Your Questions

Hi Bernard, I hope I'm not interrupting your writing of Saxon 6 too much. I am currently rewriting a novel for the 3rd, 4th, 5th and in parts, 7th or 8th time. It reminds me of trying to iron a shirt. I struggle manfully and think it's fine, only to find new creases every time I stop to inspect it. My question, does the shirt have to be absolutely immaculate before an agent/publisher casts an eye over it or is the subsequent editing process expected to take care of any to creases that remain? Kind Regards Willie

Dear Mr. Cornwell, My son, age 10, has read the entire Arthur stories, the Saxon Stories, The Grail Quest Series, and is nearly done with the Sharpe Books. He began with Agincourt after he saw it in an airport book store. I have tried my best to keep up with him. I recently finished a book by an author named Lee Burkins who wrote Soldier's Heart. It is a memoir about his struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder stemming from his experiences in the Vietnam War. Having both your series and his book in my head, I began to wonder: Has PTSD existed throughout the ages with a similar intensity? It began to occur to me that perhaps PTSD occurs more when there is a greater difference between a life of war, and when the soldier returns to a life that is distant from war in every way. What I mean to say is that perhaps in Uhtred's time, war was a natural, normal, expected part of life, and war was never very far away from one's existence, so there was less of a disconnect between the two. As history has progressed, it seems as though "civilized, normal life" has become more and more distant from the acts of war and immediate aggression. People don't carry swords or guns in everyday life, and expect justice and peace to be enforced in a structured, civil manner by the police. So the act of going to war is tremendously jarring, and the return perhaps more so. Has there ever been mention in any historical source of warriors who were crippled in this way? With your immense background on warfare and life throughout history, would you please comment on this? Thanks. Sincerely, Jim Hinsman

Do you ever get to Texas on a book tour? Or consider the Tx Book Fair in October in Austin? Stay well and keep sharing your works.
David Bourland

Hi I've seen mention of a talk in LOndon on 18th Oct and was wondering if there are any other UK appearances planned as the diary stops in May. Many thanks Steve

I have thoroughly enjoyed all your saxon stories and the adventures of Uhtred and earnestly request that you feature my home town of Derby in any later books as although I love the place dearly it is a very boring town and reading about its exciting history would be a joy. I pass a large church called St Werburghs most days and am reminded of Aethelflaed in many places hereabouts as well as all the viking gates still named. A large thankyou for great entertainment and providing me with the sight of my teenage daughter avidly reading and enjoying books that contain more references to her surname than she has otherwise hitherto seen. Best regards. Steve Alderman.

Hi Bernard I wrote to you via this page some years back and was chuffed enough to have received an answer from my favourite author. Over the last couple of years I've branched out reading novels that do their damndest to re-create your formula. I've also read and collected books suggested by your good self. Lady EL's years of the sword (found in a book sale under the bridge by the BFI southbank in London) and J Barker's Agincourt were brilliant reads. Having just browsed through your recently and patiently answered questions, a couple touched on Robin Hood and character cross-overs. To my amusement recently I read Angus Donalds 'Outlaw' and upon seeing 'as good as Bernard Cornwell or your money back' sticker on the front, I chortled and thought well if it isn't then I will. It was a fairly good effort and in one small hat-tip in your direction one of the scenes describing a feast and storytelling mentions another storyteller called Wygga who only had one hand and wove magnificent stories about Arthur and his warriors. Cheeky monkey! Still, best form of flattery and all that. Also, I assume this is down to your publishers etc etc, but is there any chance that we will see collectors editions/box sets of any of your series (Sharpe, Warlord Chronicles, Grail quest etc) maybe to time it for an anniversary of first creation or some such? I know you are mainly concerned about your literature, but I live in hope your Warlord Chronicles will be faithfully translated into a movie or series and thus achieve a wider audience like Sharpe has. I even toyed with the idea of sending Peter Jackson a copy of Winter king, but the postage to NZ was steep and I gather he's quite busy these days. Does your agent do this kind of thing anyway? and if not, give them a kick up the arse :o) for me and thousands of fans across many different countries. Yours Faithfully, Toby Goodman

Have you ever considered putting a trip together for covering all the sights listed in a particular series? I would love to take a tour such as that!
Tanya

