Your Questions

Hi Bernard Hope the weather's not to bad over with you. Its getting pretty nippy over here in Blighty!! I'm really looking forward to reading "Death of Kings" soon, which I've asked for off my Sister for Christmas. As much as I love old Dick Sharpe, and hope you will return to him one day, I do think that Uhtred's adventures are your best. I'm just reading "the Burning Land" now, and am really enjoying getting back into that world, because its been a while since I read "Sword Song.) It suddenly occurred to me to ask you if you have come across a book called Havamal? In case you haven't the title means "Sayings of the High One", he of course being Odin. Its included in the Edda, but is also available separately. Havamal is a book of Viking Age Proverbs, like a Norseman's I-Ching, and is full of homely wisdom. Its not really about Battles, but about the practical aspects of daily life, and Uhtred would have certainly been very familiar with many of them. The reason I've suddenly thought of this is because I've just reached the bit where Uhtred has just crushed the Danes at Fearnehamme and as usual gets no credit for it. It reminded me of this proverb from Havamal. "Cattle die, kinsmen die All men are mortal Words of praise shall never perish Nor a noble name." I think that makes Uhtred's situation so much more bitter. He does great things, he is renowned and feared in his own day, and yet because he is written out of history, those "Words of Praise" will wither away, and no-one will remember him or his deeds. So, I was curious if you have read Havamal and whether that was in your mind when you created Uhtred, and a world where he would be constantly slighted? Anyway I must get back to him now, because he's about to break his oath to Alfred and go up North! Regards Matt in England

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. Since Frederickson is part German, would there be much possibility that he fought for the Prussians at Jena and Auerstadt in 1806, perhaps in a Jaeger squadron, before he joined the British army and met Sharpe and Harper? Alan Kempner

Hello Mr. Cornwell. my English is not very good, but i try it. I like your books, please tell me, what for a book you write momentary. What Book come after the "Death of Kings" Had you ever wrote about the battle of Gettysburg? I hope of many book in future and best wishes to you Götz Hilliger Götz Hilliger

Mr. Cornwell, I am just about to start re reading the Sharpe series for the second time. They are easily my favourite works of fiction, by a long way. I suppose you bored with people asking this but do you intend writing any more Sharpe Novels at any stage in the future?

David Logan

Dear Bernard, I am a big fan of all your many books that I have read, but particularly like The Arthur Books and The Saxon Stories. Apologies for the boy-like type question, but can you please settle an argument for me and perhaps a question on many readers' tongues? Who would be triumphant in a single combat duel, the mighty Derfel or the fearless Uhtred?

Simon Childs

Mr. Cornwell, The wait for Death of Kings is killing me and I am truly excited about it coming to America. I was wondering what the is difference between the UK and US versions of the book?

Christopher

Dear Mr Cornwell, I wish to thank you for the many hours of pleasure that reading your books has given me. I love your attention to detail, and because of that, I can almost smell the smells and hear the sounds and visualise what it would be like to stand in a shield wall or to form square. Long may your prose continue. On the subject of Sharpe's father, although it has never bothered me until I read some other comments, could it possibly be his arch nemesis, Obadiah Hakeswill? Anyway thank you for all your good work, the only criticism I have and I am in no way qualified to do so, is that I did find the fort somewhat hard going. Apart from that, thanks again and long may you continue

David Bell

Well you sucked me into the Sharpe's father riddle - so I will just make one guess and give up. My thoughts go to whomever might couple with a prostitute in 1776 (around October). So I will say John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich. Thanks for the Sharpe series, in my opinion it is second only to Patrick O'Brien for originality and historic accuracy. I know I learned more about the Battle of Waterloo from your book than several texts on the subject.

Jerry Desmond

So, is the famous pattern welded sword discovered at Bamburgh castle really Uhtred's serpent breath?

Nicholas Smith

Hello Mr. Cornwell. Thank you for another great read in Death of Kings. I frequent your site and have certainly noticed that many of your readers (myself included!) are clamoring for more Uhtred, or more Sharpe, or more Thomas, or more Starbuck, or more of all of the above. I noticed from your bibliography that as recently as a few years ago, you published multiple novels per year. With so much interest in your various works, are you the least bit tempted to go back to such a release schedule? Of course, I'm afraid with even the most diligent of effort, we'll always read them faster than you can write them.... Thanks again for your wonderful stories. Best regards, Shawn