Your Questions

Q

Just finished Sword Song & starting Agincourt. Thanks again for bringing history alive. Is there any difference between Azincourt vs Agincourt besides place of publication? Do I need to buy both? Wish BBC would make a series of your Saxon Tales. Bob Koningsor

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

No, there is no difference in the books other than the obvious spelling of the title.

Q

I have just finished ' Azincourt' and thoroughly enjoyed it, but wanted more. What took place after the battle ended? Were the English soldiers able to take their spoils home, did the survivors generally do very well out of a battles such as this? Looking forward to more of your stories. Roderick Ross

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

The survivors did very well! The journey home was fraught - the army and its prisoners reached Calais in early November and there wasn't enough shipping to carry them home - it took a long time to get them all across the channel, and some ships sank in storms (Sir John Cornewaille lost two shiploads of men). The profit, of course, was related to the prisoners' ransoms, and often that took years to collect, but most of the French prisoners were ransomed, and that money all flowed into England. Probably most of the archers didn't see a great return, but some of them would have shared in the ransom money. Ransoms were traded - if you took a rich Frenchman prisoner you knew you might have to wait ten years to see your money, so you might sell him at a discount to someone who could afford to wait.

Q

Grail Quest, Saxon Stories, and Stonehenge all read and totally enjoyed, plus many of your recommended additional reads. A very personal question: In your research have you unearthed the Name BENBOW? I, like yourself, derive from the land of the Brits and continue to trace names and lineage. If readily available from your source files any info would be greatly appreciated. Again THANKS for the many great reads and I await your next novel of England.
Skip Benbow

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

I haven't - except for a passing knowledge of Admiral Benbow. Try Googling it!

Q

Hi Just finished Azincourt. Thanks I really enjoyed it. Can you please tell me - is there a relationship between Hook and Thomas of Hookton from Heretic. Cheers Graeme

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

There isn't. I took the name from the muster roll of the archers who really were at Agincourt and it just happened to be the name I liked best and, by coincidence, shared the Hook with Hookton

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I've admired your work for quite a number of years now and still get great pleasure from most of your series. Just one question. I noticed in my copy of Sharpe's Rifles, that it was published in 1988. As far as I'm aware this book was written to coincide with the TV series as a starting point for Sharpe, at the request of the producers. However the series started in 1993. Did it really take this long for the series to be broadcast?

Also, any chance (during your busy schedule)you could do an Alfred Hitchcock like walk on by if more episodes are produced? Keith

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

I guess it did take that long. TV production is a slow business. It isn't the making of the programme, that can be remarkably swift, but raising the money takes an eternity.

I haven't really considered it.

Q

Hi,I'm a massive fan of all your work as you're one of the best historical writers I've ever found. Better than Simon Scarrow and that. I have been wondering for ages if you're ever gonna do a book about the battle of Hastings as you write battles really well and it's a great period in our history? Thanks Harry Luckhurst

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

I've considered it, but it's not high on my list.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, I discovered The Grail Quest by accident and I'm thoroughly hooked with your story telling and imagination.I take a great interest in the 'Dark Ages',and every chapter is a page turner! My question really is 'where should I now go to find what happened to Thomas of Hookton after the HERETIC.I received AZINCOURT for Christmas and it mentions there Thomas becoming a great Lord 70 years after HERETIC.I would appreciate a clue and I will be continuing the 'Quest'. Many thanks once again and Best wishes. Michael Hughes NORTH WALES, U.K

Dear Mr. Cornwell I am very fond of the Grail Quest trilogy and I noted with great pleasure the (brief) mention of Thomas of Hookton in the Azicourt novel-I notice he was remembered as living to a ripe old age! Do you plan any more adventures for Thomas? thank you for your time, George

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

It's possible!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I was lucky enough to be in Europe over the holidays and one of the first things I did before leaving the airport was buy Azincourt. I fairly danced with glee knowing I didn't have to wait for the later release date in the US. As with all of your other novels that I have read, I loved the book and devoured it in a day. My kids really hate it when I go out and buy one of your books because they know they will be 'fending' for themselves when it comes to dinner time. I started with your Saxon chronicles a couple of years ago and went on to read The Arthur Books and The Grail Quest. I have heard nothing but praise for The Sharpe Books and I am wanting to read them. In reviewing posts from other fans, I'm not sure what order they should be read in. Can you please tell me the order you would recommend I read them?

Like many of your other fans, I am anxiously awaiting the next installment for the Saxon Chronicles. Is it coming out any time soon? :-) In addition, I would just like to thank you for sending the advice for the aspiring author. I value the opinions and advice from exceptionally talented authors such as yourself. Waiting anxiously to see what path Uhtred follows, Tricia

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

I generally recommend reading the Sharpe series in chronological order, not the order in which the books were written. You will find the correct chronological listing of the books on the Sharpe books page of this website.

I am now working on the next book of the Saxon stories. Hope to have see it published in the UK in October of this year; most likely January 2010 in the US.

Q

Dear Bernard Having become a true fan of your books after reading the warlord trilogy and the Saxon stories, I then turned to Sharpe and have so far read 10 Sharpe novels in no particular chronological order. I must agree with your foreword in Sharpe's Siege being my "favourite" too. It's a shame in some respect that a story based on fictional events as opposed to historical events is, for me, more enjoyable and brings out greater emotions. Although the battle of Assaye based on historical facts in Sharpe's Triumph comes a close second. I observe that purchase of Sharpe novels on Amazon in hardback isn't straightforward, either not available or prices are disproportionately high compared to paperbacks. Is there a particular reason for this ? I guess it's becoming difficult for you to fit in new Sharpe stories within the Napoleonic era or will Sharpe now as a veteran seek adventures in the years after Napoleon's death. You have covered the Dark Ages, Middle Ages 12th/ 13th Centuries, Napoleonic Wars - would you consider developing a hero during the Crusades ? Many authors have written novels on the Crusades but they don't seem, to me at least, particularly riveting - what do you think ? Can't wait for the latest Saxon novel and may your creative genius continue for many years to come. Darius

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

Hardbacks are more expensive because they are only printed when the book first comes out.

For some reason I can never get very excited about the Crusades, though perhaps that will change?

Q

I am nearly 80 and have read most of your books. My favourites are the Sharpe series and the Hundred Years War. Have just finished Azincourt. Question:Given that Nick Hook's bow pulls at 900N, and he shoots reinforced bodkins at 30 yards, I still find it unbelievable that the arrow can penetrate plate armour. What did your research disclose? Peter Wood

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

I don't think there's a definitive answer. Yes, a bodkin arrow could pierce plate armour (and did), but it depended on several factors - obviously the arrow had to strike directly, and not a glancing blow, and much more important, I suspect, was the quality of the armour and of the arrow-head. Steel-making was more of an art than a science (basically the smiths added carbon to iron - bones in the furnace worked well), and so the quality of the bodkin and of the armour were all important. If the bodkin was good steel and the armour was not, you have one dead man-at-arms. As early as Poitiers an English chronicler was bemoaning how many arrow-heads 'crumpled' on contact, and I'm fairly sure that by Agincourt the quality of armour had increased mightily, while bodkins were variable. But yes, under ideal condition, the arrow would pierce armour.