Your Questions

Q

I enjoyed the Sharpe books when they came out and have been enjoying the books that you have been fitting into the timeline the original books covered. So the important question for me is are you going to be adding to the series with more adventures of Sharpe? Roddy Carter

Submitted March 12, 2008

A

Yes, but not for at least a year, most likely two...

Q

I noticed on the American cover that the artist did not read how you described the hanging of the shields on the sides of the ship. (I think they "should" have been grouped tighter.) Do you get to comment on your covers before they are released? Great books, as a former writer, I take long pleasurable time with your works. I had control over the covers of the few books I did, and cannot imagine you do not. As you've learned from millions of us, great writing. Best part is you can write fast as well as great. Regards, Min Mr. Min S. Yee

Submitted March 12, 2008

A

I do get to comment, but the comments don't always carry much persuasion, and in the end (especially in the US) it's a compromise between the marketing department and the art department, with my input way way down the list.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Recently I read the Warlord-trilogy. I thought the books were brilliant. I am making a study on the representation of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table in modern literature. I would much appreciate if you would let me know if you consistently followed 'Le Morte D'Arthur' by Sir Thomas Malory. Are there any things you have altered from the Malory-books to make the Warlord-trilogy more realistic because this is to be read by people who live in the 21st century? Amina Jedidi, Bruges, Belgium

Submitted March 11, 2008

A

I made so many changes that it would be impossible to list them here! There are some obvious ones . . . the religious affiliations of some characters, and the depiction of Lancelot. The 'Matter of Britain' as the Arthurian cycle is called, is endlessly malleable; every writer changes it to suit their own purposes. My initial purpose was simply to set the stories in a believable 6th century setting (no plate armour, no stone castles), but Merlin more or less ran away with the tale. I certainly was not trying to tailor them to a 20th Century audience, but as we all write the books we want to read, I suppose that was an inevitable result.

Q

I am a great fan of your books, most particularly with the Saxon and Arthurian novels. I wanted to add I am a christian (Protestant) and have been considerably impressed by, despite your own beliefs, an appraisal of the different breed and personality of christian (particularly between the priests in Sword Song). I would like to ask, if you are willing, to tell me whether your own beliefs relate to those of Uhtred or any other of your characters? I also would like to ask whether characters, particularly the beautiful women are based upon anyone you know or whether they come entirely from your imagination? Can't wait for the next Uhtred. Chris

Submitted March 11, 2008

A

The beautiful women are entirely based on my wife and my assistant, a blonde and a brunette respectively. As for my beliefs, I'm an atheist and can't imagine changing that position. I was brought up in a dim-witted wing of the evangelical protestants, which inoculated me against the whole nonsense.

Q

Hi Bernard. Many thanks for your wonderful stories. I have now read all your books on Thomas of Hookton, Uhtred, Starbuck and have just finished the Arthur books - all equally great. Who is your favourite character and what is your favourite period in English history? I have noticed many of your fans asking whether there will be more books on Thomas, may I also put in a request that you consider another book as he is one of my favourites. Also have you ever considered writing books on the crusades? And what is to follow Azincourt? Kindest regards and many thanks for providing countless hours of wonderful reading. Bob Warburton

Submitted March 11, 2008

A

I have two favourite characters: Ceinwyn from the Arthurian trilogy, and Lady Grace from Sharpe's Trafalgar. I'd hate to choose between them. My favourite period? I think the Napoleonic, but with the reign of Elizabeth I a very close second.

For some reason I can never get very excited about the Crusades, though perhaps that will change?

Don't know for sure - too busy with the current book. I would guess Uhtred next...

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Fate brought me to your books. The Last Kingdom found me last February. I have wanted to name all my kids Uhtred and Gisela since. I would like to ask you how personal the Saxon Series is to you? It seems as I read through the comments from your fans the Saxon tales have been the most liked. You tell the story in first person. Not to mention the family history of yours. I would just like you to tell me a little bit on why this series is a little different than the others and what brought it about. I would also like to ask you not to make a movie out of any of the Saxon books. They are also dear to me and would hate to see Uhtred different than the image I have painted. Cheers! Chad.

