Your Questions

Q

Love the Grail Quest and the Saxon Chronicles. Have them all. Please write another Saxon on Alfred and Uthred. I have learned more about English, Scottish, French, German, and Italian history from you, Sharon Kay Penman and Ken Follet than in all my years of world history in all the school you go through in the states. Of course there is a different point of view in one or two areas of our mutual history. I do really love your writing. Who were the peculiar people in the bio about you that you escaped from? I was married in 1980 to my wife as well. With sincerest thanks, Ray

Submitted March 30, 2011

A

The Peculiars started in the 1830's and lasted about 130 years before they died out. They only existed in Essex, with three chapels across the Thames Estuary in northern Kent and another half dozen in East London.

Q

Mr.Cornwell, I've read most of your books and especially enjoyed the Grail Quest and Saxon series, "The Burning land" was great and I look forward to the next in the series. I also recently read "The Gallows Thief", just for a change of pace so to speak and enjoyed that very much too. After reading I thought that this book would make a great "period piece" for television. I'd be interested to know if you've ever been asked to do so, knowing that it would surely be shown here in North America on Masterpiece Theatre. Thank you for all your work, long may you continue, Marty

Submitted March 30, 2011

A

No I haven't, but thanks!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I just recently started reading your books and have really enjoyed them. My question is (if you can tell me) what event will the next Uhtred book be based on? Also me and my wife are planning a trip to England in the near future, what area do you recommend to see medieval attractions. Thanks, James

Submitted March 30, 2011

A

It's based on the death of Alfred and the consequences. I'm writing the last chapter and wish I had a title!

Oh - so many! All of Britain has medieval attractions, ranging from the tourist high spots like the Tower of London and Warwick Castle, to marvellous country houses that appear to have slept for centuries. My advice is to choose one area and explore it thoroughly with the help of a good guide book (I like the Michelin guides, but there are lots of good ones). I'd just suggest three areas, but you could more or less put a pin in the map and just go there. The West Country has lots of fine places, from Salisbury Cathedral, the ruins of Corfe Castle, endless houses, parish churches (always worth a visit). I also love the Welsh border - from Ludlow (a wonderful medieval town with a castle), Stokesay Castle, Dore Abbey, Hereford Cathedral. And, of course, the north-east, which has the magnificently brutal Durham Cathedral and all the castles stretching up to the Scottish border (including Bamburgh). There's so much to choose from, but really, rather than try to do all the great famous sites, choose one area and explore it!

Q

Dear Mister Cornwell I am a fan of you and I appreciate your writing style. I love to set foot in your world of history. As I am very affected of history, I was very happy to discover, that you are not only a very fine author, but also a good friend of world history. For this case, and now we reach the main reason for writing to you, I thought of you, when I began my work on my project paper for my bachelor degree in the University of St. Gall in Switzerland. My aim is it to write about military justice in the British army in the Napoleonic Wars, especially in the Peninsular War. As I began to work on this paper, I knew I must contact you, because the adventures of Sharpe are very close to my subject. Do you have some information about military law in these times? I would be very happy to get some tips, where I have to look for. Now I wish you a good evening and look forward to hear from you. Yours faithfully Michael Heeb

P.S. Excuse my bad English, but I am Swiss and therefore not a native speaker. P.P.S. Is it possible, that your riddle for Sharpe's Father has something to do with Wellington's Horse Diomed? If I take out the "me", and put in a "u" it would give something like "Dioud" or so. Am I far away of the solution?

Submitted March 30, 2011

A

I suspect your best source would be Oman's great book on Wellington's army (specifically looking at the provosts), and, of course, do look at Richard Holmes's wonderful 'Redcoat', which is far more up to date, and the bibliography will point you onwards!

