Your Questions

Q

Having read the Grail Quest series of which some parts take place in Durham and then the Saxon stories I was wondering do ever manage to get up the North East much? Do enjoy it here and as I live up here are there any plans for a book signing talk or tour up here? Thanks Gary.

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

I do visit the North-East as often as I can (maybe once every two years?). My family (Uhtred's family) come from Northumberland and are now, mostly, in North Yorkshire, so I have strong connections, but living in Massachusetts makes it difficult to get to Durham (one of my favourite places) as often as I'd like!

Q

Hello Bernard, my boys (8 & 10 years) and I are really, really looking forward to the new Azincourt novel. They are fascinated by the long bow - we are currently working our way through Harlequin (with some creative editing due to their age). With regards to Azincourt, I recently saw a documentary that claimed the long bow perhaps wasn't the decisive factor in Henry's army or indeed in the outcome of the battle. Claims were made that archers were employed due to their cheap daily rate and their numbers were used merely to bulk out the army size. It also states that the cheap metal used for the Bodkin arrow-heads was not strong enough to pierce the 'new' steel that was used for the French Knights armour. The main factors in the victory would appear to be a combination of mud and poor French leadership. Without wishing for you to give too much of your story away, do you touch on these factors, do they agree with your own research and conclusions?

Please would you also consider turning your talents to the events during 1066. There seem to be some real characters that would benefit from your touch (Harald Hardrason for instance) and the circumstances leading up to and during the battle would give a fantastic opportunity for an Uhtred style adventure. Thanks, as always. Dean Tams, Cumbraland.

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

They do agree . . . though I wouldn't agree with 'cheap daily rate' or 'cheap metal'. The archers could make a great deal of money from campaigning, and their rates were fairly generous by early fifteenth century standards. As for the metal? I'm sure it varied, but Henry went to enormous trouble to make sure he took the finest possible army to France and I can't believe he would take so many archers if their equipment was basically faulty. But I did conclude that the main effect of the arrows (apart from defeating the French cavalry charge) was to force the attacking men-at-arms to keep their visors closed . . . but that said, undoubtedly the arrows did a lot of damage . . but not enough to keep the French attacks from closing to within hand-to-hand length of the English. And, this seems extraordinary, but true . . . the English, at the height of the battle, were shooting a thousand arrows a second into the French attack . . .not nice! But yes, mud and poor leadership were the real factors!

Not likely, I'm afraid. Before I write anything I have to feel a fascination for the period, and that period leaves me cold. Maybe I'll warm to it?

Q

What's with Sharpe's obsession with killing Hakeswill by means of animals??? any underlying meaning??? I would have to say I've never finished a book angrier with a character than when I finished Triumph!!! haha, made me read the next installment all the much sooner however.
Tom

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

It's a joke . . . . Hakeswill can't be killed, so Sharpe does his best . . . . . though in the end, like an idiot, I killed him off.

Q

I'm am a big fan of your Arthurian novels, they are very well researched by yourself, and that is why it upsets me to see that an illustration of one of your Arthurian novels has a medieval knight from the romantic period on the front, I think I saw it on "Excalibur". This is obviously a mistake on the illustrator's party, but I was wondering why you allowed it to be published so?

Also I think I missed out some information on the Saxon novels, I read them as soon as they come out and I might have got muddled up in my information in between the waiting. But, Uhtred is 21 in Lords of the North and 28 in Sword Song, and you don't hear about his trip back down to Wessex. When does Uhtred swear Cedric and his other household troop, and who is Heasten or earl Haesten, and the welsh priest?. Sorry if I seem like I am questioning you in a rude way, IIdon't mean to, I'm just confused if i have missed something? Also I thought Alfred's oldest daughter was already betrothed to the mercian lord in "Lords of the North", but it happens again in Sword Song. Again I don't want to sound rude, but have I missed anything? Robbie Coyle

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

I didn't allow it . . . I wasn't consulted! I agree with you . . . .. . .

Not sure . . . have you read all four? As far as I remember Aethelflaed gets married, not betrothed, in Sword Song. If you've read all four then you shouldn't have missed anything unless, of course, I'm in the early stages of senile dementia, which might well be possible.

Q

Mr. Cornwell I am a huge fan of your novels, and I think they would translate very well to movies, particularly the Saxon Stories.I was wondering if you were in the works to make any movies based on your books because there is a depressing dearth of good historical movies today. Charlie Hughes

I would just like to ask you if you have any idea when the next book in the Saxon stories would be published or written? Also why not make a film? I don't know if you have given any thought to this but if you were going to make a film based on the novel who would you suggest plays the characters of Uthred, Ragnor's Alfred and Stepa? All the best Tariq

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

The next book in the Saxon stories will probably be the next book I write. Why not make a film? I'm not a filmmaker! I earn a living by putting words on shelves, not pictures on screens, so I really don't think about the possibility - my agent does, but I don't. That way I don't live with hope and don't suffer disappointment. And I would be no good at casting!

Q

Hi Bernard, Big fan of your books! A couple of questions. 1. Do you write your book in the order the story finally appears in or do you for example, write what will be the first chapter and may be some of the second but then for various reasons write chapter five and six and then go back to write chapter three and four?? Or are you strictly one chapter after another til you hit the end.

