Your Questions

Q

I was wondering is there any difference in the wording of the book of the US and the UK because I usually like the cover art of the UK books.

Anthony Dreis

Submitted May 26, 2011

A

No difference, except the American publisher will occasionally 'Americanize' the spelling of some words.

Q

Dear Bernard, I am a huge fan of your Sharpe series and have read all of the books. Taking Shape back to his younger days in India was inspired and Sharpe’s Tiger remains a absolute favourite of mine. Have you ever considered taking Sharpe earlier still? Perhaps to Gibraltar during Great siege of 1770 to 1783? He could rub shoulders with the real historic figures of the time Sergeant Major Ince and General Elliot, plus taking part in musket battles in the cavernous St Michael’s Cave and the daring midnight sortie that brought the siege to a spectacular end and, in causing £2 million of damage, put pay to the Spanish-French plan to invade England. Here is a link to some inspiring photos. http://www.strollingguides.co.uk/books/gibraltar/places/cityundersiege.php. Please note a picture of a model depicting the most whipped man in the British army, having received over 13,000 lashes, in total, due to his frequent misdemeanours. Keep up the good work. Regards, Richard

Submitted May 26, 2011

A

Thanks for the link! There's one huge difficulty about putting Sharpe in the siege of Gibraltar, which is that he was born in 1777. But I've been reading about the siege and thinking about a book for a long time now - it might happen!

Q

How important was Alfred's role in the Christianization of the kingdoms of Britain and the Danes? Can you suggest some good books (perhaps some that you used in your research) that might help me with a paper I'm writing on the subject? Also, as an aside, I find the cult of St. Cuthbert a fascinating diversion of the Church from the path it should follow. (Something the Roman church seems to have done with startling regularity throughout it's history.) Thanks for your time. P.S. - May you be blessed with Methuselah-like long life... I don't want to ever run out of Bernard Cornwell books to read!

Thomas Wooded

Submitted May 26, 2011

A

I'm not sure that Alfred has much to do with the Christianization of either . . . .I suppose he had some small effect on the Danes - at least as far as the Danish kingdom of East Anglia was concerned - Guthrum's conversion (which is Alfred's responsibility) seems to have been genuine, though it doesn't stop East Anglia warring on Wessex later. Essentially the Saxons had been Christianized long before and it's going to be after Alfred's death that the Scandinavians are converted. What Alfred does achieve is a reformation of the church in Wessex, making it far stronger and far less corrupt. Of course he worried all his life about the pagans to his north . . . and I've no doubt he encouraged missionary activity, but outside of East Anglia (and Haesten's wife) it's hard to detect any great success in the conversion of his enemies.

Q

Hello. I am a freshman in high school and I LOVE your books! I read sword song, the fort, winter king, red coat, and now agincourt. But what I really wanted to ask was why don't you try and have a movie made from Winter king? That is my favorite so far. I am a huge history person. So I hope you have time to write back. sincerely, me

Submitted May 26, 2011

A

Thanks Dakota, but I'm not a filmmaker so it's really up to someone else to do it. Glad to know you love my books!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, First, I would like to let you know that your are by far my favourite author. I truly enjoy your books. I have read the entire Sharp Series and the Nathaniel Starbuck Chronicles. These two series are my favourites, not that I don't like your other books, its just that these two are based around one of my favourite periods in history. Secondly; yesterday, I finished reading Sharpe's Devil, after reading the entire series in chronological order, and I was thinking for a moment about Sharpe's life when i suddenly realized something! and , Please correct me if I am wrong, I realized that the french military observer, Col. Lassan, that rides back to the confederate lines with Nate in Copperhead is actually Richard and Lucille's son Patrick! This only clicked in my head because I've read the Starbuck series more than four times, so i know them back and forth. i couldn't believe it when i first realized so I checked by jumping to the end of Copperhead, and indeed, Col. Lassan's self description seems to implicate that very fact! However, I would like some confirmation, just to be sure. I know I am probably not the first to notice.