You're way off! But nice try!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, in your book, "The Burning Land," a character relates the story of Saint Werburgh who prayed to God to chase the geese from her cornfield. I assume you are using the term "corn" to mean a general grain since that is what it meant to Europeans of that time. I am sure you are aware that the grain generally called corn these days is a New World crop completely unknown in ancient Europe. I would like to see another term chosen than corn since a huge amount of people these days have no idea what the modern world owes Native Americans--maybe you should write a book...

Donna Delgadillo

Submitted March 30, 2011

A

I'm sure that when the Bible says there was 'corn in Egypt' it did not mean maize and I'm not going to apologize for, or change, the British usage of the word 'corn' which, as you say, means a cereal crop - a general term covering wheat, rye, barley etc. Corn is a good old English word, and I know some Americans are confused by it, but it's too common a word and too useful to abandon just because it has a specific meaning in the US which it lacks elsewhere. No one complains about its use in the Bible, so they can get used to it in my books too!

Q

as a proud dorestshire man i was wondering if you thought of tyneham when you wrote the grail quest novels?

william earls-davis

Submitted March 25, 2011

A

Not specifically, though I know Tyneham and had a wonderful summer's day there a couple of years ago - for anyone unfamiliar with the place, it's a village that was taken over by the army for training purposes during the Second World War and has never been returned to its inhabitants, but because the land around (what's left of) the village has not been cultivated since the 1940's it's a haven for all kinds of wild flowers. I suspect Hookton is very loosely based on a place more like Lulworth . . but you can take your choice!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, please let me say that no one was more surprised than I in finding how much I truly enjoy your writing! Being a 54-year-old female, I never thought I would be interested in books where the art of war is at the forefront. Well, I did spend 3 years in the US Army, but I'm not enamored with it. I first read Agincourt which I found at the library, I had been deep in Ancestry.com and found some ancestors who fought that battle so I thought it might be interesting. After reading that first book for free, I decided I needed to collect the books so I can have them at my disposal for re-reading. Wouldn't you know, I began at the end with The Saxon Tales and read The Burning Land first. I love this series and wish to know when the next one will come out? Is it in progress or have you wandered off to other pastures? I believe we probably share some ancient ancestors and I, too, have an ancestor named Uchtred from Northumbria(as he appears in the Ancestry.com records) as well as several lines back to Alfred the Great. Blame my Scot-Irish lines--they seem to have come from all parts of Europe. Interesting thing, to me anyway, is I looked at your Sharpe series and have not read any as of yet, since I am not really interested in that time period, but 3 of my 4 great-grandmothers were all named Sharp. Yes, I am an in-bred American who is related to the entire world it would seem. Anyway, I look forward to reading the further adventures of Uhtred of Bebbenburg and want you to know I love how you tell a story. Thank you, Donna

Is there to be another book in the Saxon Stories series? When might it be published?

Mike Redhead

Mr Cornwell. Thank you for the great writing and stories. Could you please tell me whether there will be another instalment of the Saxon Stories and more adventures for Uhtred. All your other books are great and I've just read the Arthur Stories again for the 5th or 6th time. Thank you. Drew Caulfield

When can we expect the next saxon tale? I love Uhtred and can't wait for the next Adventure! Keep up the great work! Clay Seydler

Hi, Mr. Cornell I want know...Where are my friend Uhtred and your adventures? Any ideas to next months? thanks

Alex

Hello, I'm a 15 year old girl and a massive fan of the story of Uhtred. I have read the series countless amounts of times and would like to know whether you are going to continue the books soon? I love the way Uhtred deals with conflict and love his reasoning. I can't wait till he storms the walls of Bebbanburg and slays his treacherous Uncle. Have you any recommendations? (I've read Thomas of Hookton which was class) best wishes, Sammy a lover of Uhtred and Thor

Please can you tell me when we can expect the next in the series about Uhtred of Bebbanburgh. I love these books and would love to find out what happens next. I really hope it will be very soon. Best wishes.

