Your Questions

Hello Bernard, this request may seem unusual but I've just read The Last Kingdom ' & in the historical notes right at the end you make reference to the fact that a family with Uhtred name held Bamburgh Castle later in the Anglo Saxon period & that family are your ancestors. As an exiled Northumbrian & also someone who has an interest in the history of the area I find this quite interesting.How did you manage to trace your roots back so far? Although I lived for many years just outside London I have always retained a special fondness for my homeland & indeed our honeymoon was celebrated close to Bamburgh & our family have returned many times since. I'm curious as to your links with the area? Kind regards John ( & Jean ) Walton

Dear Bernard, I have just finished reading Azincourt. As an author myself I appreciate how valuable feedback is so I thought I would provide you with some. The book from start to finish was excellent in every respect. It drew me in, kept me engaged and educated me at the same time. The character development in particular, was outstanding. The only constructive criticism I have is that the epilogue could have gone further. I wasn't ready for the story to finish which of course, is a compliment in itself. Perhaps you could have described a little of the life the Hooks led once back in England along with the ransom Nick gained from Lanferre and the relationship between them - did he become a genuine father-in-law for example? I wanted that to be so as even the 'baddie' had become a likable character. This is the first of your books I have read and will certainly be reading others from your back catalogue. Which ones come closest to the Azincourt format in terms of making a novel out of a real historic event? Kind regards Simon

Hello,having first being hooked on the Arthur books (Derfel), I was wondering if you might bring back Derfel in the Saxon Stories? Having read somewhere that Uhtred might find letters of some sort dealing with Derfel? Thanks for all the great books(Hopefully you can keep them coming for the years to come) A Great fan,Randy Infante

In your 5th book of the saxon stories, will Ragnar be in it? thanks, Ann Geercken

Hi Bernard, is there any chance of your writing a short story covering the time between Richard Sharpe leaving India and joining the 95th and arriving in Spain? in all of the peninsular stories he is so proud of his green uniform and Baker rifle I would like to know how he fared when he first came to grips with them, how did he fare with the other rifle regiment officers and what were his feelings when confronted with the Baker? Ken Blackman

Dear sir. I just want to say that I love all your books. I've always liked history and I started on your Sharpe novels about 10 years ago. Since then I've moved on to Starbuck, the Arthur books, the Saxon stories etc etc. I've read nearly everything you've written and loved it all particularly the Arthur books and the Saxon stories. That's probably because there's a certain amount of mystery surrounding the dark ages but reading your books has taught me stuff about history I never knew. I'm currently trying to write a historical novel. It's set in the 12th century but I won't tell you anymore than that so no one can accuse you of stealing my story (not that you need to steal from anyone). Just want to ask you a few questions as you've always seem to be good at encouraging others starting out in writing. What's your favourite period in history? Just curious.

I've noticed all your books end with a big final battle. I like the idea of that but mine always seem to finish early leaving the hero twiddling his thumbs for the last few pages. Any tips for writing big battles would be appreciated. Have you any advice on research? Are there certain things I should look for like who was king at the time, major battles etc? What sort of things do you look for when you start your research for a particular period for the first time? Love your books and keep up the good work. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. Michael

Hi Mr Cornwell. Firstly I greatly enjoyed Azincourt but something that came to mind is why Charles d'Albret was such a minor character? You gave him a little build up when father Christopher said"and hope you don't dance face to face with him" but it's the last we hear of him. I was surprised at this as he is generally considered to be the general of the french army and was reportedly killed by Henry in single combat. Alex Verrall

Greetings. 'Been a long time since I wrote asking whether your book that began with Sharpe's faked hanging somehow was connected with stories of Marshal Ney's faked execution. Another story. Before I read Azincourt, I finished all four of Conn Iggulden's books on Caesar. There is a passage in (I think) the fourth book describing a forced march, and how the soldiers urinated and defecated while marching . . . so the men at the end of the march were tramping through a nasty slush by the end of the day. In Azincourt (thank you, amazon.co.uk!), you talk more about soldiers shitting themselves and fighting in their own shit than I have noticed in any of your previous 40+ books. Had you read Iggulden? Was that a spin off on reading him?

Maybe this is elsewhere, but why are your books published several months earlier in UK than in USA? Jim Davidson Lillington, NC

Are you going to continue the Sharpe series with Sharpe fighting in the War of 1812? It would seem there would be a lot of material there. Jim Walsh

Hi Bernard. Two questions please, could you tell me please if the Earl of Northampton mentioned in the "The Grail Quest" is the ancestor of the Earl of Northampton who commanded a royalist regiment during the English civil war.

My other question is what do you think could have happened to Jane Sharpe after she found that her lover John Rosendale had been killed at Waterloo and that no way would she be able to go back to Richard.Thanks for all your books keep on writing.Regards ROD