Your Questions

Well Mr cornwell,

what can i say other than what a beautifully written ending to my all time favourite series. That ending was spectacular. I've often wondered and worried how uhtreds story was going to an end and you did it remarkable justice. I cried. I cried because be was alive, he was happy and he got his happy ending. We've met a few times at book signing and ive told you before that i adore uhtred more than my own boyfriend and you even signed my book "To Zoe, who uhtred would adore" which I'll always be proud of haha. My qiestion to you is; did you always have that ending in mind for uhtred are was it a last minute thing?

zoe

Would you ever consider using a descendant of Uhtred to tell the Story of the battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings?

Peter Brown

Dear Bernard

This is just a quick one off question about the new Sharpe Novel but will Sharpe be meeting the Iron Marshal at all.

And for real life did Wellington and Davout ever meet in real life? That would've been an interesting meeting to observe

Regards

Geraint

Dear Bernard,

I hope you are well?

I have literally just finished your new book War Lord.

I started reading The Last Kingdom on the advice of my father in 2004 at the young age of 14, before this novel I had only read a mere 4 books from cover to cover (3 of them being your Warlord Chronicles because my love of King Arthur) this was down to my severe dyslexia and I missed over a year at school as I was recovering from a broken neck. I picked up the hardback and admired the front over, flipped it over to read the blurb and was my instant reaction was "Nah not for me...." Long story short, about a week later I struggled my way through the first chapter and from then until now I have been hooked.

Being a born and bred Northumbrian I feel invested in Uhtred's story, I grew up with him. I am devastated now the novels are over.

I wrote to you some time ago about how Id like to see Uhtred's tale end and I suggested possible spin off novels about Uhtred's descendants (i.e. his grandson Uchtred the Bold and the blood feuds of Northumbria etc) the part they played in forming England's history. You replied saying you were long in years and starting another series of novels about the dark ages seemed daunting to say the least.

My question to you is a simple one, given the choice would you prefer a bed death, hoping that gripping a sword hilt, wishing your past deeds and reputation is enough to see you into the halls of Valhalla as you slip away peacefully or would you prefer to don the war paint of the úlfhéðinn and charge the centre of a shieldwall and allow the Valkeries to lift you straight to Valhalla?

Kurt the Northumbrian

I have just been reading the post you received about the way the earlier Sharpe books fitted in with the latter books and how you regretted having to kill off lady Grace. If you could of kept her alive would you have let her become a permanent part of Sharpe’s life or would she have fallen by the wayside?   Any way. I always felt sorry that she had to die.

Bryan Smith

Dear Bernard

I'm just writing in as I was curious as to your thoughts on the Plattsburgh campaign controversy. Sir George Prevost had an Army of mainly Peninsular War Vetrans with Generals handpicked by Wellington himself. In the fallout of the campaign,  those Generals were furious with him retreating. They thought they could've won easily. While the Naval Commander Yeo blamed him for the Naval defeat on the Lake, saying he forced Downie into attacking. I just wondered what your thoughts were on the subject as I'd love to know

Regards

Geraint.

BTW if you've not read it I can recommend All There Glories Past by Donald E Graves which covers Plattsburgh and The Siege of Fort Erie

 

I really loved War Lord, and was genuinely surprised with how you incorporated the historical Ealdred into Uhtred's story. Just before War Lord was released I found my father's biological family through a DNA test and found that I too am a descendant of Uhtred the Bold (I suppose you and I must be distantly related), I already loved your books before and though I know they're fiction it definitely made me feel more connected to the story. I'm glad Uhtred, despite being ancient, managed to shoulder his way into the shieldwall one last time.

I was wondering if there's any historical find in particular you imagine to represent Serpent-Breath? I'm sure Ealdwulf would've given her a proper Anglo-Saxon hilt?

Best wishes ,

Teryn

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I just finished reading the Sharpe Series, it was fascinating. You mentioned several time that it was possible to buy (and sell) officer licenses in the British army.  One thing I never understood is how this worked in practice: someone bought a license and what happened then? Did he get a military training / education after he bought a license?I cannot imagine being in the army without proper training.

Best regards

Chris Zier

I'm a latecomer to Sharpe's world and I absolutely love it! I must say though, being a Spaniard, I was rooting for the Santísima Trinidad in "Sharpe's Trafalgar" hehe.

I was wondering, since you did not write the books chronologically, how did you manage to "make sense" of his past and his future since, sometimes for you, his future was written in your past and vice versa?

Gracias for so many adventures!

Bruno

Mr. Cornwell.

Love your books, especially The Arthur and Saxon stories.  I would absolutely love to read something by you that takes place closer to the Arthurian period, such as after or during Rome's departure from Britannia.  What do you think?

Thanks. -

Art