Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr.Cornwell you are my favourite author, I was wondering if you ever intend to write any books based on the War of the Roses or the English Civil war, or a character Like Hereward The Wake? I think you would do a grand job. Lee

Submitted February 9, 2009

A

I'm not planning on a book based on the War of the Roses. I've considered the English Civil War but it would take a few years of research so I'm not sure when that could happen... And Hereward is a good tale so who knows?

Q

Hi Bernard Have long been a fan of all of your books, however please take a moment for a spot of wild speculation. When you consider the rate of fire of the muzzle loaded infantry weapons of the Napoleonic era used at say Waterloo and the Longbow used at Agincourt, and the very close range that both of these battles were fought, would the longbow have been more effective? Martin Milton-White

Submitted February 9, 2009

A

It would have been far more effective! So much so that the Duke of Wellington enquired, during the Peninsular Wars, about the possibility of raising a Corps of Longbowmen for service in Spain, but he was told there simple weren't enough trained archers to make it feasible. If you have 1000 muskets then their accuracy is lousy - certainly nothing above 100 paces will be remotely accurate, and their rate of fire will be between three and four shots a minute, so be kind and say four, and you have 4000 missiles a minute which are useless beyond 150 paces. Face them with 300 longbowmen who are wickedly accurate at 150 paces and they're loosing 15 arrows a minute which means they're shooting 4,500 missiles in a minute. There's no contest! Most of the musketeers would be dead or wounded before they even got into effective range, but it took ten years dedication to make an archer . . . . . so the musket triumphed.

Q

Hi Bernard Firstly, though I am sure you are only too aware of this, you continue to be an absolute inspiration both to those of us who are never happier than when immersed in well crafted historical fiction and to the smaller (I imagine) number who harbour aspirations of having work published. Interestingly, whilst I adore your work and that of a number of your contemporaries, my own fledgling storytelling resides in an era much different from the time I like to read about. Two questions, if I may. The first is on the issue of contemporaries. Do you ever have either the time or the inclination to trade writers' joy and woes with some of your fellow historical fictionists? I'm imagining a winter Sunday afternoon in a country pub in Hampshire - you, Simon Scarrow, Julian Rathbone (sad loss), C J Sansom and Martin Stephen exchanging thoughts over a local brew or two.

Secondly, although your writing possibly places you in periods where this is of little concern, how far should a historical author go in determining the support (or otherwise) of the descendants of the real life characters nestled within the story. For example, I have a desperate to escape story set at the turn of the 20th century ... but with one of the pivotal characters being a larger than life 'celebrity' of his time I have been reluctant to make a start. Many thanks for your time... Lee

Submitted February 9, 2009

A

I know this will sound curmudgeonly, but writing is, to me anyway, a solitary vice. I've met a good number of other historical novelists and we're usually very cordial, but I can't say I actively seek them out. There, very curmudgeonly. I'm reading CJ Sansom now and am full of admiration - marvellous books!

Yes, you have a duty of truth to a real person whom you set in your story - but that's just a question of doing the research! And if the truth, as you see it, isn't the received version, well that's tough on his descendants, but go with it all the same. No need to feel constrained - write it!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, a safety demonstration I used to do with archery students may be of interest to you and particularly those who doubt the penetration abilities of arrows. Using a 45lb draw weight recurve bow and field point arrows (arrow weight 1 1/2 oz), arrows shot at 1/16th steel plate from a distance of 15 yards would pass completely through the plate. Field points are mild steel so are soft compared with a properly hardened bodkin point. The steel plate was cold rolled mild steel so fairly tough. A long bow of 120 lbs plus with heavier arrows would have been devastating. I have read all of your books so far and am looking forward impatiently to the next in the Saxon series. Thank you for all the enjoyment you have given me. Colin Hailey

Submitted February 9, 2009

A

Thankyou! I agree with you . . . I suspect the power of the bow is much underestimated today, though undoubtedly it was spoiled by bad metallurgy in the 14th and 15th Centuries - remember that chronicler who bemoaned how English arrows 'crumpled' on hitting the French armour at Poitiers - not that it mattered, we won anyway!

Q

Hi, Was/Has Sharpe's Devil ever considered for the latest TV shows that were shown. Feel it would make an excellent addition! Keep up the good work. Tom

Submitted February 9, 2009

A

Never film with dogs, children or ships. I don't think they have considered it (too many ships? And besides, the ending of the book was filmed, I'm sure by accident, in 'Master and Commander'), but they are hoping to do more, so who knows?

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am really enjoying the Saxon Stories, and look forward to each new installment. One thing bothers me, though, especially since I check the books out of the library, and don't have all the copies available: I cannot always recall key plot points and characters from earlier books! To be honest, in Sword Song, I could not remember how Uhtred had gotten involved with Griselda, his second wife. Part of this grand forgetting is that I'm getting older, and part is that I'm immersed in the plots of lots of other novels in the months between segments of Uhtred's saga. Have you ever considered a 2-3 page summary/outline of the story so far at the start of the next book? Or even a list of key characters with a brief history of the part each has played? I know, this would take a miracle of editing for brevity, but boy, would it help! Thanks so much....Linda G.

Submitted February 6, 2009

A

It's something to think about. I've done it with some books, but I do try to make each tale self-contained. I promise I'll think about it!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, My name is John and I am playing a captain from 1415 in a new play pre battle of Agincourt. I know you have written books about this period so I was wondering if you could give me any information on Captains from this era. If you could help me in anyway I would be very grateful

John Patridge

Submitted February 6, 2009

A

I'm not sure what you mean by 'captain'? The name could apply to so many different ranks, from a man like Sir John Cornwell who agrees to raise 150 troops, some men-at-arms, some archers, and leads them to France under the king's overall command. Or a ventenar? Who is more like an NCO. I'd suggest you read Juliet Barker's splendid book on Agincourt, called Agincourt, and especially the chapter on raising the army, and I suspect you'll find all the information you need there!

Q

Good evening. I'm writing from Italy to know when the fourth book of saxon chronicles, Sword Song, will be translated to Ialian and edited in Italy. Can you answer? Thanks, Marco Birocchi

Submitted February 6, 2009

A

Yes Marco, I'm happy to say I can answer your question. Sword Song will be available in Italian translation in May of this year. Hope you will enjoy it!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, first off allow me to give you praise for your excellent storytelling. My favorite novels so far are your Warlord Chronicles and the Saxon Tales. I think they are absolutely amazing and can not wait for the next installment in the Saxon Tales. Now as for my questions. I know you receive many questions about extending your Arthur series and your response is that the story is finished. My question is a little different in regards to the series, have you ever thought of a different series following other knights that were not mentioned in the series, and their stories not involving Arthur?

Also, have you ever thought of doing novels on Irish figures like Cuchulainn or Finn MacCumhail? I would absolutely love to read your version of the Tain if you ever did produce one. Sorry if these are questions you receive often but I could not help but ask. James

Submitted February 6, 2009

A

I haven't thought of it, and off the top of my head I'm not sure I'd want to write that. But who knows? I think I'd miss Arthur far too much, and it would be a bit like Hamlet without the prince.

I leave all that to one of the many excellent Irish writers.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I am just writing to say that I love the Arthur books, and find that I can read them over and over again. I was curious if you ever considered writing a book from the Saxon point of view after Arthur left?, to show how the British kingdoms fell after Camlann. Sarah.

Submitted February 6, 2009

A

Not really - I'm much too involved with the later Saxon story, so I think it's doubtful.