Your Questions

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm 21 years old and reading the German versions of Uhtreds history. I'm very impressed and can not wait to read the 4th book. Are there plans to make a film-series of the books? Film 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. ? I think it would be an great idea. I hope you and your family are fine and I'm also hoping you soon get finished with further books of Uhtreds history! Greetings from northern Germany,
Alexander

Love your books. You use the term "jonathan" in Sharpe's Siege. Where does that term come from. Thanks!
David Carter

In the absence of any new Sharpe books, I've turned my attention to Patrick O'Brien since you cited him as one of your inspirations. Jack Aubrey doesn't seem to have much regard for the Army, but then Richard Sharpe didn't have much fondness for the Navy. Did you have Jack Aubrey in mind when you described the portly post captain in Sharpe's Siege? If Richard and Jack had met, do you think they'd have liked each other? Could they have worked together comfortably? Jane Martin

HI!! First, I'd like to say that your books, mainly the Derfel trilogy, are my favourites. Besides, I have a question, what is your opinion about the Annales and their method of research and study history. Sincerely, Lucas

The Saxon series is brilliant, I can't wait for the next book. I have read elsewhere that you plan to end the series at the Battle of Brunanburh, interesting (controversial?)to see where you locate this. All budding wannabe amateur historians (like me)have their own view I'm sure, and my research had led me to Broomridge near Ford in Northumberland, beats the Wirral anyday! (I am biased though!) Looking forward to the next Saxon installment. Jonathan Ingledew

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I thank you for your well written and well researched books. I do an awful lot of travel for work and your books have given me a bit of a retreat while "out and about". Since an early age I have always had an avid interest in history. Texts and scholarly works can be somewhat dry at times; your books cut through the voluminous amounts of nitty details to give us, the reader, a good story set in times and places that have captured our imaginations. I have just finished reading the four books in the Saxon Chronicles and I would like to know how far these will go. Will they stop with Uhtred or continue on? Do you have any designs to write about the era of the Conquest?

One last question, have you considered a series/story set during the height of the Roman occupation of Britain? Not much to ask, you could just zip off a few pages about the few hundred years in question over a weekend. No? I hear they are doing wonderful things with genetics and cloning these days. Thanks again, I'm looking forward to the next Saxon book. Cheers, Brad Moberg

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have very much enjoyed your books about English history (Arthur, Saxon novels, etc.), especially your historical research, compelling style and vivid battle descriptions. Having recently visited Ireland for the first time, I was wondering whether you have any recommendations for books on Irish history in a similar vein. Early Christianity, Norse invasions, Norman conquest, etc. all seem good material for a similar treatment to your books. Can you recommend anything? Many thanks in advance, Ralf Schemmann

Dear Bernard. Your Warlord novels had very striking front covers, iron age helmet, sword etc, recently while I was perusing the books in my local bookshops I have noticed that these books have been reissued with new front covers (in the UK) which if you beg my pardon seem very out of place for such fine books. Smokey hazy art of knights in scale armour (almost figurine images). In my view these new front covers are not as distinctive as the classic front covers. As such I was wondering if the publishers notified yourself on the new front cover images. many thanks for all your good work. Phil

I've bought and read all your Richard Sharpe books and I intend to start on the Saxon Stories next. Now that I've described my credentials as one of your biggest fans, I hope you'll read the rest of my request. Some years ago, I read C.S. Forester's Hornblower novels. All eleven of them. He did with the Hornblower series what you did with the Sharpe books. That is, he finished the series and then went back and wrote additional novels to fill in some of the gaps. As you might be aware, Forester died while writing the last book (number 4 in the series) and it was never completed. The book was published in its partial state with some notes that give the reader an idea how it would end. Would you ever consider working with the Forester family or whoever owns the rights to those books and finish this novel? I believe you could do an outstanding job with it and C.S. Forester's fans would be forever in your debt.

Gary Babst

Hello. My brother recommended your Arthur book Winter King a couple of years ago. I've been hooked on your Dark Ages stories ever since. I visited Stonehenge for Summer Solstice 2008 where I had an amazing experience. When I returned home I was delighted to find you had written a novel about Stonehenge. I'm reading it now and I have a question about the building of the Sky Temple, in the early part of the story - the first 4 stones. I'm having trouble visualizing the layout. 1. Gilan lays a nettle string along the line of midsummer's rising, through the center of the temple, and on to the southeastern bank. Wouldn't Gilan's string begin on the eastern side (Midsummer's rising?) and end up on the western bank? 2. Galeth fashions a right angle tool, so they can lay a string across the sun string, and the new string marks the north and south boundaries of the moon's path. But Gilan wants 2 parallel strings, one pointing north and the other south. Wouldn't they both be pointing north and south? Why wouldn't one do? 3. The 4 small stones will be placed on the bank ends of the 2 lines. Is that the 2 moon lines that run north and south? It says, one of each pair of stones would be a pillar and the other a slab. By standing beside the pillar and looking across the opposite slab, the priest could see where the moon rose and where she was on her journeying. Did the 4 stones form a very long, thin rectangle? Where did they place the slab - one the ground, balanced on the pillar or what? Please forgive these detailed questions. I love your writing - wonderful storytelling, character development, rich detail, and vivid descriptions. Can you maybe provide a little sketch with compass points or something? Best regards - Chathol-linn