Your Questions

Q

Hi Bernard, Thanks for the excellent talk at Cheltenham last week. Currently reading Azincourt and loving every minute of it. Came across a few websites today while reading up on a few facts concerning Azincourt and thought you might be interested if you haven't came across the story yourself, I would also be interested to hear your views. It concerns a French history conference saying that the whole story of the battle as we know it is total lies, and one historian is quoted as saying: 'It is the result of deliberate myth-making by Shakespeare in his Henry V, perpetuated to this day by authors such as Bernard Cornwell whose best-selling novel Azincourt is a gripping, galloping, gore-filled celebration of the English underdog.' The web address in case you want the whole story is: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/10/27/do2704.xml. Scotland on Sunday is also running the story at: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk/Academics-challenge-39myth39-of-Agincourt.4630335.jp, as I assume are many other news sites. Andrew Moore

Dear Bernard It was reported in last weekends papers that the French were holding a conference to discuss Agincourt, the main theme being that the English were not as outnumbered as is popularly claimed, that they resorted to underhand tricks to win the day and that their actions could, in retrospect, be described as those of war criminals. You were loosely quoted in the article. Do you subscribe to the French view that the victory was overplayed by the English or is this just a piece of wishful revisionism by the cheese eating surrender monkeys? Regards, Chris Poulton

Submitted November 4, 2008

A

Thanks! There's not a lot to say . . . . we have accounts of the battle that long predate Shakespeare, and they all more or less tell the same story. I'm really not sure what point the French are making (and suspect there's been a good deal of journalistic licence in the reporting). A revisionist view tries to claim that the disparity of numbers was very slight, but the argument is unconvincing. I suppose the main French gripe is over the slaughter of the prisoners, but no one at the time thought this was an act of great evil, but rather a necessary precaution. If the whole story of the battle is a lie (one that was started by eye-witnesses from both sides) then what on earth did happen? I'd love to know!

Q

For how long was the longbow used by the English.It's use seemed to go right through the 100 years war from Crecy to Agincourt and proved to be the trump card but did the crusaders make use of the longbow? I remember reading somewhere that football killed off archery as it stopped people practising. Also is it true an arrow would penetrate three inches of oak? Thanks for bringing history to life. Andy Houghton

Submitted November 4, 2008

A

The longbow had been used for hundreds of years . . . a pair of yew longbows were discovered in a Neolithic grave in Yorkshire, which puts the weapon back to 2000BC. But it was extremely hard to master . . . a man had to be abnormally strong, and had to learn to compensate for the offset angle of the arrow (caused by drawing the string to the ear, rather than the eye). It was only during the Hundred Years War that thousands of men were available to use the weapon - before and after that period only a handful of men (hunters, probably) took the trouble to master the longbow. Why did it happen then? We don't really know . . . . some people say it was a craze, which is as good an explanation as I've found. What is true is that the weapon was only really a battle-winner when used en masse. A pair of longbowmen would doubtless do damage, but two thousand archers were formidable.

Q

Just finished your latest, 'Azincourt', and wish to express my gratitude, not only for this latest read, but for the pleasure your books have provided me over the years. Please keep up the good work! If I were a writer the story of a longbowman was one which I would have been excited to tell. But now you have been through so many brilliant episodes in our small islands history, when are you going to get to WW2? Again many thanks, and all the best for the future. Yours sincerely, Nikolai Lucyk

Submitted November 4, 2008

A

Sorry - no plans for WW2.

Q

Dear Sir, Heard your radio interview on BBC Radio four, very interesting. The American Chap that wrote a book about recovering a white star liner, keeps popping up in his other books as a character, which I think rather odd. With reference to Sir John C in you Latest book, if you get my drift. In your Sharpe's Devil, from memory, Lord Thomas Cochrane took a part. I did read it ages ago (15 years or so). Since then I have read quite a bit about his life. Partick O'Brian based "Lucky Jack" on him. What I cannot understand is why there has been no film or documentary based on his life (That I know). The man was mad/bad/inventor/egoist but at the same time a hero. I think its really sad that more people don't know his tale. Keep up the good work Cheers Barry Mitchell

Submitted November 4, 2008

A

You're so right! His story should be told on film, because it is so extraordinary - the escape from Newgate Jail, the extraordinary fights at sea, the expulsion from the Order of the Bath - it would make great cinema. But don't hold your breath!

Q

Hello I am just getting to know Richard Sharpe and Patrick Harper but I am left a bit disturbed after finishing Sharpe's Gold last night. I know that you have woven the destruction of Almeida into your story - but the loss of life, in fiction and fact, was terrible - more than 500 dead. Would Sharpe really have weighed this up and still chosen to set the explosion deliberately? And would Harper (who did not hear the Duke of Wellingtons commands to Sharpe)follow Sharpe so blithely in this atrocity? This seems like fanaticism to me but Sharpe is not a fanatic I love these stories and I do not need you to answer ( you have said elsewhere that you haven't re-read Gold), but I am delighted to see how accessible you make yourself to your many fans. I inherited several Sharpe books from my uncle, and I am now trying to read them in chronological order. I am glad to have discovered your work and to have so much still to look forward to. Thank you.

Stephen McIntyre

Submitted November 4, 2008

A

I do agree that making Sharpe responsible for Almeida's destruction was extreme, but I'd still defend it on the grounds that it was the only way to ensure British success in the rest of the war (though the dilemma I gave to Sharpe was mostly fictional). And right from the start I wanted Sharpe to be a rogue! The truth is wholly more prosaic, that it was almost certainly an accident, but I thought (and still do) that making Sharpe responsible made for better fiction.

