Your Questions

Bernard I have only recently discovered your books and I have to begin by thanking you - they are such a pleasure to read and they really bring the past to life. I have recently finished Redcoat and I wondered if I could ask three questions out of curiosity? 1. When you begin a book like Redcoat do you just begin with the basic idea of telling a story of for instance a British soldier occupying Philadelphia and then work out all the complexities of the plot as you go along or do you work out the plot in detail before writing?

2. At the end of Redcoat you mention one primary source that you referred to in writing the book. I guess there must have been a lot more, as the book is packed with historical facts. How many books do you normally consult to produce a novel like that one? 3. Finally a simple question are you likely to return to the character of Sam Gilpin in any future books? Best wishes and again thanks for the books! Richard Walters

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have read your Saxon stories as well as the Arthur books and just wanted to say that you truly have a gift for creating characters that feel real and leave a person wanting more long after they have finished reading your book. Derfel and Uhtred are both characters that even now - after having finished the books, I still find myself missing them. How do you go about creating your characters and what advice would you give to an aspiring writer in regards to creating such memorable persons? Thanks, Jennifer

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, just wondering when the next Alfred book is due? Looking forward to reading Azincourt, just as soon as I finish the Sharpe books.

I know you probably don't do requests but have you ever considered doing something on 1066? I think it would make for a good trilogy, three battles, three books. It's just begging to be written. I did consider it myself but having enough trouble getting my fantasy published, thought I'd leave it to the expert. Mark

Hi Bernard, I was wondering,would you write any more historical novels in the era after Sharpe? EG Crimea, Zulu/Boer wars? Can't wait for Azincourt. Cheers, Nick Grant.

Hello Mr. Cornwell, I Hope you are having a great summer- I wanted to ask (since the Historical Novel Society is sending out emails announcing their next American conference in Schaumburg, Illinois next June) whether you will be in attendance? i know its a bit premature since its an entire year away- but I regret not being able to hear you speak in Albany and would love to amend that. Feel free not to post this query on your site- I don't want to put you on the spot. Can't wait for Azincourt! Regards, R. Kulb

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

I Absolutely love the Saxon stories! They are some of my favorite books, I found The Last Kingdom in a Borders Books & Music by luck, and I re-read at least one Saxon book a month. I have a feeling Uhtred doesn't get Babenanburg back, please don't let Uhtred fail! And Have you considered writing a story about the Jacobite's or Bouidica? I know you mainly do English based stories so if your feeling out of character a story on the native Americans(the whole story should be placed before white settlers appeared on their shores), Philip of Masadon, Attilla the Hun,the Spanish reconcistor or Charlemange would be great! And maybe you should try your hand at making just movie scriptwriting, for a movie not a TV show. James Neal

Mr Cornwell, I have been an avid reader of your books since the age of eleven (I am now seventeen and in my last year of school). Your books, coupled with one fantastically influential teacher who has, alas, passed away have ignited a love for history that I cannot extinguish. I am applying to Cambridge, Kings London, Kent, Birmingham and Edinburgh to do the subject soon and am nervous. Sorry for the hero worshiping but I thought it a must, as I will be eternally grateful to you. The reason for my message was not this though. I am to be creating an independent study for A2 History, and due to Sharpe I have accumulated a large library (for someone my age) of Napoleonic and Military History. My title is to be How influential was Sir Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) in British and Allied success in The Iberian Peninsular and France between 1808 and 1814? Original I know, but it would be a travesty to my prior knowledge of and love for this aspect of world history and the wars (and to my eleven year old self) if I did not investigate it. I was wondering if you could recommend any areas of opposing view, and points of differing importance. Obviously I am considering French reliance on the land, The Royal Navy, The Guerillas and the such, but is there anything interesting published that is somewhat revisionist? Furthermore are there any books or authors that you recommend on the subject? Or even generally to widen my historical mind? I look forward to your reply, but dont feel obliged. Yours truly, Alex Mayhew Cherwell School Oxford, England