Your Questions

Dear Bernard: I'm a huge fan of your work,and sat down last night to start "The Burning Land" As usual it grabbed me right from the start. However I have a question. On page 7 we are introduced to one Father Willibald, could it be an inside tribute to the great book and Norse saga "The Long Ships" by Frans G Bengtsson? that book is one of my favorite Historical Novels of all time, and Father Willibald was a large part of the story. Best Regards Earl Douglas North Vancouver B.C. Canada

Bernard, like so many others, my interest in the American Civil War has been sparked by the Starbuck Chronicles. Have you ever considered writing a novel based on a pre-whiteman, North American Indian character?

Billy Cairns

Mr. Cornwell, What type of helmet were you envisioning Arthur wearing? Were you envisioning the Sutton Hoo type helmet that is on the cover of The Winter King? Were you envisioning a Spangenhelm type? I've just purchased a copy of Excalibur and now have the entire trilogy and am starting to read through it for the first time in 18 years.
Josh

I have read your books since childhood, and I struggle to read any other type of book! I would like to know when writing Sharpe, do you have to consciously think what Sharpe’s personality is like? Do you feel as you yourself have aged, has Sharpe changed too throughout the series? And my final silly question! Have you truly grasped how fantastically phenomenal your books are and the affect they had had on a person such as myself? Glynn McCarthy

The BBC ,RICHARD SHARPE series with an interview of Mr. Cornwell,was on the history channel in the US will it be repeated ?

Jim Solomon

I have truly enjoyed your Saxon and Arthur tale. I dont mean to offend, but in the style of Louis Lamofe and Wilbur Smith,do you think your tales are very probable or just entertainment ( I am hoping probable because I have SO enjoyed your work). Brian Broxson

Bernard, I have just finished reading two of your Grail Quest books and have been thrilled by them as I am currently trying to flesh out my family tree by understanding what my ancestors were up to. I was fascinated by your description of the Battle of Neville's Cross which I am fairly certain my ancestor, Richard de Langley or de Langeleghe from Lancashire was involved in; he appeared back in Lancashire in 1350 when he managed to marry the daughter of a local lord of a manor who, thanks to the plague, turned into a wealthy heiress. However I have a snag, there was a Richard de Langeleghe from Lancashire who, ten years previously, was guilty of fatally stabbing another Clerk in the neck with a bodkin in Oxford. >From your research of what might have happened at that time, do you think this Richard de Langleghe could have got away with his crime and was sent off to fight in France? Langleys had been breeding in Lancashire for about 2 generations, so he could have been a cousin. Many thanks in anticipation. Keep up your writing, I love it. Regards, Peter Langley in Ireland

Hello Bernard - I hope you are well. Do you have any plans to visit the South West on your next UK tour please. I always enjoy your unique brand of humour and insight.

Your historical novels cover such a large period, i.e. Stonehenge to the Napoleonic wars, and I was wondering what is your favourite historical period and why, and who is your favourite historical figure? Can't wait for the next Uhtred! With best wishes Andy Green

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for your pithy advice on writing. If you have the time, perhaps you can guide me in a couple areas. I was wondering if you map out or chart the plot of a book before writing it, or do you just jump right in and see where the plot takes you. Also, I'm curious as to how you generate plot ideas. Do you do a little research on something you find interesting first and get plot ideas from the research, or do you ask an intriguing "What if" question first and see what research might support it? Or something else? Thank you so much for your time. Sincerely, Josh

Hello My name is Tim, I´m from Germany and 16 years old, so my English isn´t perfect, but I´ll try my best. I always enjoyed reading your books, especially the Warlord Chronicles and the Saxon Stories. When I read through your website, some questions came to my mind. The parallels in the two series are sometimes very obvious, the heathen is fighting for the christians to get the heathens out of britannia, Derfel as well as Uhtred have important relationships to their enemies. And they both have a Woman, Derfel has Seren, the star, and Uhtred has Aethelfaed, the woman of gold. In my opinion they also seem to have very similar characters, but the point is, I read on your website, you had the most fun at writing at the Warlord Chronicles, but of course after the last book you couldn´t continue writing the series. So I´m asking myself, well right now I´m asking you, did you start writing the Saxon Stories because you wanted to write something like the warlord books again? Well i love both series, and I´m looking forward to your new books, and to me having enough cash to buy your old. greetings from Germany, Tim