Your Questions

Q

Your writing is an inspiration Bernard and I've thoroughly enjoyed all your books! I know you' probably have a lot of work in the pipeline but do you have any future plans on visiting Hastings circa 1066? It's an epic story just begging for your magic! Keep up the great work!

Alex Digby

Submitted February 27, 2009

A

Hastings? It's not in the plans . . . but who knows?

Q

Mr Cornwell, I just finished Agincourt and greatly enjoyed it. Its a great story and you really made the battle come to life for me in ways I hadnt thought of before. Before reading your book I was somewhat familiar with the battle and its place in history, but had never thought about some of the details like how many arrows you would need for 5,000 archers, and how quickly that vast number could be exhausted. The question that nags at me now involves the use the squire particularly for the French in this battle. In the book you describe the French squires providing replacement weapons for their assigned knights. How were the squires armored in this time period? I can understand the French knight struggling forward in full plate armor and his visor down making it through (with great difficulty) the British long bow attack, but how did the squires accomplish this? Were they also equipped with plate armor? My assumption is that they wouldnt have been, but perhaps that is the source of my confusion. When I think of the squires without expensive plate armor its hard to imagine any of them making it to the British lines even if they werent the primary archer targets. When I think of them with plate Im still amazed that a 13 to 14 year old boy could cross the field in heavy plate carrying multiple weapons and other gear for their knight while enduring the arrow storm of the battle. Thanks again for a great story, and I look forward to exploring some of your other works. Doug Clinger

Submitted February 27, 2009

A

I am sure the squires had plate armour. A young boy (maybe your 13 year old) would be a page, and wouldn't be exposed to the fighting - a squire was a little older usually. He might wear cast-off armour - or spare armour - any lord would probably own at least one suit of plate. The armour was often made by local blacksmiths (lord knows what quality control there was), but there were specialist armourers whose products were very expensive (Milan had the reputation of making the best armour). I suspect that most men-at-arms were dressed in whatever armour they could scrape together - a breastplate from a discarded suit, greaves from another.

Q

Really enjoyed The Gallows Thief. Am reading Agincourt and I'm a bit mystified over knuckling the forehead. And was Cornweille truly an ancestor or just a literary device? You are truly A force of nature. Thank you for the many hours of pleasurable reading. Richard Diamond

Submitted February 27, 2009

A

Knuckling the forehead is simply touching knuckles to the head as a sign of respect - it lingered on in Britain till the early 20th Century. Sir John Cornwell (sometimes spelled Cornewaille) existed and seems to have been very like the depiction in the novel - the name was a slight embarrassment to me, because I don't think I'm related.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I recently finished and loved Azincourt (I hate that the anglicized title has been forced upon us in the U.S.). I was wondering, since it was never addressed in the novel, whether Nick was actually speaking with the Saints or whether he was just 'hearing voices' (as in mentally ill), or did you even consider this; just curious. I eagerly await volume 5 of the Saxon Chronicles. Best, Billy Stewart

Submitted February 27, 2009

A

I suspect he hears his own voice and ascribes it to the supernatural.

Q

I thoroughly enjoyed Azincourt, but am intrigued to know what sort of food the army ate while on the move? Did they have people in charge of cooking food, or did their wives do it, and did they mainly eat raw food, or hunt game?
Mrs. Joan Baxter

Submitted February 27, 2009

A

I don't suppose there was much game to be had - though certainly they hunted it (any self-respecting deer would flee a mile at the approach of several thousand horsemen). The basic supplies were bread (or flour that could be baked into flat-bread on stones), salted meat and salted fish. They were mostly countrymen, so I'm sure they knew how to scavenge for wild food in season - though too many ate unripe fruit which led to some unsanitary horrors.

Q

will we ever find out what happened to Gwydre? (don't say no, don't say no, don't say no)
Stephen Marsland

Submitted February 23, 2009

A

I have no idea what happened to Gwydre and, sadly, I'm not going to find out by writing another Arthurian book. That trilogy stands by itself, and to add to it would only spoil it - which I regret because I enjoyed writing them. But alas, no more trips for me to Arthur's Britain!

Q

Hello Bernard, You are my favorite author - followed by no less than Tolkien, Rowling, Forester, and OBrian. I am aware that Im a bit daft, but am trying to determine to what degree. The image and voice of Nathaniel Starbuck pops into my head whenever I read of Thomas of Hookton. When I read of Nicholas Hook, another image pops into my head. Im not quite sure of whom, but it is not Thomas. For some reason, a version of you pops into my head when I read of Lord Slayton. Therefore, I have two questions: (1) When you write, do you attach voices and imagines to your characters when you are creating them? (2) Did you perceive as Thomas and Nick as being two distinctly different characters (despite their similar occupations and adventures), or were they based on each other? Best regards, Steve Rose

Submitted February 23, 2009

A

They're quite distinct in my head! And yes, the characters do have distinctive voices and appearances that I hear and see when I'm writing. Thomas of Hookton and Nick Hook are very different in my apprehensions of them, but there are enough similarities so I do see why they might be conflated . . . and Nick is definitely not based on Thomas (who is, as you say, much more like Starbuck!)

Q

This is not an idea for a book, just an idea -- you might, someday, consider thinking about exploring (enough qualifiers?) whether there is a line of descent from Thomas of HOOKton to Nicholas HOOK.

Joe

Submitted February 23, 2009

A

Probably not! It was purely a coincidence - For Agincourt I wanted the protagonist to have the name of a real archer so combed through the muster rolls till I found one I liked - I found about 20, but Nick Hook worked best. Really there's no connection!

Q

Agatha Christie, the mystery writer, always hated the films made from her books because of all the changes made to her story line and characters. Your books are perfect as written: the character descriptions, story flow, believability, etc. I like most of the Sharpe films but dislike some of the story and name changes made by the film makers. Do you mind this, or do you have no control over what is done with your books once the right are sold for filming?

Jana

Submitted February 23, 2009

A

I have no control, nor do I want it. They know their business, and I don't know their business. If I object to a script then I'm putting an obstacle in the way of the film-maker, and that's not sensible! So - do what they like!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell! Please could you tell if there's a monument of the White Horse now? ("Pale Horseman" near Ethandun and if it was historical event that a white horse helped to win the battle? I didn't understood about it exactly in the Historical Note). Anna

Submitted February 23, 2009

A

One of the famous White Horses is cut into the hillside where the battle of Ethandun was fought, but almost certainly it has nothing to do with the battle - it was cut into the chalk much later. You can find more at http://www.wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/westbury.html.