Dear Mr Cornwell, firstly I would like to say that I enjoyed your Sharpe series and Grail quest trilogy tremendously. The way you describe battles scenes, war strategies, combined with the feel of the book that makes it possible to imagine the history in such amazing detail, has simply blown me away. I have also read the Arthur books and a few of the Alfred series too, but with a lesser opinion than the others. I am a Christian, I believe in God and the word in the bible. And before you roll your eyes and think; "Not another bible basher come to say how unfair it is that Christians are put in a slightly less than favourable light in my books." I would like to say that the events and characters your books are probably the most believable in any historical novel I have ever read. I know the church did what they did and it was evil and immoral. I am not trying to dispute the fact that Christianity in general (not just the Catholic Church) has a violent history. That said, the impression I get from your Saxon series is that; God, priests, bishops and monks did much more harm than good in Alfred's time. I would say this is not true. As a history student I have learnt that major advances in education, law and general morality in England is down to (mostly) the early church. The impression I got from the first few Alfred books is that England would have been much better off worshiping pagan Gods. Christians (except Alfred and one or two others) seem to be either directly apposing Uhtred or else in the way e.g. Asser and Sansum. The evils of these characters are more or less balanced by the good Christians. I would just like to say that there was much good done by the church too, and I don't think these books show it all that clearly e.g. Heavy focus on the evil acts that were done. While this probably happened I would also have liked to have seen some of the church's good works being done. Just a thought. I deeply apologise if this point is covered in the later Uhtred books, I have not read all of them yet. If so I am sorry for the rant.. One last thing. I was wondering if you would or were considering writing a novel about Joan of Arc. I admire her tremendously, and I think a book by you about her would be hit. I know from previous posts you think she was probably delusional and that you have more than a small amount of English patriotic pride. Therefore a French heroine defeating English armies may be stinging to that pride. I am a patriot to Britain too, but I still think a historical figure as impressive as she, deserves a first class story telling by a brilliant historical novelist. Even if you decide otherwise I will still be a huge fan of yours. I loved these books otherwise from he point made above. God bless you sir. Thomas Rowlands P.S. Sorry about the punctuation in my letter, how in the blazes did I pass English.

I have always been a student of British history, grandfather born in Wales. But Rome and Britain? In any event I would enjoy reading a three-part on the life Scipio Africanus and his fight against Carthage. Could be a Russell Crowe movie if he stays out of trouble!

Michael Sinkay

My history professor got me to read my fist book. I was amazing. I am very interested in historical fiction involving viking. So I first read The Last Kingdom. I have since finished reading all the Saxon tails you have written. My question to you is are you planning on writing anymore Saxon books or similar tales. They are simply amazing I am so grateful to have authors such as yourself that can give us these wonderful books.
Sally Parker

Hello I m a big Fan of your Saxon Stories..i just finished your last Book and cant wait for the further Stories..When can we hope to be able to buy your next great work in this Storyline? Keep doing such good Work. God bless u. Martin

Mr. Cornwell, I've thoroughly enjoyed reading your Saxon series, but I'm totally frustrated at this point. How many more shield walls can we withstand until Uhtred finally gets a chance to take back his father's land? I've waited impatiently for your newest Saxon book, The Burning Land, only to read that there may be two or three more!!!! Not sure if Uhtred gets home this time (book reserved for me at library), but we're all ready for him to exact some vengeance! Throw us a bone here!!!! Thanks. Take care. Bill Kirby

hallo there! we much enjoyed the Sharpe tv series which encouraged me to read your books,I've so far got 28 so still have a long way to go! My husband is quite badly dyslexic, about a month ago I encouraged him to turn off the tele as I was absolutely brassed off with continual repeats,especially Time team,ooh look here everyone we've made another 10 b-great holes in some blokes lawn and we've found this quarter inch by quarter inch bit of scrubby pot! anyway as we both like history I started reading him Stonehenge(we were having a couple of days away to see Monkey World and Longleat on a coach trip and were passing by stonehenge so it was topical) I have since read the Uhtred series, which looks to leave scope for perhaps another 3 to follow depending where you decide to tie him up eventually I do hope the next one wont be long coming as he's threatening to make me read the lot again from the start! trying to fallstall that I'm going to do a change of date and geography read him redcoat and follow with the grail quest and arthur books,I'm sure he'll like them too but we really would like to have another Uhtred any chance this year? we do hope so,thank you for many hours of happy reading,viewing and listening,Pat Moon England

I have really enjoyed the Saxon stories. Will there be anymore tales from Uhtred?
john Michael Huthart

Dear Mr Cornwell, I really enjoy reading your books! Esp. the Saxon Stories are great. I just read the fifth book and I was wondering when number 6 will be published and how many will appear in this series. Can you let me know?? Thank you! Best, Marjan

I would like to know when you are going to continue the Saxon series? Rgds Paul Beatttie

I have just finished the 5 books of your Saxon Chronicles, which I thoroughly enjoyed and which clarified an era of British History which I had always found rather confusing. Do you plan to write any sequels tho these chronicles.Apart from the story re Uhtred and Bebbanburg I find the interweaving of fact and fiction quite fascinating and the historical notes, maps etc very helpful. Thank you Regards Marilyn Dick

Hi Bernard, just wondered when we can expect the next instalment of the Saxon stories. Great books hard to put down. Best wishes Ian