Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell! I've just finished Warlord Chronicles! Great book! I wept in the end(( It is as great as Sharpe and Uhtred series! I wanted to ask why character Mordred is so different in legends: in one he's Arthur's son in another Morgan's? Legends change so much? I like your book most of all these legends! Anna

Submitted April 21, 2009

A

The legends do differ . . . . I suppose most of us accept Malory's version as the one which defines the characters, but I took the view that the stories had changed hugely over the centuries, and I would have the same freedom as anyone else to shuffle the characters. And thank you!!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell Just like to say how much I enjoy your books. I have read some of the Sharpe novels; but the time period does not grab my interest. The Sharpe novels and films are more appealing to my wife, though I did enjoy some of the Sharpe adaptations for tv. It is your dark age and medieval novels that really get me; and once I start reading them it is very hard to put them down. The Arthur books are excellent; and I am re reading The Pale Horseman while I wait for The Burning Land to come out. This series is also excellent. What I would like to know is are there any plans to adapt either the Arthur books and/or the Alfred books for tv or radio? It may well be a forlorn hope but one never knows. I also have audiobook versions of the Alfred books and Agincourt as I enjoy listening to these when I am driving. Gary Swift

Submitted April 21, 2009

A

Sorry Gary, no plans at the moment!

Q

Hello Mr.Cornwell, I just finished reading Agincourt and it was a great book. Do you have any plans to write a follow up novel? I love the Character of Sir John,he reminds me of Thomas Truslow, and Nick Hook.

At the end of Agincourt you stated that all the characters were real. was Lord Slayton a real person as well? My name is Don Slayton and my ancestors came from England, I know that it is just a coincidence, but interesting.

Have you ever thought about writing a book about the U.S. war with Mexico (1846-1848)? There a lot of possibilities with the historical people from the time period. just wondering. thank you and keep on writing. Don Slayton

Submitted April 21, 2009

A

No plans right now, but anything is possible!

I don't have that research with me at the moment - I'm fairly sure, though, that the name came from the muster roll of the army that fought Agincourt. We have most of the names - archers as well as men-at-arms - and I drew almost all the characters' names from those long long lists.

It's not in my plans.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I really enjoy your books especially the historical fiction ones. Do you have any plans to write of any Irish stories, for example Cuchulain. If not, and I truly hope you do, would you be able to direct me to any other authors who have written on such subjects that you know of? I must excuse myself now to start the 3rd book of the Arthur trilogy. Kind regards, Ian

Submitted April 21, 2009

A

I don't think I am the man for the job! Not unless I spend a few years immersed in the great Irish mythological tales. I think there are splendid books to be written, but suspect that they'd be better done by an Irish writer. Perhaps there is a recommendation on the Reading Club pages of this website?

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell Love your books. I live in LA and was wondering if you planned any book signings out here on the west coast. I'd love to have the opportunity to meet you and shake your hand. Thanks. Michael

Submitted April 21, 2009

A

No plans to be on the west coast any time in the near future, but maybe one day? Keep an eye on the Diary page just in case.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell! It is more than 10 years since I last saw you: it was on the first SAS meeting in London which I came to with my mum. It was a great pleasure to meet Muir Sutherland, Tom Clegg, you and countless other Sharpe fans in the flesh! Now comes my question and suggestion: Originally I had planned to write my final exam about the Black Prince, which, however, was doomed to fail in the end with nobody willing to tutor me on such rare topics. The only film about the Black Prince I know of is disastrous and had nothing to do with historical facts. It was that old one with Errol Flynn in the main role. How about writing a novel about the Black Prince, who offers every mark a character is requested to have in fiction????? I hope you are all well, and despite of being far too occupied to enjoy the pleasure of spending hours with Richard Sharpe (which I did then neglecting university totally) I love to remember my mother[ and my trip to London and to the various locations of filming in Turkey. Best wishes, Hildegard (from Lübeck, Germany)

Submitted April 20, 2009

A

Very good to hear from you again! I do have some ideas for a novel about the Black Prince . . . but whether I'll ever write it? I do hope so - but it won't be for a couple of years.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Fabien I have "read" a few of your books, and i really enjoy your work. However these days I can only consume audiobooks, and am thwarted in continuing the grail quest series as I am only able to find the first and third books. also , I am fascinated with the arthurian legend, and I have been searching for your "Arthur books" in audiobook format for weeks perhaps you can help end my search one way or another. do they exist???? oh! by the way I don't know if you are familiar with Jack Whyte's "camulod chronicles"(us). It is also called "A dream of eagles"(canada) this is one of my favorite series i think you will like it, if you do not already. It is another viewpoint on the arthurian legend. thanks for your time... Fabien.

