Your Questions

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I would just like to say thank you for your books, they acted as a happy distraction during my time serving in the United States Navy away from home. I recently have left the service choosing to focus on my family (4 of my 8 years were spent overseas - great for travel, hard on a wife). Your books have inspired me to consider writing a story on my family's heritage as I am a distant relative to Polish royalty and no one seems to write historical fiction on Poland. Do you have any suggestions on research tools you have used, or good historical references for European warfare and living conditions in the 1300's? I know you keep busy but if you have any suggestions, I would greatly value your opinion. P.S. Don't worry even though I am out the Navy I still love to read your books, I can't wait for the next Saxon Story. A loyal fan, Jeff Olek Rochester NY

Submitted March 4, 2009

A

Truly not . . . if I specialise in anything it's British history. I'm sure Polish society was different in many ways, and the circumstances of Poland would make the nature of warfare distinctly different from an island nation, so I fear I can't help except to assure you that the information you want will certainly be out there! I'd start by combing the bibliographies on Polish history and military history in Wikipedia - I'm certain you'll find useful things very fast. Good luck!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I absolutely love your books and as my favourite author I have them all. Have you considered writing about Robin Hood? Like King Arthur He is another legendary hero to us Saxons/English. Scotty

Submitted March 4, 2009

A

Yes, I have considered Robin Hood.....

Q

Hello! My name is Andrey and I am a big fan of your work. I am 22 years old, Brazilian, and I've been reading you books for 10 years now. I am writing this message to tell you about how I like everything you write and also to ask if you have any idea of the success of your books here in Brazil. I also want to know how are you capable of writing so many books so rich in details in such a small time. Reading your work made me think about writing too, and of course I have my ideas, thanks to you. To finish this message. Do you have any project of writing a Second War based book? Thanks a lot for your time. Andrey Mattos Machado PS: Sorry for my poor English.

Submitted March 4, 2009

A

Thank you for your message Andrey. I'm glad to know my books do well in Brazil! I have no plans to write a book set during the second World War.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I'm enjoying your Sharpe series, and have taken care to read all your books in order. I'm currently reading Sharpe's Prey and have noticed many references to events that I didn't read about in the preceding book, Sharpe's Trafalgar. Mainly dealing w/ his life w/ Lady Grace. Did I miss something? Mike

Submitted March 4, 2009

A

No, I don't think so....keep reading Sharpe's Prey; hopefully it will all be made clear.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, As weird as it may sound my brothers and I sit around from time to time and talk about which Sharpe moment is our favorite (mine is Sharpe defending Wellesley at the Battle of Assaye...doesn't get any better than that!). I was wondering if you had a favorite moment?
Charles

Submitted March 4, 2009

A

Picking lice from the Marquesa? I think that is Sharpe's favourite moment! Mine is probably the assault on Badajoz in Sharpe's Company.

Q

Good evening Bernard, I'm an avid reader of your work and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, for many happy hours engrossed in historical fiction. I would like to ask where you get your inspiration? Have you considered the war of the roses? I hope you find time to answer, but would not wish to detract from your writing of your next novel. Thank you in anticipation Cliff

Submitted March 4, 2009

A

inspiration? Simply a love of history, I think (and the need to earn a living when denied a Green Card by the US government). And I think we all write what we want to read. So what drew me to military-history adventure was a love of the Hornblower novels as a child and a wish to read something like them, but set against a land background instead of the sea! No plans for the War of the Roses.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, my name is Joris Plag and I am from Holland and I was wondering is your new book Azincourt going to be translated into dutch? And if it is when can I buy it in Holland. I really want to read it, so if it is going to take a while I`ll read it in English. Thanx for your time. Greetings, Joris Plag

Dear mister Cornwell, I very much like the Sharpe story's. I do have all the DVD's but i would like to reed all the books. I own Sharpe's Triumph and Sharpe's Tiger in Dutch language. I would really like to buy the rest of the series but there isn't a translation in my language. Can you tell me if the translation in Dutch will come soon? Thank you very much for reading! Mariette Hebinck

Submitted March 4, 2009

A

My agent tells me I don't currently have a publisher in Holland (any takers?) - so I am afraid the answer is no. Sorry!