Q

Hello Bernard, I wrote to you a few years ago asking what it took to get published and you were kind enough to reply with helpful suggestions. The first and foremost was "keep working at it" and I did (off and on). I've now been lucky enough to get an agent and publisher (Robin Wade and Hodder & Stoughton) in short succession, and the first episode of my (Roman) 'Empire' trilogy "Wounds of Honour" comes out next August or thereabouts, under the name Anthony Riches which sounds much more Roman than Tony, apparently. Now don't worry, I've not written to ask you to review it (and don't think I wasn't tempted, I'm just not that cheeky given that you're clearly a busy working author), I'm just looking for a little advice on that "difficult second novel". I note your comments on Sharpe's Gold, as to how difficult you found it, and my god that resonated with me. I'm 50k words into the next one and, if not exactly struggling, I'm having to work bloody hard at it. The story (let alone the individual words) just doesn't seem as good as the first one, and whilst I have a good work ethic (500 words a day, rain or shine) and plenty of time to the delivery date, I just wondered if you've got any tips from the 'been there and done that' book of your life please. One more question. Was number three easier?? I long for a life of writing (and I have a dynamite thriller up my sleeve), I just wonder if the stories will keep coming. What was it like for you? By the way, I bought Azincourt at the airport (I fly to Glasgow or Stuttgart most weeks) and demolished it in record time. A nice rendering of the campaign, thank you for the pleasure of reading it. With best regards, Tony Riches.

Submitted November 4, 2008

A

I wish I had advice for you! I wrote my second so long ago that I've quite forgotten its attendant problems . . . I suppose you just do your best? Sorry . . . totally useless answer.

Q

Mr Cornwell, I was the bearded Ulsterman at Beverley on 23.10.08 who raised the query (note query not criticism as you immediately assumed) regarding your use of graphic text in describing sexual violence in Azincourt, compared with the rape and pillage language used in Sharpe. I cannot remember the exact quotation however "if it has a cock - kill it, if has tits - hump it" is slightly more crude in style than you normally use, and the slicing off of breasts scene was not really necessary. By the way did you check how old the use of the verb "to hump" is? My interest was further raised by your arrogance and condescending comments throughout the evening which were both disappointing and greatly illuminating. As were you boring cheap Frog jokes. Typical Essex Boy! My wife confirms that you stated the "problem" was with me, you had made it very bland and my maiden aunt would not be offended. Just imagine my small pleasure and vindication when on Sunday 26th on Radio 4 Mariella Frostrup made the same observations as I had done. Oh and you also failed/refused to answer her. Nil points je propose! Regards Robert Bennett PS You were lucky - Juliet Barker made the evening! Now does this one go on your blog for comment?

Submitted November 4, 2008

A

Of course it goes on this page! Still not quite sure what point you're making . . . as I told you in Beverly the scene in Azincourt would bear comparison with the sack of Badajoz in Sharpe's Company . . .both were events of appalling cruelty. I wholly agree with you about Juliet Barker!

Q

I am a huge fan of your work. I have read almost everything you have published aside from the Sharpe books. You have written about many famous battles that have occurred in ancient England. And it's amazing to read them in a first person point of view. Would you ever consider doing the battle of Hastings? I find that you are the only author that could do that historic event justice from a fictional point of view. The first book of yours i read was the Winter king when i was 15. It opened my eyes to the reality of history as opposed to the romanticized Arthurian legends we all grew up with. Anyways, thank you for all your efforts and it is greatly appreciated.
Josh Bucks

Submitted November 4, 2008

A

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

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, Hereby, I would like to thank you for and congratulate you on your books & storytelling. I have read quite a few of your books, and all of them were great reads (and still are, of course; I've read some of them more than once). I wonder whether you could possibly tell me if you are planning to write another story dealing with British history. Looking forward to hearing from you soon and wishing you good luck & a lot of success in your work, Karel PS: Can't wait till I start reading Azincourt.

Dear Mr Cornwell I am a long time fan of your works and have just read 'Azincourt' . I just wanted to congratulate you on the work and the historical/technical detail in the story. I studied medieval archers as part of a university course and your accuracy of the subject was most impressive. Are you planning any other new novels around specific battles? And do you think you may set a novel around 20th century events eg Boer, 1st , 2nd WW's. ? Once again keep up the good work Thankyou Mick Poole

Submitted November 2, 2008

A

I am. What are they? I'm not saying... but probably not the WWs.

Q

Can you tell me how long it will be before you release the sequel to Sword Song - from the Saxon series? I'm an avid reader of your books, and love this series so am waiting - impatiently, for the next book! I will be looking out for Agincourt when it is released here in NZ. Regards Donald Morris

Hi Mr Cornwell just to let you know I've just finished reading about Uhtred, couldn't put each of them down, my question is there another book after sword song, I'd like to know how is life goes on through the story thank you Sharon Wallis

I became a fan of your writing with Lords Of The North and have since read many if your other books! However, the story of Uhtred remains my personal favorite. So I waited an entire year to finally read Sword Song! Now I grow impatient, when will you publish the next Uhtred novel? Hurry up will you! I can read only so many Sharpe novels!
Mo

Can we expect a novel to follow on from Sword Song? Many thanks, Chris Cormack

One simple question: When will Uhtred sail again? I've enjoyed most of your books; particularly The Warlord Chronicles. Keep on writin'

Brad Hillestad

Submitted November 2, 2008

A

I've recently started #5 of Uhtred's tale, so if all goes well we would hope to see it published in the UK next October (2009) and, possibly, in the US in January 2010