Your Questions

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell, How do you decide who to dedicate your books to? Also, I think its Fury, you dedicated the book to Eric Sykes. Is this the well known comedian and actor and do you know him? Many thanks Tony

Submitted July 9, 2008

A

That's the same Eric, and yes, I do know him, and he's a terrific guy! How do I decide? Not sure . . . . whoever I'm thinking of that day!

Q

My wife and I have truly enjoyed reading (and rereading) the "Saxon Stories." Is there any possibility that the series, or any part of it, will ever be made into a movie?

Joe Watson

Submitted July 9, 2008

A

I guess anything's possible! But there are no plans for it at the moment...

Q

My 12 year old son and I both love your books and the Sharpe movies as well. We read somewhere that Sharpe's birthday is June 23, which also happens to be my son's birthday. Is it true that you did pick a birthday for Sharpe, and, if so, why this date?

Also, any plans to give us your version of Robin Hood?
John Shepherd

Submitted July 9, 2008

A

Did I??? Yes, I did! I just remembered a thirty year old notebook in which I sketched out his life and you're quite right - he was born on June 23rd, 1777. I have NO idea why I picked that date. Not a clue! I suspect it was the birthday of an old girlfriend? But beyond that? Really, no idea!

I've thought of Robin Hood, but not sure when I might get to it!

Q

Hi Bernard, Just finished reading the Grail trilogy - for the second time, and I have a question relating to the Battle of Crecy. In one of your descriptions of the scene you describe the English as flying the white dragon on red background flag,amongst others. We know that this flag is known as the Saxon flag, or the war flag of the English, but I thought this was last carried into battle in 1066? Could you let me know if you have found another source that tells of its use in 1346? Best Regards Graham

Submitted July 9, 2008

A

I did find that source . . . but what it was? I haven't a clue, sorry. I have this infuriating habit of noting things down without adding the source . . I won't stop doing that because I'm not writing foot-noted history, but stories, and it saves me time.

Q

I love your books. I've named my son after Patrick Harper. His obsession with birds and his tender human nature enriches his character. How can you be persuaded to write a book or small series for him? On a particular road trip, with a broken radio, wife and I made our own Harper story we call "Harper's Lament". It's a tale of Harper's attempted defence of a small Spanish village against a raiding French force. Unfortunately, we can't do justice to such a wonderful hero. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent. Samuel Hill

Submitted July 9, 2008

A

Thank you! Maybe the story you suggest is possible . . . I'll think on it!

Q

Hi Bernard, I assume with getting published it's a case for everyone who gets published, 50 or 100 don't. Is this simply because a lot of what is submitted to publishers is really not very good? If one does submit a really good book, can one be sure it will get published or does luck, timing or lap of the gods etc play a part. Or do some really good books for some unknown reason not make it? Willie from Ireland

Submitted July 9, 2008

A

I'm sure some very good books don't make it through the system, and that's awful, but on the whole, I think, if a book is good enough then it will find a publisher. Publishers and agents really do want new material . . . they're not the writer's enemy! So, though doubtless the system is unfair and capricious, it isn't weighted against a good submission.

Q

Dear Bernard In your Sharpe novels the one battle Sharpe missed was Corunna I was wondering if you had ever considered writing a one off story on that battle with a different character other than Sharpe since it was the Dunkirk of the Napoleonic wars and its a shame (from a readers standpoint) that you missed it?

And to really stir the pot How about Dulong from the french perspective? He is one character that does deserve more page time.

And you have said after Azincourt that the next book will be a Uhtred book. Will he being going up north to give his brother in law Guhtred a hand against the Scots invasion of his kingdom. I hope you don't mind me saying but for a man whose castle he wants to reclaim is in the north he spends far to much time in the south.

Finally will you be doing any touring in the Northwest for Azincourt? yours sincerely, Tony

P.S You have probably already read it but if not I can recommend John Gallaher's The Iron Marshal Louis Davout on who was arguably Napoleons greatest marshal.He and Wellington would have been an interesting battle.

Submitted July 9, 2008

A

It's a possibility, that's as far as I can go . . . it can't be Sharpe, of course, but who knows?

I don't think I'd write with any conviction from the French perspective, so it ain't going to happen.

He won't spend far too much time in the south once the series is finished . . . give him a chance! And the big story in the background of these books is the unification (and, indeed, creation) of England and that, whether you approve or not, was a process that began in the south and worked its way gradually north . . . . I suspect the next book will be set mostly in Mercia, but as I haven't started it, I can't be sure where it will go.

We don't have an itinerary just yet, but I hope it will be posted to the Diary page soon!

Thanks for the recommendation!

Q

Dear Sir, I really enjoy your Sharpe books , they kept me sane while in Iraq. I am also looking forward to the next one ! Also your new one on Agincourt. You say the longbow was an English expertise but I was under the illusion the welsh were quite renowned with it also and were used as mercenaries ? Thank you once again for your novels all the lads read them and were also enthralled and I lost many a novel but hey ho no doubt someone else will enjoy them out there. Regards, Gareth Jones

Submitted July 9, 2008

A

The Welsh border counties provided many longbowmen, but it's a myth that that they were the pre-eminent archers. The longbowmen came from both England and Wales.

Many thanks for your message!

Q

Hi! Your books are truly great and inspire the imagination. I just have a a few questions. Firstly, from a history point of view and your own, why would so many warriors follow a man like Alfred who had never really seen a battle or faced an army himself?

Also, where did you learn many of the battle and fighting techniques of that time? and how much of it is your own imagination?
Martin Norman

Submitted July 6, 2008

A

I suspect Alfred created a political structure that made dissent impractical . . . . he had enough powerful supporters to deter rebellion. And success breeds success . . . Alfred's approach to war was practical and highly intelligent, and it worked. In an age when heroism on the battlefield was celebrated he came up with a system that deterred battle - the burh system - and one result of that was to make Wessex comparatively safe from Danish attacks - they nibbled at the edges, of course, but never solved the problems he created for them. That meant that the great landowners, for the first time in a generation, could feel safe and that, surely, persuaded them (in Yeats and Sellar's words) that he was A Good Thing. Alfred's leadership is really, I think, the leadership of high intelligence . . . . much rarer than we might think!

There are a number of books that deal with it directly, so obviously I read those, and the Saxons left us a wealth of battle-poems, and those are a good source, but it's all supplemented by imagination.

Q

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. My question this time is about the Danish war-axe, the REALLY big ones that stood about four feet tall. I wonder how it was used in the shield wall. It seems to me that this weapon really requires both hands for an effective strike, and this would preclude the use of a shield and its protection. If you used a shield, you would be limited to weak, one-handed strikes with the axe. I wonder, could the large round viking shield be slung over the upper left arm? This might still allow for powerful, double-handed strikes with the axe. Alan Kempner

Submitted July 6, 2008

A

I doubt the strikes would be as weak as you imply . . . these guys practised, which in effect means they worked-out. And slinging a shield on the upper left arm would be impractical, I think. I'm sure, at times, they used the axes one-handed, but when two-handed they surely relied on their neighbour to provide the protection of his shield - or just relied on the effect of the weapon itself to create a zone of safety. Don't think I would have wanted to get within hitting distance!