.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was just wondering if you know why there is no easily available unabridged audio version of the Arthur Trilogy. I admit that in the end I just bought the hardcopy and downloaded the audio version from a torrent because I feel the abridged versions don't do your books justice. I would still like to buy an official Unabridged audio version from Audible or somewhere like that to add to my collection. Thankyou for your time!

Peter

Hello, Mr. Cornwell! I'm a huge fan of yours and love reading your books on my Nook...so I was wondering; are your Arthur books going to be available on the Nook at some point? Thank you!

Aaron

Hi Bernard, I can't find most of your Arthur stories on my Kindle. Just the last one. What seems to be the problem? Tom Shineman

Submitted November 11, 2011

A

The problem is something the publisher is trying to work through and we are hopefully the Warlord Chronicle books will be available as ebooks soon.

Q

Hi Bernard Nearly finished DOK & I have to say its one of my favorites already so thanks for that. The last book I read before was "The Lion Wakes" by Robert Low which I really enjoyed although there were a few passages written pretty much phonetically in Scots which I had to get my Scottish girlfriend to help me out with !!! I was wondering if you were aware that an "Utrecht" of Bebbenberg crops up in the story & I'm assuming they are of the same line on which you based Uhtred in the Saxon Stories? I have also read that you yourself are descended from this line. I would imagine that due to their location there must have been a lot of colourful characters throughout history from the Utrecht's of Bebbanburg from establishing their own kingdom in the north & then dealing with Scottish & Danish raiders right the way through to being heavily involved in the Anglo-Scottish wars. You must have a very interesting family tree....!!! Lee Davies

Submitted November 10, 2011

A

I assume so too! Uhtred of Bebbanburg existed (several of them) so he's out there for any novelist to use, but Robert is especially good so I was delighted to see Uhtred in his book.