Your Questions

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, can you tell me if and what time some of your books will be released in German language (Azincourt, the new Saxon book and maybe Starbuck) as I tried to read Starbuck in English which is not really as enjoyable as in my mother language. thanks in advance, Markus

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

I don't know if there are any plans to release the Starbuck Chronicles in German translation? For information on other German translations of my books, please go to the Diary page of this website where you will find a link to a German language website.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, My name is Sarah McCabe. Im a senior in high school, and Im part of the Writing Center program at my school. Writing Center is a class run by upper classmen where you learn to become a writing tutor. Its basically students helping other students learn how to improve their writing skills. We teach the students who come in and ask for help, but we are also given assignments to help us become better writers. One of these assignments is a research paper on a topic of our choice. For my topic I chose to research Norse Mythology so that I can modernize it. We learn all about Roman and Greek mythology in school, but they never teach us anything about Norse myths. I want to re-write Norse myths in a modern light to help spread the knowledge Norse culture. So, Im sure youre wondering what any of this has to do with you. Well, for one chunk of our research paper, we have to have an interview with someone that could be considered an expert in the area we are researching. I wanted to interview an author since I wanted to know more about the research it takes to write from previous facts. I know how much work goes into writing a novel since Im trying to write one myself, so I dont expect to actually sit down with you and have a one on one chat. If you could answer a few of my questions though, Id be extremely grateful. I just wanted to know how much research you have to do when you write, and where you usually go to get good, reliable information. I was also wondering how you figure out where to stick to the facts youve got and when to take creative license. Is there a generally accepted rule or do you just play it by ear? Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions! I hope your next work is coming along the way you want it to, and that you dont get a severe case of writers block anytime soon. Sincerely, Sarah McCabe

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

How much research? It takes a lifetime. I've been reading history since I was a child, and all that reading contributes to what I do. However - when thinking about a new book I'll spend some months reading in a very concentrated way, though how long and how much depends on the book. I'm about to start a book set in the American Revolution and, though I know the period well, I still needed six or seven months of reading, though for, say, a Sharpe book, I'll only do about a month's dedicated research. But it's almost an unanswerable question, because my research began about fifty years ago and it's still going strong. As for facts versus story - my job is to tell a story. I'm not an historian. If you want to know what happened in The Peninsular War then read Professor Charles Esdaile's wonderful history, but my job (far more than his) is to entertain you. I do try and stick as closely as possible to the history, but where changing it would make for a better story, I change it. Thus, in Sharpe's Company, although no British soldier got through the breach of Badajoz, that was where the night's drama took place, and so Sharpe had to be in a breach, and if Sharpe attacks a breach, he gets through. So I changed the history - but, very important, I confessed my sins in the Historical Note. I don't think there is an accepted rule - Hollywood films change history outrageously - but my rule is to tell the reader what I changed.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, in the first place I would like to excuse for my clumsy English. I beg your pardon as I will finish my A-levels in two years time. I used to read the warlord chronicles in German as they were published once again in German. As translations usually tend to be quite strange I decided to read the Saxon Stories in English =) I like them a lot and I am really looking forward for the next book being published. I asked my bookseller to import Agincourt. I got it yesterday and was quite astonished that the bookseller imported the US version. My question is whether there is any considerable difference between the US and UK version aside from the cover. I am looking forward to hear from you soon if you got the time ;-) With the best regards from Germany, Richard Minderjahn

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

There is no difference between the US and the UK versions of the book (other than covers). Hope you'll enjoy it!

Q

Hi Bernard, Many thanks for your great novels which I really enjoy (can't wait for The Burning Land). When answering some questions recently you often mention that you have many ideas for new stories. Can you give your fans an idea what may be in the offing? Many thanks Bob Warburton

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

I keep new ideas to myself - I did once talk in public about an idea I wanted to write (and still do) and, perhaps it was a coincidence, but within a year someone had sold that idea to a publisher (it really wasn't that accessible) and proceeded to mess it up totally. No, I won't say who or what. But there will be more Uhtred, more Sharpe and, I hope, some other things too!

Q

There's a book titled "Warriors' listed on Amazon as yours but I don't see it here unless it's under a different UK name and I'm missing it or it's coming but not yet up on this site? Love all your books. But I heard you speak at U of T and you said your wife zips through the actual battle scenes - so do I but it still leaves a lot of great reading. Carolyn

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

It's a mistake. I have no book with that title.

Q

Hi. I would like to know which of Mr. Cornwell's books have been made into movies, besides the Sharpe's series. Thank you.
Ross

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

None! Only the Sharpe books have been filmed.

Q

Read all the books. Seen all the DVDs and loved it all. I am puzzled that the Daily Mail today (8th May 2009) advertises a programme called "Sharpe's War" on the Military History Channel with a commentary by Bernard Cornwell. I am on Virgin Cable TV yet there is no channel called Military History. Can you tell me where and when we can see "Sharpe's War"? Thank you and keep 'em coming. Jack Yorke (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

I think it must be the UK History Channel.

Q

congratulations for your grail series== superb !! question == Poitier's + Thomas + archers=1365 any plan ?? thank you much, George Margaritis

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

It's possible - not entirely a sure thing - but really possible. Thanks

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell I have read many of your novels (Grail quests, Warlord series, saxon stories, your newest book Agincourt) I love reading your books a lot. I was wondering if you are planing to make more novels like Agincourt or the grail quest that have English archers I am fascinated at how the English war bow decimated armies, and I can't get enough of it. Again thank you for writing such great books. ps. I can't wait for Burning Lands to come out in the United States.

Daniel McCullough

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

There's a strong possibility of at least one more, and maybe more than that . . . .I do have some ideas, but it will be a couple of years before I write the first. Thank you!

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I was wondering what got you interested in our American Civil War? Were the Starbuck characters based on any particular soldiers? Thank you for your wonderful stories! Best Regards, Brian O'Hara New York

Submitted May 13, 2009

A

Starbuck is entirely fictitious, though his name comes from a family that was well established on Nantucket in the early 19th Century (one reviewer said it was a 'ridiculous' name for an American, presumably a reviewer who had not read Moby Dick). I got interested because I moved to the States when I got married and began reading American history more closely.