Submitted April 20, 2009

A

Right now the Arthur books are only available on audio cassette, not audio CD - but the latest word from my agent is that should change soon. When the Arthur books do become available on CD, we will post the details to this website.

The third book of the Grail Quest series was published in audiobook in 2003 and should be available. Did you check Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk? Or you might want to go directly to HarperCollins audio. In the US (http://www.harpercollins.com/search/index.aspx?kw=Bernard%20Cornwell

Q

I have to admit openly that I did not think I would enjoy your writing , and this is purely down to the Sharpe tv Series . ( I'm not the biggest Sean Bean fan )& preconceptions were drawn from the tv shows . however I was not aware of any of your other book series , A friend of mine convinced me to start reading the Saxon series & I thoroughly enjoyed them & can't wait for the next book in the story line to come out , this in turn has led me to the Arthur series which is masterful & evocative , I also enjoyed the grail quest , Though again in truth I felt the character of Thomas Hookton at the end was going a little stale . I still haven't got over my prejudice to Sharpe , though they always say that a film never does justice to the book.

Have you ever considered stories around the Crusades or Knights templars / Hospitalers / Teutons etc . having said all that I do heartily now recommend the Arthur & Saxon series to a goodly number of friends , & can honestly say that I am won round to your style & prose , ps :- I will one day start the Sharpe series .

Paul

Submitted April 16, 2009

A

To be honest? No. Not sure I will either, but never say never.

Q

Hi Bernard, I'm currently finishing off the last of the grail series and loving it. I'll be sorry to say goodbye to Thomas! I have a question for you, if you do not mind answering it. Amongst your many great attributes as a writer is your ability to handle dialogue. It seems to be your ability to interweave the critical dialogue with just the right mix of extraneous dialogue i.e. banter etc and at the same time interweaving descriptive actions of the characters which are consistent with the scene and the dialogue. I am on the second and in many places the third draft of a novel and I am finding my dialogue somewhat flat and unadorned. Mine is more of the type "We will be invaded on Saturday", he said. "Make ready the garrison" the king replied etc etc. My dialogue makes very clear what is happening but it lacks the depth or ring of authenticity you manage to convey. Would you have any quick tips you could impart to add a bit of depth and flourish to my dialogue?? I think its about imagining one's self in the scene and figuring out how I'd act and what I'd do etc but if you could give a pointer or two that would be just great. Thanks again Bernard Regards Willie

Submitted April 16, 2009

A

Not sure how much use my pointer would be - but all I can say is that I hear the voices as I write! I don't really think about it. I do think it's best to avoid deliberately archaic constructions (make ready the garrison), unless they point up a characteristic of the speaker. Better, I think, to write modern colloquial, avoiding anachronisms. I was once accused of making Sharpe speak in far too casual a manner . . . so I showed my accuser some dialogue taken from a novel and asked if that was too modern - he replied yes - and was somewhat surprised that the dialogue was lifted from Jane Austen. I was surprised, and pleased, that one chronicler suggests that Henry V's last injunction before Agincourt was 'Let's go, fellas!' Wonderfully modern - but if I had tried to make the rest of his dialogue genuinely 15th Century the book would have been unreadable! Loosen the stays a little, write it colloquially, listen to the speaker's intonation in your head, and I'm sure it will be okay!

Q

Hi Bernard! Just wanted to say that I am a huge fan of yours and have pretty much all of your books. My question to you is about the Rings of Derfel and Ceinwyn in Excalibur. Is there an image of these rings that you can point me to or send me? I ask because I am getting married this year and have always dreamed of getting these rings made for myself and my future wife to be wed with.

Clint C

Submitted April 16, 2009

A

I wish I could help you - the rings are not historical, but something I made up. I can only suggest you take what little description there is of them and discover a goldsmith who could interpret that. Sorry about that - but I hope you have a great wedding and a happy marriage!