Your Questions

Q

DEAR MR CORNWELL: I HAVE JUST FINISHED READING THE ARCHER SERIES AND I AM NOW READING AGINCOURT. I PLAN ON READING ALL YOUR BOOKS. THE ARCHER SERIES WOULD MAKE A GREAT HBO SERIES. IS THAT A POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE? THANK YOU.
PETER J. MUSTACCHIA

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

I guess anything's possible, but there are no plans for it now.

Q

Not too long ago, I took my wife to see London. While we were there we went to the British Museum and I saw a display on the Tipoo Sultan. I also saw an actual seven barrel gun. I have to ask, is this the same gun that gave you the idea for Patrick Harper's favorite weapon?
Paul Waters

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

I think the gun that gave me that idea was in the Tower Armouries (and is probably in their Leeds museum now). It is the same weapon, of course, the Nock Volley Gun.

Q

Hi Bernard, First, thank you so much for your fantastic 'work' that I have enjoyed over the years, which for me started back in 1997 when, as a young soldier myself, I found a well thumbed Sharpe novel deep in the bowels of a hell hole army barracks in Northern Ireland ! I have now of course read pretty much all of your titles and glad to say the Uhtred series is probably my favourite to date. The Uhtred character once again captures the 'x factor'; brutality and nobility in a fine balance of 'ying and yang' we've become accustomed to within the warrior psyches so many of your main characters, coupled with a well woven storyline. This time I was especially glad to see my home town of 'Beamfleot' featuring in the series, even the 'Hothlege' which I spent a lot of my youth mucking about, in and around. Anyway.. you've already given us some clues about the next Uhtred book, being due out in Autumn 2011 which writing 'The Fort' has got in the way of :-) Can you at least tell us the name of the title you've got earmarked so we can muse what might be happening in the next installment? Autumn 2011 is a long way away ;-) Thanks Tony G

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

I've only started the book - much too early to have a title for it just yet!

Q

I have loved reading all your books my question is if have you read the fox series by Adam Hardy and your opinion

Adam Richards

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

I have not! More books on the to-read list.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell. I'm glad to see that Earl decided to give you a pass.I have a question that I'm curious about. I like to have google earth on my computer while I read your books. It helps me get a better idea of the terrain and what the countryside looks like. However on occasion you will describe a scene and when I look it up on google earth it doesn't look anything like what you described. For instance, I'm rereading The Burning Land and in it you say that Uhtred is looking across a river at Fearnhamme/Farnham. When I look on GE there is no river in sight. I realize that topography can change over eleven hundred years, but an entire river? Basically I was just wondering if you descriptions were spot on or if you used some creative license. Either way, love your stuff and have read pretty much every thing you have published. Keep it up.
Carl

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

I dunno - looked okay to me when I was there! There are several Farnhams - this is the one in Surrey, on the north branch of the River Wey - the present town (say centred around Castle Street) is a little way from the Wey, but it was there when I last visited!

Q

Hello Sir, Just a quick thankyou for the years of adventures and delight that your books have provided me with. I have just finished the Warlord trio for the second time and I honestly believe that you have written the best account of the Arthurian legends by far. Even before reading your books I always thought Lancelot was a bit of a dickhead. I have started the Sharpe books again which brings me to my question. How many men did Sharpe command in his company during Sharpe's Company and Sharpe's Eagles (The books not the movies?) In the movies it seems a bit like a modern day section but I always imagined, through the books that it was more like a Australian or American platoon. I was wondering if you could set me straight. Once again Thank you for your stories. Yours Sincerely John

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

I can't remember (and forgive me if I don't leaf back through the books), but a company was supposedly (yet never was) 100 men. It was likely that a company would number between 40 and 60, depending on casualties, sickness, availability of replacements and so on.

Q

Good Day Mr. Cornwell, I have been a fan of your novels since I was about 12 and I first read The Warlord Chronicles. I'm 24 now and am diligently working through the Sharpe series (although they are hard to find in either chronological or publishing order here in South Africa). My question is about Stonehenge. Are there any good historical books that discuss the idea of a single architect of the monument? I would love to read any if there are. Scott Chapman

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

Not that I know of . . . . and I doubt there was because it was built, deconstructed, re-erected, changed over a very long period of time. The best book (to my mind) is John North's Stonehenge and the Cosmos - but that is, admittedly, fairly hard going. Otherwise English Heritage has published a superb shorter guide.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am truly in love with your Saxon Stories series (and hope for many more to come!). So much so in fact, that I've decided to centre my English A Level Coursework on King Alfred. Quite what this will entail I don't know. But i had one query about the chap. In your books, he is portrayed as a superb statesman and scholar, and a just man. But not so much as a warrior, at least himself personally. Of course, this is where Uhtred comes in, but nonetheless I've taken for granted that Alfred was a frail chap, not really up for a shield war or anything of the sort. But all these websites i encounter seem to say (assume?), he's a 'great warrior' or had 'great military prowess'. Of course, I'm sticking with your depiction of Alfy, but i was wondering if you hadn't any comment regarding this? Maybe just that a great warrior king astride a magnificent stallion is more romantic that one, who ultimately, might have been hobbling around on crutches? Thanks :) George p.s. sorry its so frightfully long

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

You should certainly read Bishop Asser's account of Alfred's life, where you'll find plenty of evidence of his frailty. Perhaps the most accessible modern biography is the one by Justin Pollard which I heartily recommend. My own view is that Alfred was not a great personal warrior, he was too sick, but he was a great war-leader inasmuch that he applied his considerable intelligence to the problems that the Danish invasions posed. He didn't have to swing a sword himself, but he had to know where to send the men who did - and, of course, he did lead armies into battle, though I doubt he fought in the front rank!

Q

Hi, Straight into it. Why do you make Uhtred so dumb? He gets oathed everywhere he goes and winds up unable to kill the people I want killed - here's a few: Guthred, Alfred, all the priests, the rest of the priests and any priest who's still alive? Also, maybe unintentional but the saxons, hobbled by the priests as they are, come over as real wimps. Were the Saxons wimps? I'm descended from one most likely and many Danes I see are more wimpy than me. ;)

Rob

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

Is he so dumb? In a lawless society oaths were the best surety of behaviour, and what justice there was depended on oaths. Countering that was a fatalistic belief in 'wyrd', or fate, and there's a constant tension between them. Now you might find that dumb, but I suspect most people would see a more interesting dilemma. Uhtred would find it difficult to kill an historical figure like Alfred, mainly because I try to write historical fiction. Were the Saxons wimps? Well, the whole saga is the making of England, and no doubt the proof of the pudding is yet to come.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I have read many of your historic novels and always found them enjoyable. I'm currently reading The Burning Land. The period of history I particularly find fascinating is the English Civil War. Have you never considered writing a novel from this period? Kind regards Steve

Submitted September 14, 2010

A

English Civil War? I've considered it, have done some research, think about it, but lord knows where I'll find the time to do it. One day, maybe? So many other things I'd like to write first...