Your Questions

Mr. Cornwell, I am curious if you alluded to the archaic Irish word CALAD meaning "hard" or some other related Celtic word in your brilliant portrayal of Excalibur (old Caliburnus) from a chondritic or meteoric source in EXCALIBUR. I confess I can usually hardly wait to read any of your novels - Sharpe, Stonehenge, Arthurian, Grail, Saxon, whatever - as they are the best-crafted historical fiction one can find anywhere. In admiration, Patrick Hunt

Hi Bernard I understand you do not want to do any more of the sailing books but with you and Sam Llewellyn both not writing sailing books at present what is there to read? I am now having to re read all the old ones again!! Kind regards, Adrian Chichester Harbour England

Dear Mr.Cornwell could you please tell me when you write your novels do you write at any particular time of the day and do you use paper or a word processor? Also do you visualise the look of the character you are writing about before you write? many thanks, Greg

Mr. Cornwell, I'm sure that you receive much praise for your work in historical fiction, but I would still very much like to express my appreciation for your Saxon Tales. I received the first two as a late Christmas present, but I read through both within two weeks and I was quick to purchase the following two. My interest in pre-England Britain has grown dramatically from the four books and, as I'm sure you've deduced from my e-mail address, I've always had an interest in the Norse gods. My one question that I do have for you is do you have any personal belief in the pagan gods? If that is to personal a question, by all means, you aren't obliged to answer.

My one comment I would like to express is that there was no teaser-chapter in Sword Song as there was in the previous three. Does that mean I have to wait a long time to hear more of Uhtred of Bebbanburg? I'm sure I'll hear back from you soon after all "Fate is inexonerable."
Liston H. Pennington

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

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

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

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

I loved the Arthurian Trilogy and I'm not surprised that they are your favourites as well. I think the ending is excellent because it left me wanting more! The only thing I would love to know did Derfel continue to live with Ceinwyn in peace until she 'crossed the bridge of swords"? Mike O'Sullivan

I'm at the wee age of 13, but I'm hooked on your books. A curiosity of mine: I loved the Warlord series and you're right, Arthur is dead and should be left in peace, however, Derfel is still alive and still a good sword to have in a fight. Will you ever write any books catering to Derfel or have exhausted ideas, or just sick of him)? ________ Drink is the curse of the land, it makes you fight your neighbor, it makes you shoot at your landlord, and it makes you miss.
Rouin LeRouche

Dear Sir , I have really enjoyed The Arthur books and The Saxon stories ,I like the way you look favorably on the Pagans ,did you plan this or did it happen by accident? Thank you for this great entertainment. Norman