Your Questions

Q

Hi Mr Bernard Cornwell. I am a great fan of your novels. especially the Saxon stories. I am currently reading Sword Song. I am anxiously waiting for more tails of Uhtred, i think my favourite character of all, a true warrior at heart. I just had a question about the Arthur books. Did your inspiration for Arthur's character come from an historical view or the classical idea? Also are there any plans for films to be made?
Martin Norman

Submitted May 9, 2008

A

Not certain it came from either! The best I can offer you is that I tried to position Arthur in an uncertain world that I attempted to make as historically realistic as possible, and I stayed with the legend inasmuch that I made him a good guy . . . though there is much evidence that points the other way! So half and half??

Q

Can you tell me when you are next in England?
Geoffrey Harris

Submitted May 9, 2008

A

Don't know yet - most likely October. But keep an eye on the Diary page of this website as all appearances will be posted there.

Q

I was looking on Wikipedia for information about the ranks in the British Army for a lesson I have to give in Cadets about badges of rank. I read the "Ensign" page, and it said that Ensign was the lowest rank of officers, but was not used in the Rifles, who always used 2nd lieutenant. Is this correct, because I seem to recall reading about Ensigns in a Sharpe book? Tom Hartland

Submitted May 6, 2008

A

That is correct - Sharpe was an Ensign when he was first commissioned, but became a Lieutenant when he joined the Rifles.

Q

Hi, I just wondered if you can answer a question for me? I know you researched the US Civil War to do the Starbuck Chronicles, a series, I confess, not to have read, as I have no interest in the American Civil War. I am interested, however, that the US army did start the war with lancers, the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry (Rush's Lancers) being the most prominent, though it seemed they did not use them in action? My question is, did any lancer regiment actually fought with the lance? If they did, I imagine they were likely to suffer huge losses. I hope you will write another Sharpe soon. Adrian.

Submitted May 6, 2008

A

I don't know of any who fought with lances in the American Civil War, though perhaps they did. Many fought with lances during the Peninsular War (and at Waterloo). The Polish Lancers were much feared and did horrific slaughter on the British at Albuhera, and the British were so impressed by the efficiency of the lance that they re-introduced it into the post-Waterloo army. By this time, of course, the lance is not the heavy mediaeval weapon, but a much lighter affair

Q

First I just really wanted to thank you for your books, having read now both your Saxon stories and the Grail quest series I can now say that historical fiction is now my favorite kind of book. I was wondering out of curiosity if you often visited the actual places where the scenes in your books take place, or if not where you research about that sort of thing? Also after reading your books I can't help but feel bad that it is no longer the way that you could go out and find adventure, how odd of a thought is that heh? Thanks for your time, Zach

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Have you ever written and described battles when you were unable to visit the battlefield first? If so, how did you get around that? Did not going to the battlefield hurt your ability to describe the event? Obviously this isn't an issue with smaller fictional battles but I am referring to the historical battles. Thank you. P.S. I hope you are able to return to Starbuck someday.
Art McGrath

Submitted May 6, 2008

A

The only one I can think of is Toulouse, mainly because the battlefield has vanished under more recent developments, but I think I've walked every other battlefield in the books. I really can't remember much about writing Toulouse, but I'm certain it was more difficult because I had not visited the site. I did go to Neville's Cross, near Durham, which, like Toulouse, has vanished under housing estates and even that was useful!

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell. I have just read the extract of Azincourt and I must say that I am really looking forward to reading the whole book. I was wondering what your opinion is about the role played by the English and Welsh archers in the battle. It would appear that some experts lately have been trying to play down the role of the longbow at Agincourt and that the French loss had more to do with a lack of French tactics. There also appears to be conflicting reports with regards to the penetration power of longbow arrows. Could they really penetrate plate armour at a distance? Surely they must have been effective or they would not have been used?

Is the main character in Azincourt related to Thomas in the Grail Quest, as in Hookton and Hook? I have been a fan for a number of years now and always look forward to reading your new books. Will we see you in Belfast sometime in the future? Keep up the good work! Regards, Lee

Submitted May 6, 2008

A

I love your sentence! - ' Surely they must have been effective or they would not have been used?' - Yes! Of course it depended on how plumb the arrow struck and on the quality of the plate . . . the very best armour, like that made in Milan, would probably resist an arrow strike, but very few men could afford such armour. As to your other questions . . . . the battle is not a simple affair of archers beating men-at-arms (and I have a strong suspicion that they ran out of arrows very quickly). Yes, French leadership was appalling, and yes, they messed up their tactics, and yes, Henry provided inspired leadership, but given all that I suspect the chief reason for the French defeat was very simple . . . . mud. Wait for the book for the whole answer!

He isn't. I took the name from the muster roll of the archers who really were at Agincourt and it just happened to be the name I liked best and, by coincidence, shared the Hook with Hookton. No plans for Belfast at the moment, but I hope to be back there again one day!

Q

Dear Bernard, I really enjoyed the excerpt from 'Azincourt' that you posted on the website. It's pretty tantalising stuff indeed, and I can't wait for the publication date. Just one question: that incident where the gelded dogs are catapulted into the city - did that really happen, or is it from your own wonderful imagination? It's a fabulous, horrific image. This is why we buy your books. Please keep them coming (your stories, not the dogs). Thank you! Paul from Ireland.

Submitted May 6, 2008

A

I think I made that up . . . . but things like that did happen all the time. Warfare was very charming in the age of chivalry

Q

a question really. You indicate that you write based on character and less on outline... does this mean several re-writes? (or at least did it in the earlier books when you were developing your technique?) Thanks... and thanks for such great reads. Tracee de Hahn

Submitted May 6, 2008

A

Lots of rewrites! Still! Writing is really rewriting. The book changes hugely over the five or six months of writing.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Your book, Lords of the North, caught my attention the other day. I just finished it and enjoyed it very much. I'm now looking forward to reading more of your books. I have a question concerning historical fact (please don't take this as criticism, its a very minor detail that I am simply curious about). On page 32 of LoN the hero states that "My right foot was already free of the stirrup...". I was always under the impression that the stirrup was introduced to England via the Normans during the Conquest and that it was a technological advantage for them. Was this just a minor oversight on your part or is there more to the history of the stirrup in England? I hope this doesn't sound like an "I gottcha!" I usually read non-fiction history and reading you story brings it all alive to me. Keep up the great work!
David Woodhouse

Submitted May 6, 2008

A

The stirrup is much earlier! I think it's introduction was around the 7th Century.

Q

Mr Cornwell, First let me say that I love your books, the Warlord Chronicles being my favourites. The way you combined the legends and history so well was amazing. I am currently at university but have a notebook of information on Charlemagne as well as a few snippets I have written, so when (or rather if) it is published I hope you will accept a copy as it always good to have advice from a master of the genre! May I ask a few questions; Sharpe's Fury mentions Graham's forming of his own regiment and thus becoming a Colonel. Did this happen often and was it a way for non-military men to get a good rank in the army? Thank you for the hours of pleasurable reading, I eagerly await Azincourt and am currently reading The Whale Road, based on your recommendation, it is indeed very good! Lewis

Submitted May 6, 2008

A

I honestly don't know how frequently it happened . . . not often, I should think, because it was such an expensive business. He may have been the only one. Best of luck with your book!