Lynne Haldar

Hello, i don't expect a prompt reply to this e-mail because you must be so busy but i just have to ask having read The Saxon Series for the second time..... when is the next book due to come out? I am totally captivated by these books and find my self desperate to dissolve myself back into the next episode. I grew up in the North East and had frequent trips to Bamburgh castle as a child and still go there when i can to wander the beach and feel the space. In fact my father who is the artist Fenwick Lawson nearly bought the castle with a bunch of other North East artists when i was a child. The idea was to make some sort of 'artists haven' where they could all work, drawing inspiration from their roots...or some such idea. Even though the idea fell through, my imagination has continued to place me there as a small boy.... looking out to sea and being blown by the sea breeze. He has a beautiful bronze of St Cuthbert on Lindisfarne in the old priory now. If you find your self in that part of the world, take a look..... its magnificent! He also is an avid fan of the books.. so when you get a moment, let me know so i can relax and pace myself. With much appreciation of your wonderful writing, Greg Lawson

Submitted March 25, 2011

A

I am working on the next book of Uhtred's tale now; hopefully we'll see it published in October.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, It seems that you, like your viking friend Uhtred, rarely make the long journey to the great white north of Canada! Perhaps some day I'll be able to enjoy one of your speaking engagements. I have a question for you regarding writing. I am a professor to several undergraduate classes, and my greatest challenge is developing a passion for writing in young people. I was wondering if you have any tips for encouraging greater success in this area? Academic papers on criminology may be a far cry from historic fiction, but I believe that if one can become excited about a topic, regardless of medium, then they can produce better and more effective work. Thanks in advance, James

Submitted March 25, 2011

A

I surely agree with the idea that becoming excited about a topic produces better work, but my guess is that for many people it's a chore and not a pleasure, and there's always the suspicion that no-one, except perhaps the professor, will ever read the work. That's kind of dispiriting, like acting to an empty theatre. So is there a way of widening the audience? The web? That's my immediate thought, though I suppose it might also help if the writers see themselves improving as they write? In all writing, Robert Louis Stevenson said, 'there is only one way to be clever, and that is to be exact.' If only the writers of instructions would remember that! Roger Ascham, way back in the 17th Century, said that the way to write well was to 'speak as the common people do (and) to think as wise men do'. I'm not sure I've been really helpful, but I meant well!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I'm currently reading the Sharpe series of books, more precisely I'm in the middle of "Sharpe's Gold", Chapter 19. As you know, this chapter begins with Sharpe in bed with Teresa Merino where she asks him about the scars on his back. Sharpe makes mention of Morris and Hakeswill as the ones being responsible for the flogging scars. Teresa asks if he killed them yet, and he says no, but he will. I was under the impression that Sergeant Hakeswill died at the Battle of Gawilghur when Sharpe forced him into the snake pit at the fortress. Is this not correct? Did Sgt. Hakeswill somehow miraculously survived this? I would be most obliged if you could explain this to me because it is quite puzzling, and somewhat distracting, because I'm thinking this character is already dead. Please keep up the good work, and I really enjoy reading your books! Sincerely, John Paul Mays

Submitted March 25, 2011

A

The snakes wouldn't touch him! He survived. He couldn't be killed (says so in the scriptures). If you were a snake, would you bite him?

Q

Hello Sir, I completely enjoy your work and have read from several of your series and novels. Having recently read The Fort and only last month entering into Sharpe's world, I have a question about light infantry and their green jackets. I can't remember if it was part of The Fort's historical note, but did you find that the "rifle green" jackets of the light infantry are attributed to Sir John Moore and additionally to him picking this up by seeing the Continental Marines? I enjoy the multiple references to such a simple thing. Thank you (for your work, not just if you answer this question)

Mike Padilla

Submitted March 24, 2011

A

I do suggest (without much conviction) that Sir John Moore might have been influenced by the colour of the Marine coats, but I also say that would be a pleasing idea and I doubt that it's true. The origin of the green coats is much more likely the Ranger battalions.