Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I'm one fan of yours from Brazil. Sincerely I just LOVE the way you tell in your books how things used to be in a violent period of time of our world history. You make that time sounds magic. Thomas is such a great man, a lovely gentleman. I just wonder how you got inspired to write so perfectly his characteristics, his qualities ... Well, hope you answer me soon.

Oh, and just one question, do you like the rock band Rhapsody of Fire? They're from Italy, and they expose lots of the nordic mythology. If you never heard, should try, any day, any time, when you're free ... so hardly, I think. But that's it. Love your writings. Sincerely, Melissa

Submitted September 1, 2010

A

You're so nice to say that! Is he a gentleman? I think he's very human, and flawed like the rest of us, but he does want to be a good man! I never quite know where my characters come from, though I recognize some of me in nearly all of them - especially the villains! Obrigado!

I don't know them, but I should warn you I'm a boring old fart when it comes to music, my taste being for liturgical choral works (especially) and more or less ending with Faure.

Q

Whist looking for a book about my preferred era, the 16th century in Asia, they failed me. I reluctantly bought The Burning Land. But not regretfully! You have brought to life an age I knew very little about. And you have done it spectacularly. You seem very patriotic, which is quite refreshing. And the history you add at the end was dripping with pride. I loved every page, though I must confess, I needed the dictionary a lot, which is good. I would like to know, the songs they sang of their victories, do any survive? Thank you for opening up a whole new(old) world to me. Regards Si.

Submitted September 1, 2010

A

No - though of course we have many Saxon battle poems - and no doubt they were often set to music, though alas, we've lost the tunes

Q

Hi Bernard, my name is Michel and I like to read your books. Sorry, but I don´t speak english very well. I´m 25 and I am Brazilian. Yesterday I finished to read "The Last Kingdom" for the second time and I have a question for you: It´s about "Brida". Tell me, did you read "Brida" from Paulo Coelho? Sorry by my english again. I would like very much if you could to answer me. Have a great day and thank you very much for this wonderful book. Blessed be.
Michel Fernandes

Submitted August 26, 2010

A

I'm afraid I've never read Paulo Coelho (though I have friends who are huge fans), so I'm sorry - no.

Q

The link to purchase 'Growing Up Peculiar' no longer works, and I'm unable to find it on Amazon. Have they taken it down?
Kate Musler

Submitted August 26, 2010

A

I guess they have....thanks for letting us know!

Q

Hi. Loved Uhtred. But since I'm of Welsh extraction I have a few issues with the Saxons. How about a series with a Welsh hero? Oh, I suppose you can make him an archer, if you must. ;) Thanks, John

Submitted August 26, 2010

A

I really have very few links with Wales, other than fond memories of vacations there, and (lucky me) a couple of friends who live in mid-Wales. Probably best left to a Welsh author.

Q

I'm writing you from Spain. I would like to know when we have a new book on The Grail Quest series or if you finished the series with the third book. Many thanks and sorry for my mistakes in English.
Juan Jose Garcia

Submitted August 26, 2010

A

The Grail Quest series is finished with the third book.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have been an avid reader of your books since I was a child, I have really enjoyed every tale you have created, like many I wish to see them on the big screen especially the Arthur books. Can you tell us if you have been approached by the big Hollywood war machine?? Personally I believe you will require independent film makers to make these stories come to life untainted with special effects and big stars who will be unable to see the visions which are created with each book. Keep up the great work I intend to bring short films inspired greatly by your books to my own art work, england will never be the same without Sharpe and his rifles!!!

Christopher McGregor

Dear Mr Cornwell; I have read the Warlord chronicles cover to cover multiple times now and loved every minute of it. You may frequently get the usual "why not make this into a film/TV series?" question from various people and I'm aware that in that regard it's out of your hands, but I do believe the WL chronicles weave a rich tapestry of characters,places and ideas that could be well adapted to a TV series format (without the element of historical re-enactment that seems to afflict many 3rd rate dramas and documentaries). Is it protocol to be approached by production companies to get permission from an author to adapt his/her work to the screen? because I reckon there's a petition in order.
Mike Bones

Submitted August 26, 2010

A

I leave that up to my agent!

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, Your novels are wonderful... can you tell me when your novel ''the burning land'' will be translate in french, please? thank very much for the good times you give me. Humbert Wilfried

Submitted August 26, 2010

A

My agent tells me they may be looking at a 2011 publication date for the French translation of The Burning Land.

Q

Hello, Mr. Cornwell. I'm a new reader of yours, and I absolutely love your novel Stonehenge. If I may ask, how do you get inspiration for such stories? How did you research for the book? April

Submitted August 26, 2010

A

Thank you April - I'm always happy to meet new readers! My inspiration for Stonehenge? When you visit Stonehenge there's nothing there that really tells you what it is. To an historical novelist that's like a red rag to a bull and perhaps the question can only be answered by fiction. But the novel involved a vast amount of research. especially all the technical stuff about the astronomical framework which demanded a comprehension of some fairly complicated math, and what made that worse was the knowledge that almost none of that research would ever be used in the novel. It was necessary to do it so that I understood what the best scholars were saying about the monument. I ended up building a 33:1 scale model from archaeologist's plans and lighting it at night with flashlights simulating the rising and setting of the sun and the moon. There is also a mass of useful material on the living conditions of the society that constructed Stonehenge, much of it unpublished, but surprisingly comprehensive. What there is not, of course, is any information about their cosmology, theology or mythology, and the best starting point for remedying that lack was to read anthropological accounts of other pre-literate societies. The other great source of material was the academic work on the other henge monuments of Britain. There are over a thousand such monuments, some little more than ploughed-in shadows on the ground, but others are substantial works like Avebury, Stanton Drew or the Stones of Callanish. I am glad to know you enjoyed the book!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell. I first became familiar with your work with the Sharpe series and am the proud owner of the full series collection all have been re-read many times, i hope your not quite finished with Richard yet and look forward to future installments. I have just finished the grail quest series which was especially enjoyable as i have been an archer myself for 3 years now. I am going to commission a bowyer to make me a longbow (similar to Thomas of hooktons)here comes the bit i hope you can help with. i wonder if you have any images of the yale on the front of the harlequin cover, i am not sure how or where from yet but i would dearly love to acquire a silver yale to affix to my bow when it is completed. My archery friends who have also read the books would be green with envy, especially if you had a small part in it yourself. Please keep up the good work. Respectfully yours, Adrian

Submitted August 26, 2010

A

I don't, sorry! Perhaps the Oxford Book of Heraldry may be of some help?