Thirdly, I know you get asked a lot so i apologize in advance for not being able to help my self, but when can we see a new Nate Starbuck book? Again, I apologize for doing something that is surely repetitive and annoying for you, it is simply that Richard and Nate are my favourite characters. Thank you for taking the time to read this and i am greatly looking forward to hearing from you. Again, thanks for all the great stories! Your loyal fan, Aaron O.

P.S. I am interested in knowing what authors you like. And, didn't mean to make this so long! Sorry! :)

Submitted May 26, 2011

A

Lassan is Sharpe's son (read more about him in 'Sharpe's Ransom' - found in the short story book Sharpe's Christmas).

I hope to get back to Starbuck one day!

I like good mysteries and detective novels - Ian Rankin, John Sandford, PD James, Dennis Lehane, Stuart McBride, among many others.

Q

I love The Saxon Stories!! I am a college student and am fascinated with Saxon history. I just can't put your books down. I sometimes find myself wondering if I would have been able to stand in a shield wall! Think there is a possibility of a mini-series?? I think that would be awesome. Nate

Submitted May 26, 2011

A

No plans for it, but I'm glad you like the books!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a big admirer of yours and particularly like the Sharpe series of books and the tv show and how you placed so much detail about the character and his adventures in the series, what I was wondering would you be writing anymore books about Sharpe adventures or was Sharpe's devil the last 1, I also enjoy reading the Starbuck Chronicles, I will look forward to hearing from you. Kris

Submitted May 26, 2011

A

There will be more Sharpe.

Q

How many publishers did you send a finished story to before being accepted?

Do you copyright material before it is sent because I wouldn't want people stealing my ideas? I am also an archaeologist looking to write historical fiction and I have been inspired by your books which I enjoy reading (especially on a long bus journey when I would rather be lost in Anglo-Saxon England) Your books bring so much excitement, Keep Writing! cheers Michael

Submitted May 26, 2011

A

I was lucky and only received one rejection. A literary agent read Sharpe's Eagle and returned it with a letter saying 'the general reader will never be interested in stories of the British Army'. I still see him at parties from time to time.

The copyright is yours the moment you write the words! You don't have to do anything legal, sign anything, fill in a form, just write the words and the copyright is yours. Good luck!

Q

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I am often surprised and intrigued by some of the factual historical snippets you include in your books - for instance I knew the welsh word for England is Lloegr but did not know before reading the Arthur novels that it translates as 'lost lands'. I knew the French region Brittany was so named because of the influx of Britons in the post-Roman era but had never made the connection between the name of the adjacent region Normandy and the Norsemen who came to England and France until I read The Burning Land. What, if I may ask, have you discovered which has most intrigued you as you have researched your books?

Chris Davidson

Submitted May 25, 2011

A

I'm not sure if any one event or idea intrigued me more than any other . . . . but I think I'm constantly being amazed by the dissociation between the history we think we know and the 'reality' (as far as we can determine what really happened, or what our ancestors truly thought). I think that's why I was so fascinated by the story behind The Fort . . . it's entirely understandable that, say, the story of 'King' Arthur should have become unmoored from the events of the early sixth century, but how does the tale of a man like Paul Revere become similarly fantastic? We process history into myths that serve larger purposes than truth, and I find that intriguing.

Q

Dear Bernard It occurs to me reading recent your posts that your publisher is becoming a pain in the a*s*! I much preferred Captivate Kill Destroy and Crown of Thorns sounds perfect as the next Uhtred title. Blood Royal? Perhaps you should move back to Penguin! :0) Seriously, how much do you mind this sort of interference? It seems totally unacceptable to me. I mean, who writes the blessed things you or them? Surely you should have the last say. Rob Comber

Submitted May 25, 2011

A

I get mildly irritated, but no more. I much prefer Crown of Thorns, but the publishers need to feel confident about the product, so Death of Kings it is (Blood Royal is good, wish I'd thought of it - though I did suggest Death-Royal and that got nixed too). Life is too short to get worked up over these things!