Your Questions

Q

Bernard (if I may be so bold) Problem with fiction based on fact,is Robin Hoods lament as in Azincourt fact or fiction. I believe Green sleeves is oldest English song. Most sincerely Bob Shears.

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

It's fiction. I'm sure there were songs about Robin Hood (he became famous in the century before Agincourt), but I don't know them. Greensleeves? We have much older songs, including The Agincourt Carol written just after the battle, for which we have music and words ('Our king went forth to Normandy, In might and grace and chivalry . . . ').

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell. I hope this isn't too forward, but I just wanted to drop you a line and say I love your Sharpe books (and the tv series, but that might be because Sean Bean is so hot lol), but the books are even better. I was wondering if there were any plans to do a graphic novel version of any of them? I'm asking because I sent a couple of books to my friend Yuiko who lives in Japan (she is always looking for good English language books to help her study) and she said that they would be great as a manga. Apparently her brother loved them too and said the same thing. I'm kinda a manga fan as well, so I'd buy them too. So I guess I'm saying there is a market for a manga Sharpe both in Japan and here at home in the UK. Um, hope you don't mind me contacting you out of the blue like that. Rhi
Sands

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

A Japanese company are supposedly producing the Arthur books as manga, so maybe we should send them a couple of Sharpe tales as well? Thanks for the suggestion!

Q

I was just wondering how much time you spent in Caerleon during your research for the warlord chronicles. I grew up a stones throw away & the whole story and in particular its links to where I am from were very close to my heart. I now live a short walk away from where you described Merlin being killed !!!!! I would like to thank you for these books as well as the Saxon stories. Lee Davies

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

I can't say I spent a long time there - maybe half a dozen visits? I do love the place, and it deserves to be much better known. People often ask me where they can go to tread where Arthur trod, and the answer, of course, is we don't know, but if any one place is likely - it's Caerleon!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, >From the idle curiosity of a Welshman, have you ever considered tackling anything from the Welsh-English or Scottish-English wars in the 13th/early 14th centuries? There are some decent historical fiction books about that period, but none that do justice to the military/political aspect the way that your writing would. Particularly, I thought that your Arthur trilogy had some of the best descriptions of early-medieval warfare that I've ever read. Great stuff. Thanks!
Nick

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

I haven't really considered it . . . . I write about the things that fascinate or obsess me, and I suppose those wars really don't pique my interest? They're a good subject, so maybe one day?

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, You may have been asked this before by another reader, however, I have a question. In your Starbuck Chronicles you mention that the Falcolner Legion's uniforms have front coat pockets. I was wondering which photos you based this on. The photos of Confederate uniforms that I've seen haven't had any pockets on the front. Cheers! Josh

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

God knows . . and I can't remember. Maybe it's a mistake?

Q

With the publication of Agincourt, you have taken a break from completing the Saxon Stories. When will you resume?
Fred Wallach

Bernard, an avid fan of yours and I am curious as to when the follow-up to "Sword Song" is to be published? Enjoyed Azincourt....yes, I buy your books from Amazon.UK because I can get them about four months earlier than US editions. Still need a green card? I will be pleased to sponsor you.
Bob Harty

Greetings - please please when will the fifth Saxon Chronicle be ready for me!! I now have numerous friends reading the series and they keep asking me.
Carol Beels

Thanks for the great Stories about Uhtred! When is the next Uhtred Book coming? Thanks for answering Michael from Germany

Mr Cornwell, For the last two years I have treated myself to one of your amazing stories from the Alfred the Great series after my exam periods. I'm not much of a reader but I have to say the idea of reading the next book thrilled me and got me through my exams. I have a neuroanatomy exam tomorrow and although I keep thinking about re-reading all four of them after the 6th of February and buying all three of the Arthur books which I heard on tape a long time ago, I was wondering if you had anything new to come this year on the saxon stories. I am sure it would make studying a lot easier for me. Thanks for your wonderful works, Julio Munoz Valencia, Spain

Hi, just writing to let you know i love your saxon stories and was wondering when the next novel in the series is being written/released?

Jayme Parnell

I very much enjoyed your interview with John J. Miller from National Review. I was hoping he was going to ask this question: When will the next Saxon book come out?

Michael Furlong

Please, please tell me that we will soon see the continuation of Uhtred !!! I'm waiting with bated breath. Heartfelt thanks for your wonderful books. I loved "Azincourt."

Dianne Manos Costanzo

When is the next book in the Saxon Stories due out, have been left in limbo, please help.
John Maddison

Submitted January 30, 2009

A

I am currently working on the fifth book of the Saxon stories and hope to have it ready for publication in the UK in October (most likely January 2010 in the US).

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

Not only do I have your book, The Winter King, but I also listened to it on audio which I rented from a Library. Is it available, audio-wise, on a CD? I believe when I listened to it on cassette, there were at least 6 cassettes(about 10 hrs.).
John R. Pomeroy

Submitted January 28, 2009

A

It is not - yet - available on audio CD. I've been told it's in the works so we do hope it will be available soon!

Q

Half way through "Azincourt". My second Bernard Cornwell........Could become an addict. Just re-living the hunger pangs(3 hours) as a boy waiting for communion at 10 O'Clock mass. I suppose Nick was a bigger sinner than me? Thought that they had to starve from the night before back then? Or was that an invention of a later Pope ?....Yours etc hungry Catholic pedant

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

I know they kept a fast (and a watch) before the Easter communion . . . and I'll be honest, I have no idea when the idea of the fast came into Catholicism (I ought to know, but I don't) . . and I'm fairly sure, anyway, that it was a law more kept in the breach than the observance. And I'm pretty sure Nick was a bigger sinner than you - I hope so, anyway!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I've been a fan of yours for many years and always eagerly await your next publication. I was wondering if you have any plans to do anything on the English civil war? I feel this is a fascinating period of our history, which has shaped our nation. Many thanks, Jon Black

Submitted January 20, 2009

A

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...