Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell, As John MacInroe said: "You Cannot Be Serious!" - Another whole year before you produce the Saxon Chronicle 6 book?? I originally read these out of order, so re-read them chronologically, assuming that the sequel to 'The Burning Land' would be produced sometime in the more immediate future. After all - Uhtred's descendants have had 1100+ years to write his story! So you are falling a bit behind are you not? And I must admit, I do not want to follow Uhtred to the feasting Halls without being able to tell what the skalds sing of him. This is a question for your readers: One wonders whether everybody who reads one of your books becomes an automatic fan, or are there in fact some people(?) who are not particular fans? I must admit that I have an extremely eclectic taste, but I am an avid admirer because there is a rollicking good tale in the middle of historical fact. I would like to know how you keep thinking of the fresh plots and activities. As a footnote - The 'Bloodeagle' was a form of execution in Mediaeval Norway, used when a criminal asked for it, because they were not allowed to hold a sword (therefore would not be able to go to Valhalla), and this was a way to prove their bravery and be admitted.

Roger Hamilton

Sir,have you written the book yet that brings Uthred back to Bebbenbang to reclaim his ancestral home? If so,what is the title? Your reply would be most appreciated.Regards,Ron Leeds.

Bernard,have just finished The Fort.A really good read and interesting from an historical point of view.How much longer before the final book about Uhtred? Best regards Doug Luff

Talked to you about Sharpe (armed soccer mobs) and Stonehenge (thoroughly unpleasant people). With regard to The Archer: Encountered The Great War Bow by Strickland and Hardy. Fabulous, good for scholars and general public. It appears that the last versions had pulls up to 150 pounds. The book's authors had a pro who said the physical results of working up to 150 were unpleasant. Indeed, some of the guys up from the Mary Rose seemed to have had bad backs from unbalanced torque--heavy-draw bows, apparently. Robert Low thinks the archers came from locals learning the bow for keeping deer out of the fields and so forth. I don't see a 150-lb-pull bowman coming from the farms. He's a full time pro. That's a lot of guys to be maintained on the public purse. A puzzle, if not a story, there. And, at the end, the formations had everybody mounted, the heavy-armored knights, the men at arms, and the archers. A version of a panzergrenadier division. When I was a grunt, I didn't worry about who was paying for my noisier diversions. But somebody had to. Interesting about why these guys were maintained at public expense. Some real or perceived threat. Like what? Richard Aubrey

Hi I'm a massive fan of the Sharpe, Arthur but especially the Saxon books - mainly due to my own family roots going back to the north east. After reading the Saxon books I often try to research each character, time period and any battles you describe. Was Uhtred's first name Osbert chosen due to the mythological links to Ragnar? I ask only because Ragnar Lodbrok was Ivar Ubbe and Halfdon's father - or is this a completely different Ragnar to the one which adopted Uhtred? Thank you for your time and I very much looking forward to the next instalment David

Your book The Fort was interesting, especially its look at Paul Revere. But he is not the only "American Hero" accused of cowardice in battle. Senator Sam Ervin, known nowadays as the country lawyer from the NC mountains who took on President Richard Nixon in the Watergate Senate investigations,was lionized by the media, particularly the left-leaning writers. Yet, when I was a USMC officer attending Duke Law School 31 years ago, I had a seminar with his former Senate Staff aide, Professor Robinson Everett. At a social occasion at Professor Everett's home one evening, I took him aside and asked if he had ever known that Senator Ervin had been charged with cowardice in the trenches in WWI. The professor was shocked and said he hadn't. This is important because Ervin , prior to Watergate, was known for his reforms of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in 1968, with Everett as his right hand man. I added that the source I had found showed that Lt Ervin received no formal punishment for this breach of duty (long artillery bombardment temporarily drove him nuts). So you just never know about your "heroes"!

Bill Johnson

Hi Mr Cornwell, i have just finished reading "the Burning lands" for what seems to be the 100th time and thought it strange that you singled out "Sigunn" who was a sixteen year old widower. this is just after the battle of Beamfleot and i was just wondering what significance she has or will have in the Saxon Stories?
John Devine

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I was just wondering if you had ever thought about writing a series set in North America during the French and Indian war? I'm sure the setting allows for a lot of freedom and with your love of "out of place" heroes you could have an American Loyalist fighting with the British or a Native American caught in-between? Just a thought and thanks for all the wonderful books! Kind Regards, David Heaton

Mr. Cornell, I've been a reader since I was small and,unfortunately, started to drift away from it. I was recently introduced to the Saxon tales, and I remembered what I had given up. So I would like to extend my gratitude and encouragement to keep it up. Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from? And will we being hearing more from Uhtred?

David R

Dear Mr Cornwell, It is truly no wonder that Richard Sharpe is big, gruff and an imminent soldier just like his father Sir David Baird. Why do I think so? At first we must look for someone old enough to pay for a whore in Cat Lane and also someone who does not mind visiting the 'lesser' establishments of London in those days. David Baird did all that. He is described as big and muscular and a very honest man, he says what he pleases. He claims there are only two real soldiers in this world (Sharpe's Prey) and that is himself and Richard Sharpe. Now to the Riddle I found on some 'obscure site': TAKE YOU OUT PUT ME IN AND A HORSE APPEARS IN THIS HAPPY PERSON We take the name B A I R D You= I and me is Y ou= forms the name BAYARD, the historical horse. David was the beloved one, the happy one. Irony: Baird saves his own son from 2000 lashes, finds himself in the same prison as his son and they both feel Wellington is somebody they dont get around. Irony is also that Sharpe is in the end Scottish. And Baird never thought of looking for Sharpe in the Frog's Prick. You never heard from me before and now I am already writing you the third e-mail. I told you I am a sleuth. My aim is to get known by English readers before I submit my manuscript on the decoding of Nostradamus' system. (Which I did in 2001). Regards, again, Constance van Laer-van Heemst (descendant of Aymon's sons, hence the knowledge of the horse)

Sharpe's Father: Admiral of the White Sir Sharpe's father is either Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane GCB RN (23 April 1758 - 26 January 1832) or his brother Archibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald (1748 -1831) making Sharpe the bastard brother or cousin of Thomas Cochrane. Hopefully, I'm finally right -- COCHRANE has eight letters and there's a horse in there somewhere. See you in Fredericksburg when you get ready to work on Starbuck. AS Always, Scott

A few months ago I discovered the wonderfully convenient world of audio books. That led me to "Sharpe's Fury" and I became an instant and huge fan. In the last few months I have gone through 3/4 of everything you've published. Now I have two foolish questions. One, am I correct that the French observer (I forget his full name) from the Starbuck series is Richard Sharpe's son?

Secondly, I am currently listening to "The Fort" and am wondering why the reader pronounces 'picquet' like the card game rather than like picket which is the context in which you are using it. Or am I mistaken? Sincerely, Bill Ries