Submitted March 11, 2008

A

I hope your wife is happy with your choice of names?? Good luck! I think the Saxon books are special to me because of the family connection; although I've totally invented Uhtred's life, there was an Uhtred and he is a direct ancestor of mine, so I feel, however spurious, a connection. And I'm also fascinated by a story that we've mostly forgotten . . . the making of England. I love England (maybe not their cricketers or rugby players much), and somehow the extraordinary story of how England came to exist has been lost, and I want to draw back a little of the curtain. That's it, really! And is your next daughter to be called Aethelflaed?

Q

Hello, reading the Sharpe books led to purchasing biographies of Wellington; reading of other books has resulted in even further expense for me! Thankfully you haven't written a boring read yet... Anyway, at a time when history is deemed to be boring by many kids, I would like to see some of your books (and certain books by others) introduced into the curriculum. History, for me, is about empathy - getting an insight into the sights, sounds, thoughts, beliefs and emotions of folk living in another time. That's what makes history interesting - the why? And how? So: have you ever written anything deliberately for student consumption? Ben Wire

Submitted March 7, 2008

A

Never, I can't imagine writing for student consumption . . . how would it differ from my other books? If school-age kids like my books, great, but I can't quite see what I would do different to appeal to them!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, concerning the saga about Arthur, there are intriguing references to some Britonic rituals, such as cutting the losers' right hand and taking prognostics upon the sacrifice of a war prisoner, both by his fall on the ground and by the ritual observation of the prisoner's entrails. Is there an historical source for such practices in Celtic Britain? Thank you in advance for your answer. Nuno

Submitted March 7, 2008

A

Almost certainly my imagination . . . I wrote the books too long ago to remember all my sources, and I don't have those notebooks to hand, but I do write fiction, and the paucity of valuable information for the Arthurian period drove me to use imagination a lot.

Q

Mr Cornwell, I just wanted to thank you for the Saxon series. A year ago I came across The Last Kingdom and became hooked. I just finished Sword Song this evening. Your blend of fiction and history is brilliant, and I particularly appreciate the closing chapter where you separate the two. Having grown up in the Mid Atlantic states, equal distance from Gettysburg, Antietam, and Manasas, I hope to find your Starbuck Chronicle series and read them while waiting for the next Saxon story. I am curious, with your background in British history and society, what lead you to write the Starbuck series? Ed Copeland

Submitted March 7, 2008

A

Because I became fascinated by the American Civil War when I moved to the States! It still fascinates me . . .

Q

It is so coincidental that at almost the same time I had started to watch the Sharpe series, discovered when I sought movies of Sean Bean, that I picked up a lovely covered book from the library while searching for more stuff to read about the Medieval period [ had just finish reading the J. Bedier version of Tristan and Yseult]. I knew nothing of Mr. Cornwell before that! Now, I am so very glad I doreally. I read about your reason to start writing seriously. I can only say What providence! My aspiration to write is back. I am having a similar problem with the US immigration process, though I have been married to my US spouse for 12 years. We now live in Belize, my native country and a former colony of England until 1981 (so I was born a British subject). I am a slow and engaging reader that takes note of a lot of what the author; it comes from being a former English Language and Lit teacher. For this reason I have become a fan of Cornwell Saxon Series. I LOVE them! Uhtred grew on me. I didnt outright like him but he is dynamic and grounded, pragmatic and sensible. I have read all the books in the series and seen all the Sharpe movies. I plan to get more of your writings and pleasantly absorb them as before. Cant wait for more Uhtred. Should I thank you or the US INS for birthing your writings, LOL? But more seriously, what was the audience [aka market] you had in mind when you started writing overall? Was there one? And if there was, how did that help with what you wrote?
Yolanda G. Rector

Submitted March 7, 2008

A

I think all writers write to amuse themselves, so my audience was me. It still is!