Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was curious why you wrote on the page before the contents of Sword Song: Sword Song is voor aukje, mit liefde; er was eens...? mit has to be "met" in dutch, mit is german. I am not trying to correct you by the way, but maybe you did it on purpose? makes me feel good that my favorite author writes something in my own language. Still my very favorite is the Arthur series. Absolutely the best of the Arthur legends. I've read them now for the 4th time, I really hope that one day a very good director will make this to a movie. thanks for all these great stories. kind regards Mas Peters, Netherlands

You mention several times that you are related, distantly to Uhtred the protagonist of the Saxon stories. I am curious about how you came to discover this and about whether because of this you feel you can live through him in your books. Thanks again, Eliot

Hi Bernard. I wonder can you give me a bit of literary advice. I am beavering away at a historical novel and I am wondering about the choice of some words. I am steering clear of as many clichés as possible especially modern ones but I am wondering about the use of such words as "electrifying". The period of the novel is well before electricity was discovered so is it OK to use this and similar words which probably did not exist at the time the novel was set. How do you manage such words or is it a case that the reader will not notice?? Am I being too careful? Do you take the approach of trying not to use words which have entered the language recently?? Thanks Bernard, I really appreciate being able to ask you such questions. Regards Willie

Hi Bernard, Tis me self agin, Just got back from four days in Edinburgh for the Military Tattoo, thankfully I remember a good portion of the trip (hic!), they even had an ale called Skull Splitter which they would only serve in half pint measures. Two questions; have you ever been to the Tattoo (I would recommend it to every one) and more importantly have you ever visited the sword shop on the Royal Mile? The shop owner was more than happy to let me handle a lot of the swords (I was hard pressed not to jump into a long boat and go off invading someones country especially after a head full of your books. I reckon some of the real life characters back in those days must have been amazingly strong to wield those swords and battle axes in battle for long periods of time. Any way keep up the good work, Philip (SKULL SPLITTER) Newton

Hello Bernard, Any news yet on whether the Warlord Chronicles will be made into a film? This has got to be the best take on the Arthur legend so far! Tony

Hi Mr Cornwell, Your books are great, I am reading All Sharpe books for the 2nd time. Is there any chance that Sharpe or his son(?) could continue onto New Zealand to be in the middle of the New Zealand land wars (1840's to 1880's). It would be great if he could...Craig Emslie

Hi Bernard, I have just started reading your books (Saxon Series) and also 1st in Grail Series. I wondered if you had ever planned to write about the great history of events that surround the years when Robert the Bruce of Scotland was fighting for independence against that awful English King, Edward I? Think you could make a great series out of that. I am enjoying your style of writing immensely. Thanks. Dubhglas Taylor

dear sir I have now finished all of the grail quest and and the first four saxon books....your books totally blow me away, I enjoy them greatly....I can't wait till the new saxon book is finished, if you have even started it. I finished Sword Song in two days...I read your page about not requesting certain things and I truly understand but I do a have a question about something; was Genevieve an early example of Christians that didn't believe they needed a priest to talk to God or some saint, so was she part of the movement that lead to such forms of Baptist or Methodists seeing as how they believe they can speak to God directly? thank you for hearing my question.... Kevin

Hello Mr. Cornwell, I just finished Sword Song. I loved it and I am anciously awaiting the next book in the series. have you thought about writing anything about High King Brian Borou. I read a book about him called "The Lion of Ireland" by Morgan Llywelyn and would love to see your perspective on his life. please do not take this an idea for a story as the idea has already been used but I have fallen in love with your discriptive writing and would love to read something about him through your eyes. Kevin

Mr. Cornwell, I've read your Arthur Series and have just read through the Lords of the North (will buy the 4th one tomorrow!). You are my favorite author. I wonder, how do you come up with such rich characters such as Uhtred? I'm amazed at how you bring the era to life and how your readers almost feel as if they were in the story. What are you planning on writing next? Wes