Your Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hello Mr Cornwell; I would like to take this opportunity to commend the books you have written and published, especially the series of Saxon books and the Grail Quest. I find your research very good and as an academic myself I often wonder how you actually remain so accurate throughout. I have recently re-read the Uthred saga and actually found myself looking for any inaccuracies. I only found one slight one in which you describe Uthred preparing for battle and slipping his arm through the straps of his war shield and holding his Seax with a shield hand. However was it not the case that shield design of the day constituted a central grip behind the boss? if this was the case then holding the handle of the short-sword (wasp sting) would have been problematical to say the least and very unlikely in a battle of that time. I am being picky I know so please forgive me as I do immensely enjoy your work and they offer an absolute release for for me from the turgid and dry text I work with on a daily basis.

I really found your work (Azincourt) quite faultless in its research and as my hobby is Archery I connected with the hero immediately. In the UK at the moment there are whispering s of a BBC production on the book is there any substance? Anyway thanks for the works as they certainly take the keener edge off my days

David Farley

Good Sir, Been looking for someone called a knifeman--an expert with the knife. But wait...specializing in the gutting of horses in battle. Was there such a soldier? Could you point me in the right direction? Many, many thanks for the great reading. Respectfully, Daniel D. Junkin