2. I observe that often your plots are reasonably straight forward. That is not a criticism, merely an observation. Have you any advice on plot complexity. I think it may be that a straight forward plot can be more believable while complexity with double crosses, outrageous endings etc can stretch credibility but Id be interested in your take on it?

3. Finally I was advised a couple of years back about the importance of being able to write the silence. That is, trusting and letting the reader figure out/interpret a lot of things for themselves. Would you agree and how do you manage it?? Thanks a lot Bernard, Willie from Ireland

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

One chapter after another until I hit the end! I write a book to discover what happens, so I really can't write the ending before the beginning. I truly don't know what's going to happen, and I discover the story as I write.

I just don't think I'm clever enough to write complex plots . . . . I tried with the thrillers, and it never works for me, so, simple soul that I am, I keep things simple. It all depends on what you can do, I guess?

I've no idea how I manage it, or even if I do, only that you're probably right. I've never been good at analysing what I do . . I fear it's all instinct. I do know that the reader gets bored with being spoon-fed too much information, and it's important to let the reader work out some things for themselves . . . but beyond that? I just sit down every morning and tell stories.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell Thank you so much for the great books you have written, I have read all your series and enjoyed almost all of them and am a huge fan of the Warlord chronicles and Sharpe (not such a great fan of Heretic) I understand you may have had some problems and very poor experiences with Christians in the past but why are we all portrayed in such a bad way? Judging from your responses to many of the questions on this topic you have implied not just that you hate Christianity but you are not fond of Christians full stop despite the fact that many of us are keen readers of your wonderful books. The only christian that had any redeeming character in your books was Galahad but all the rest are self righteous, snivelling, corrupt , evil men. I assure you not all of us are Sansums, Erkenwalds or Assers. In fact a lot less I think than you suspect. I am not naive to know that these characters did not exist and am aware that many people used religion throughout history for their own ends, God allows free will but these men did not represent God. I will shut up now and so once again thank you for your wonderful books. Regards Alex

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I first read your warlord chronicle books when I was in high school, probably 9 years ago. Though the overall story was about Arthur, I found that my favorite personality in the book was Derfel. Then a few years elapsed and I found The Last Kingdom, and have since read all four books as they have been released. After finishing Sword Song I decided to go back and re-read The Warlord Chronicles. I had not noticed before, but it seemed to me that the personalities of both Uhtred and Derfel are very similar. I was wondering how much, if any, of your portrayal of Uhtred is born of a desire to write more about Derfel, without compromising your Arthur series?

Also wanted to say that I appreciate the light in which you show the clash between the various pagan religions and Christianity. My personal opinion being very similar, it is comfortable to read, but it is further impressive to me that as a best selling author you would risk the discomfort of your christian readers to portray the story in such a way. Does that potential loss of audience ever concern you? Nicholas Stangel

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

Hey! How about Father Pyrlig? Rider Sandman? Swynyard? Brother Clement? Colonel McCandless? King Alfred? You miss out so many good Christians! Those are just off the top of my head, and if I thought for a few seconds I could probably add another dozen. So you're not 'all' portrayed in a bad way, and I also portray atheists and pagans in a bad way. This is equal-opportunity insulting, and I really don't see why I should make an exception for Christians just because Christians seem convinced that, because of their superstitions, they are morally superior to the rest of us! And I do try to be fairly even-handed; thus (I'm warning you) there's a vile priest in Azincourt, but he's balanced by a good one . . . . .

It was born of a desire to write about Uhtred (a distant ancestor of mine), and about the making of England . . . though I do agree there's a similarity between the two characters.

I'm not sure I should pander to Christians and, as I answered earlier, I put in a lot of good Christian characters, it's just that they tend to see only the bad ones. That said, I admit I don't mind rattling the Christian cage from time to time . . . .

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I've just recently become a fan of yours when I picked up 'The Last Kingdom.' Loved it and read the other books in the series. Now I've started on the Starbuck Chronicles and was just wondering: how do you choose or what inspires you to pick the time periods you use? Many thanks
Brian

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

Capriciousness . . . whim . . . . whatever happens to interest me. Nothing deliberate . . . I pick them because I enjoy writing about them.

Q

Hi! Mr.Cornwell, I have a doubt about "The Grail Quest"! I read the books and I wanna know what happened to Blackbird. Did she take back her son? Was her city infected for The Black Death? Did she survived? Please Answer me! Thank you.
Thamilles

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

I know this is a frustrating answer . . . but I don't know! If I wrote a follow-up book I'd find out, but I'm not thinking of doing that. You discover what happens to your characters when you write their story, and if I don't write it then I really don't know, but I'd suggest you give the Blackbird a happy ending in your own head, will that do?

Q

Dear Sir,I am a great fan of your warlord series,in the last kingdom,the wessex flag is depicted as a white dragon on a green background,the only reference I have found is a gold or white dragon on a red background for wessex?does the green background have a historical fact? Kind regards Mark Sheppard

Submitted June 23, 2008

A

There seems to be a lot of confusion over his . . . I have found references to the green, and I decided to go with that . . . but I've never found a really trustworthy source, so I can't swear that's the case.