Hi Mr. Cornwell, I want know one thing; Saint Derfel Gadarn, was really son of Saxons?? thanks, Lucas Burgie
No, I made that up.
Is there to be a 6th book in the Saxon Tales? Thanks. Bill Stedeford
Have completed reading all you books bar the Sharpe series and really enjoyed them all i was wondering when you next novel was coming out.I am reading Wilbur Smith's new novel and its a great read, but will be looking forward to your next book. Stuart McConnell
I'm from Brazil and cant wait for the next book about the saxon stories.there will be one more?i have read all your books and would like to congratulate you.i am a urologist and the free time i have i spend reading.thank you for that.if you some day come to Brazil,please contact me.i would like to show you some of the wildest life in my country(we still have indians and a lot of wild animals)good bye. Murillo Tadeu Camargos
Hey Bernard, A lot of my friends seem to laugh that i read a lot lol, fact of the matter is when i pick up some of your work, i just cant seem to put it down, my mother first introduced me to your work with the Warlord Chronicles, which I've read 3 times now, Grail Quest is another favourite of mine, which i have literally just finished reading tonight, For the 4th time lol, The Saxon stories is another love of mine, Which i intend to read again!! i have a question if i may, Will we hear more of Uhtred Ragnarson? And of Thomas of Hookton? I'd just like to say you are an absolute pleasure to read bernard ! Dan, 22
Dear Sir, i am an avid reader of your books for many years and have in part grown up with them. i have recently reread the saxon stories and was wondering will there be another one coming out? Yours Faithfully, George Cunnell
will you be writing any new books on the "sharpe" series. and the "saxon stories"?? i've been waiting for a long while but it seems that the last sharpes book was a good few years ago and the last saxon story was a lesser while ago.. please update!!! ariudi
Dear Mr Cornwell, When my father first introduced me to your books at the age of 14, i was in total awe of the grail series. The when i subsequently read the Arthur books, stonehenge, the Sharpe books and the Saxon stories, it truly cemented in my mind who my favourite author was. Unquestionably the Saxon Stories are my favourite series, and it is to these that my question is addressed to. I know you are an extremely busy man but i must know when the next one is due to come out? It is a truly agonising wait for the next book after the excellent 'The Burning Land'. Many Thanks, Jack Truman.
Thanks for all your great stories! Have not read them all but would guess at least 80 percent. I have enjoyed my time with your Sharpe, Derfel, Starbuck and others. But my favorite is Uhtred. Like many of your fans looking forward to the nest installment in October and hopefully many more to come!? Kevin McClellan
Bernie.....It's been two years since a Saxon Book... (as my foot taps furiously). It's a sad pusher that can't supply once the habit is formed. Gerald Lamont
Mr. Cornwell, I just wanted to say that I really enjoy all of your books and series - I've read them all over the course of the last year and a half. You introduced me to the joys of Historical Fiction. I no longer feel guilty sitting on the couch and doing nothing but reading for 2 or 3 hours! I do have one quick question though. When can we hope to see the next installment in the Saxon Stories? These are my particular favorites and am anxiously waiting to see if Uhtred is able to successfully reclaim Bebbanburg. Just curious to know if there are plans for the next book. Thanks for all you do! Andrew Rosebrough
The next book (but not the last) of Uhtred's tale is finished and with the publisher. Sorry, no title yet! If you'd like, you may read an excerpt from the book on the 'What's Coming' page of this website. The book will be published in October.
great books! I wondered what other writers have inspired you..especially in respect to the Arthur trilogy?
Chris
I'm not aware of any that were a direct inspiration - honestly! Before I wrote the books I deliberately avoided reading any Arthurian books (except the oldest sources, and Malory) for fear of 'creative contamination' which is a posh way of saying plagiarism. The book I liked most (and had read many years before) is T.H. White's The Once and Future King, but that certainly wasn't an inspiration - it is far better than anything I could do . . . hmmm, sorry.
Dear Sir Bernard Cornwell. Sorry to add to the enormous list of questions on your website. Does your wife read all of your books? I ask because my wife was very interested in the romantic liaisons in some of the short stories I wrote before we met. I wondered if you have ever had to field any uncomfortable questions from your wife as to how you think up the more adult scenes in your excellent books?
I also wondered if you are a fan of Bill Bryson and if anyone else has noted how you both bear a certain resemblance to each other? The similarity doesn’t end there either, you are both firmly in my favourite author list! Finally, thank you. Thank you for writing so many wonderful books. You are a national treasure!
Stuart Harvey
I once heard a friend ask her (in incredulous tones) 'do you actually read Bernard's books?' to which she answered, 'I skip the battles', so she reads them, but VERY fast. She gets first look. They're not her kind of book (she's an Episcopalian, yoga-teaching, vegetarian, pacifist angel), so it's noble of her to struggle through them. She's never objected to anything, except Sharpe's propensity to have all small children killed off in Chapter Ten, so no, no uncomfortable questions!
I've heard that we are look-alikes and I feel duly sorry for him. He's evidently much taller than I am, damn it. I love his books, have them all, and re-read them!
