Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,I would love to know if you have any intentions to progress with Gallows Thief? I am sure many others must think alike.Thank you for the many pleasant hours. Regards P.H.

Submitted August 5, 2009

A

I have considered a sequel to Gallows Thief, but I'm not sure when (or if!) it will happen.

Q

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I enjoy the Saxon series, but I'm not entirely convinced by your portrayal of Alfred as priest-obsessed and an ineffectual military leader. Can I ask what led you to decided to portray him as such, when all the available evidence suggests that he won his own battles rather than relying on the exploits of a fictional character? I appreciate that Uhtred has to be given something to do, but it's not very respectful to Alfred's memory. I see in the preview of the next book that Uhtred is due to win the battle of Farnham as well, so presumably you are going to have him winning all of Edward the Elder's battles as well. Is he going to limp onto the battlefield at Brunanburh, aged 87 or thereabouts, and turn the tide for Athelstan?
David

Submitted August 5, 2009

A

I'm slightly puzzled . . . . we KNOW Alfred was a man of extreme piety, we have plenty of evidence of a lifelong illness that would have severely restricted his physical abilities . . . so where's the problem?

Q

Well. If you enjoy writing historical novels over your sailing thrillers, how about a historical sailing thriller, ala Patrick O'Brian, say about the Mary Rose, or the Spanish Armada from the Spanish point of view?

Lloyd L. Thoms Jr.

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I've written a couple - chiefly Sharpe's Trafalgar, and the real problem is that putting all your characters aboard a ship so limits their movement that it becomes almost impossible to plot the story. O'Brian did it, as did Forester and lots of others, and I admire them hugely, but I found it very frustrating!

Q

Dear Bernard, Thought I'd just drop you line to thank you for your excellent books, and particularly the Sharpe series. After spending years borrowing them at the various libraries near where I have lived, I finally got frustrated and have been buying them in batches from Amazon. The last batch will arrive shortly. For some reason, I find Sharpe terrifically readable, and re-readable--which makes owning the whole series even more satisfactory. I've always been a fan of Napoleonic history, and your books prompted my recent reading of Elizabeth Longford's book on Wellington, and another entitled Napoleon and Wellington. Both were very readable and enjoyable. Thanks again...your books have given me many hours of pleasure. I am the General Manager of a combined radio and television operation in the small city of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada (very sunny, very flat, lots of wheat, gas and oil, cattle and cowboys). If you have time to answer, I'd love to know if you have any plans to write about Sharpe's early years--childhood to recruitment. I know you've touched on these topics, but I want more (aren't fans annoying!) Have a great day... Dave Sherwood

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I don't have plan to write about Sharpe's childhood.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading your book 'Azincourt' and I'd just like to say that I have never enjoyed reading a book so much. I just hope that as with the 'Sharpe'(which I have also read) novels, this is turned into a film, or at least a 3 part mini series. It's about time we(the English) start celebrating our achievements against the overwhelming odds we have had to endure throughout the centuries. Do you think this film will ever happen??? I for one hope it does. Keep up the good work Mr Cornwell, and thank you. Regards Mark Parker

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I don't know, but keep your fingers crossed!

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell, Love your books! I do hope you get to another Starbuck one of these days! Just wanted to ask where you got the inspiration for a character like Washington Faulconer. Do you base people like that on a someone or several people you've met in life or is he purely fictitious? Likewise someone like Delaney... Thanks - It's great you take the time to answer (you're no doubt busy!) James

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I never base characters on people I know - I don't know why, I just don't, but I've certainly met many men like Washington Faulconer, so I guess it's a composite picture?