Q

I have read all your Sharpe books and many of your others and enjoyed them immensely. I have often wondered if your inspiration for Sharpe was the historic character John Shipp who was also an orphan who joined the army in about the same time period as Sharpe and was the only soldier to be commissioned from the ranks twice.
Brian Beck

Submitted March 4, 2009

A

Sharpe is not Shipp, no, though I have used Shipp's biography in the research - everything else is coincidence.

Q

Bernard, As so often heard, "God is in the details," and your details bring us to a living moment in a time and space long forgotten. We are about your characters who have taken breath and are one of us. Is there a sequel to Sword Song? The end seemed so in in the air. Thank you. Charlotte Adams

My middle daughter and I have throughly enjoyed the Saxon books. Do you have an idea of when the next of the series will be published? Stan Faries

when is the next 'saxon stories' book coming out?? by the way if your ever in Maryland I'm part of a Viking re-enactment group that has 2 Longships and we would love to have you on board. www.longshipco.org.. Adrian Kraus

I trust you will publish a conclusion to the Saxon Stories? I've read the the first four and look forward to reading the final book. Regards, Stuart Twitchell

Hi, I live in Brazil and I really like your books. I'd like to know if you have a prevision to release the book 5 of Saxon stories?
Milena

Mr. Cornwell, I am sorry if I have not looked hard enough, but I can not seem to find out if you are currently working on another book for The Saxon Series or if there is a date to when one might be expected. I really have enjoyed your books and hope to read more in the near future. Thank you for your time.
Matthew Hudson

I very much enjoy your books, particularly the Warlord Trilogy. It helps to explain to me as an Englishman, why the Welsh hate us so much! I am looking forward to the next Saxon book and wondered when this will happen?
Ray Gore

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am writing to inquire if you will be writing anymore books in The Saxon Stories? I am a fan from the US and just recently started reading your books. I have completed the Saxon series and now started the Arthur series. Really enjoy your books and look forward to many more. Thank you. Best regards, Raymond Rajan

Hello Mr. Cornwell. In the last weeks I have read all four books in "The Saxon Stories" series, and I really liked the stories about Uhtred. When will the next book arrive? Best regards Bjorn Ljones

I am thoroughly enjoying your Alfred series about Uhtred. Will there be more books to further expand Uhtred's adventurers?
Chip Jackson

Bernard when is the next Saxon book due out and please do not kill off Steppa

Paul Marriott

Hello Bernard, I was wondering whether there were any plans in the making to continue the Uhtred story at all? I have recently read all 4 books and am champing at the bit to see what happens next. Many thanks, Paul.

Submitted March 3, 2009

A

I am working on the fifth book of the Saxon stories now. I hope to have it ready for publication in the UK in October of this year; most likely a January 2010 publication in the US.

Q

Just finished "Agincourt". As with all your books, it was pleasure and a thrill to read. Great fun! I have a brief comment/question/aside: it seems to me the French did not change tactics between Agincourt and Napoleon. The use of the battles seemed to me eerily similar to the use of the columns during the Napoleonic Wars. 3 shots a minute or 12 flights a minute, the result was the same: a great many dead Frenchman. Is the any validity to that comparison? Anyway, God bless the Brits! I would hate to be speaking French. Cheers!

Mark Bigham

Submitted March 3, 2009

A

They weren't quite that foolish! Truly, by Agincourt, the French had learned to avoid set battles because of the damage they knew archers could do. That they fought Agincourt at all was probably because 1) they were in such overwhelming numbers that they felt the odds were on their side, and 2) because the young royal dukes who were (messily) in command overrode the advice of the French Marshal and Constable. As for the column -it worked superbly well against just about every French enemy; but failed against the superior musketry of the British army. They learned to adapt to that too, by deploying into line at the last moment (as at Waterloo), though the adaptation never had time to be refined into a workable solution.