I very much enjoyed "The Fort". We had a chance to stop at Moose Pt State Park for an hour several years ago on our way back to IN. from Acadia. It was a beautiful August morning; like the last day on which the rebels started to burn their ships; so I felt a small connection to the geography when reading the book. I also found your historical notes interesting. I see that the British recovered most of the cannons left on the bay floor after the rebel ships burned. I was wondering if anyone had tried to do underwater exploration for ships timbers during the current era? Or would wood that old be totally deteriorated after 230 years? Maybe we can get Clive Cussler interested in an expedition?
Chris Otterstedt
I believe the archaeology is still going on, and yes, they have discovered ships' timbers (and more cannon). It's a beautiful part of the world and there are a couple of local museums which display finds related to the expedition.
I've only been able to read a few of the Sharpe books so far, although I have read several of your other series'. I'm reading The Pale Horseman now and I noticed you dedicated it to George MacDonald Fraser, and that made me wonder. Will Harry Flashman and Richard Sharpe ever meet? Richard Bartholomew
I really doubt it! Nice idea, but the copyright problems would be hell.
Mr Cornwell, I am a great fan of your work, particularly the Saxon and Arthur series, but I have to say that Simon Scarrow has raised the bar very high with his recent Napoleon and Wellington books. Each one is an epic, and they very rarely lose any pace. I must ask is the change of style evident in The Fort in anyway a response to this competition?
Daniel Weller
One of the bad things about being an historical novelist is that it more or less destroys the taste for reading historical novels - you spend all day writing them and the last thing you want at night is to read one - so I hate to admit this, but I haven't read Simon's Napoleonic novels (but I'm delighted you like them), so no, The Fort was in no way influenced!
Dear Mr. Cornwell, ever since I first read "Sharpe's Sword" many many years ago I have been wanting to go to Salamanca and walk the places Richard walked and fought in, explore the beauty of the city and visit the Battlefield. That novel, more than anything else I've read about the town, made me want to go there but for many years it wasn't possible for me. Now I have just returned from that trip, I spent my birthday in the magnificent city of Salamanca and walked the Battlefield which, for me, was the most impressive one of the ones I have visited so far. I had such a wonderful time and just felt the urge to tell you and to thank you, because without you and Richard Sharpe...maybe I'd still not have seen this beautiful city myself. I was wondering if you could tell me where exactly British Headquarters were in Salamanca and where Wellington stayed?
Also, did you actually visit the room that was used as a Death Room at the Irish College? Thank you! I am just re-reading the entire Sharpe series for the third time and the books are as brilliant as ever. And now that I am at it - one more thing I've always wanted to tell you is that the 'description' of the Battle of Bussaco in "Sharpe's Escape" is the best and most evocative I have ever read about a Battle. Awesome!! My favourite book is "Sharpe's Company" but because of Bussaco "Escape" comes close. It'll be Bussaco for me on my next birthday.!:-) Thank you for giving us Richard Sharpe (and all your other fantastic novels, of course.)! All the best, Nathalie
Dear Mr. Cornwell, sorry, but I forgot to include one more question in my yesterdays e-mail. What is Captain Lossow's (KGL) first name?? Can't find it anywhere, but surely his parents don't call him 'Captain'..? ;-) Thank you and warmest regards, Nathalie
Salamanca is wonderful (I haven't visited for five years and am hoping that the threatened super-highway hasn't been built across the battlefield). To be honest I'm not sure where the British headquarters were, but I'd assume the Plaza Mayor? I'm sure I could find out. I do love the old cathedral . . I hope you visited!
Well, I managed to reach the cellars of the Irish College, but there was no one to tell me exactly which had been used for the death room . . . but they were very evocative, just like the rest of that lovely city. Bussaco has really changed a lot - but still worth a visit (and you can explore the old part of Cadiz, which is terrific).
Hans? That's out of my memory because I'm too lazy to look through the books. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong (they always do), but I think it's Hans
Dear Mr Cornwell, I'm a massive fan of yours. Most recently I've re-read the Arthur trilogy and had a question relating to "Avalon". There's clearly debate about if and where it may have existed. I've seen articles suggest Avalon was near Glastonbury, a small Island off Wales, or even the Canary Islands. I'd like to ask where you "think" Avalon was (if you had to guess)? Thanks very much.
Phil Martin
Avalon is a mythical island - and (like Camelot) it was added to the Arthurian stories very late (12th Century, I think, but I'd need to check that). It was supposed to be the place where Arthur was taken at the end of his life, and I don't think you can find it on Google Earth! But usually, for want of a better place, most folk accept that it's near Glastonbury - but the great thing about the Arthurian tales is you can make them whatever you want them to be!
Hi, Bernard, You may recall we had a brief exchange some time ago about the name Uhtred appearing twice in the Welsh Mabinogion as Uchdryd ab Erim and Uchdryd Farf Draws, and I said it was a popular name among the Welsh. As you already know, we are all eagerly awaiting the further adventures of Uhtred. I've read the archives where you mentioned that the 6th. instalment in the Saxon series is going to be called "The Thorn Crown". When is this book coming out in print? I will most certainly pre-order it. Best Wishes, Karen Han
The book will be out in October, but not with that title. The title is changed, but to what??? We don't know yet, so stay tuned!