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for many, many hours of entertainment and the impetus to further my own writing. You are a brilliant storyteller. I have one specific question I, as well as many other aspiring writers, would love to have you answer. Specifically, how do you personally filter through the volumes of research for the spicy bits to be included in your work? To illustrate my question, as it may be a bit vague, I will use my own example. I am working on a historical fiction piece set during World War II, in the Pacific theater. I have TONS of research. I find myself bogged down in the writing simply because of too much information being available for inclusion in the work. My goal is to accurately set a fast-paced, driven story so that the reader experiences the history of the period as well as the living nature of the story without drowning the storyline in minutiae. Any suggestions? How do you do it? Any and all enlightenment is appreciated, and I thank you in advance (as do all struggling historical fiction writers!). Sincerely, Bill Kapeles

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I wish I could tell you! In the end you're going to categorize the research into Stuff the Reader Must Know (which is obvious), and Details which Make the Period Come Alive, and those are the bits you choose because they fascinate you, and no one except you can choose them. What you must never do is mention stuff just because you learned it. What the reader doesn't see the reader doesn't miss, and there are few things worse than reading a paragraph that is crammed with historical facts and serves no purpose except to prove that the author did his/her research! I 'throw away' at least 50% of the research - in the sense it won't be explicit in the book - but it's never wasted because it has illuminated the period. So I can't answer you - it's your book, your curiosity, and good luck!

Q

Enjoyed "The Winter King".Disillusioned by"Enemy Of God". Always understood that Tristan was the son of the King of Loonois and that his mother was Blanchefleur , sister to King Mark of Cornwall - which makes King Mark his uncle and not his father . Tristan was offered the hand of the Princess Iseult for slaying a fierce dragon that had been ravaging Ireland but chose to take her back to Cornwall to be the bride of his uncle , whose champion he later became . Unfortunately , he fell in love with Iseult . No doubt you are familiar with the legend , so why have you chosen to ignore it or are you using artist's licence as it were ? I do enjoy your books generally however. Do keep writing as the spirit moves ! All best wishes . Robert .

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I'm sorry you were disillusioned. The Arthur stories have always been malleable, and they've changed enormously over the last fifteen hundred years . . . . many of the things we take as 'facts' were probably inventions by a story-teller, and anyone who tells the tales will change them again. Now, while it's true that Tristan is usually regarded as Mark's nephew, there is a strange inscription in Cornwall that records him as the son of Cunomorus who, in turn, is usually identified with Mark. We're talking about the darkest of the dark ages here, and we all grope, but there is the alternative tradition that Tristan was Mark's son - and I just used that!

Q

Hi again Bernard, just wondered - since you've said that you don't like to write about subjects that don't interest you, is that why you went off the Starbuck chronicles, or was it just that other story lines interested you more?

Also, as another Englishman that loves his history, do you think that the civil war would have been avoided if Lincoln hadn't been elected, or that secession was inevitable?

And finally, what do you think of Lee as a general and do you think the South ever had a chance of winning because of the vast difference in both men and resources, and if not, why the south thought they did?

Matthew Williams

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

It was all Richard Sharpe's fault - I was happily writing the Starbuck books when the Sharpe TV series began, and I was asked to supply a new Sharpe story - and I'm afraid I just got sucked back into Sharpe's world. But I would like to continue Nate's story too . . . .

I'm never confident dealing with the 'ifs' of history. I suspect there would have been war eventually.

Lee is one of the great generals of history, and he knew, as most of the south knew, that they had no chance of defeating the north outright . . . by which I mean an invasion of the northern states to force a surrender, but there was the realistic hope that they could make the cost of the war so burdensome to the north that the politicians would prefer a negotiated end to the conflict that would leave the south intact - and many northern politicians were arguing for such a settlement.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell! I´m writing from Brazil, and like a lot of people, fan of your work. I have a huge interest history, specially from the British Islands and in September I'm making a trip to Ireland, Scotland and England. I would really really appreciate if u could help me with some tips and hints...I want to visit some unusual historical sites in Britain (battlegrounds, castles, etc.), and I'm very excited to do this. I Love Uhtred and his deeds, as well Thomas and Derfel...So i hope to hear some tips from you, if you get time for it. I really thank you in advance! Fernando

Submitted August 1, 2009

A

I wish I could list everything you should see - instead I'd recommend a really good guide book (the Michelin Green guides are terrific). That said - here are a few suggestions - Maiden Castle (largest Neolithic earthwork in Europe), Stonehenge (obviously), but don't miss Avebury - if I had a choice between Stonehenge and Avebury I'd choose Avebury every time. Ludlow, Stokesay Castle, Durham, Bamburgh Castle (Bebbanburg). In Ireland - you must see Newgrange. That's only a few suggestions of places I like very much - but do get the guidebook and plan your own route!