Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, In regards to your Agincourt novel I was curious on whether you will continue more books on the Hundred years especially the arrival of Scottish troops in France that won the battle of Bague (maybe I am wrong but was this the first French victory in the whole war) before losing at Verneuil which was dubbed the 2nd Agincourt???

btw just curious on your opinion on which was better the English warbow or the Mongol war bow of the time and were we or they fortunate that one never met the other???

In the past you have mentioned another book on the American Revolution will it be the next one after Azincourt??? and you have not mentioned what it is I was curious is it Eutaw Springs which was called the soldiers battle of that war????

And have you ever thought about writing about Banastre Tarleton and the British Legion or John Simcoe and the Queens rangers the quasi predecessors of the 95th??? Yours sincerely Geraint

btw will you ever tour the northwest you always seem to stick to London and the south???

Submitted March 3, 2008

A

It's in my mind . . . . . . . haven't made a decision yet.

I honestly have very little idea! I suspect, from some very scanty reading, that the composite bow was the better weapon . . . so it's fortunate for the English archers that they never faced it in battle.

It won't be the next book . . . . but I do hope to get to it soon, and I'm sorry, I'm not saying what it's about in case someone else discovers what a good tale is going begging!

I've thought about it . . . but there are so many other books I want to write that I doubt I'll get to it, at least not soon!

I've toured the northwest! I've no idea where the next tour will take me, but I'll pass your comment on to She Who is Responsible for organising it, ok?

Q

I am almost finished with Enemy of God and have thoroughly enjoyed it as well as the Winter King. I am also currently taking a class about medieval Europe and I was wondering what you could tell me about the historical accuracy of the books? I know the tales of Arthur are fictional but what kind of research did you do in terms of the accuracy of the social setting and the wars between the Saxons and the Britons?
Brittany

Submitted March 3, 2008

A

I read everything I possibly could, though I approached that reading list with a nonsense-detector set to high. There is an awful lot of nonsense written about Arthur! In the end we know a little of what happened in those darkest of dark ages, but we can't approach anywhere near certainty. For instance, there isn't a single historian who would deny that the battle of Mount Badon took place, but they don't know the precise year, they have no idea where it took place, and, though the evidence suggests it was a siege, we don't know who was besieging whom. The regnal lists for the various kingdoms disagree. Gildas is a good source, but he stubbornly refuses to name who commanded the Britons at Mount Badon, and he ignores Arthur altogether. So, in the end, the history is very vague, which means imagination must take its place, and I dealt, as far as I could, with probabilities, and only used possibilities when everything else failed. What we do have in abundance is archaeological sources, that tell us a great deal about the physical environment and the manner of living, and, with a certain amount of caution, I used a lot of mediaeval Welsh poetry (especially Iolo Goch) to discover some of the 'folkways' . . . now, admittedly, those poems (and the Laws of Hywel Dda, which were hugely suggestive) are MUCH later than the Arthurian period, but they were still the product of a Welsh warrior society and, with some due scepticism, it was possible to redact them to an Arthurian setting. As for the rest? imagination . . . . .

Q

I love your writing. I read the Starbuck series and wished that you had gone on to finish the Civil War series. Likewise, I thoroughly enjoyed your four book Saxon series and am wondering if you have any additional books in either of these series either started or in the planning stages? Luck with your next book. I trust it will be as expertly written as the ones I've already read. Kevin

Submitted March 3, 2008

A

Thanks Kevin. I write one book at a time and right now it's AZINCOURT. I won't start planning the next book til this one's done.

Q

Mr. Cornwell- Thank you for the joy you bring me through your work. I've read the Saxon Stories, Arthur Books, Grail Quest and just ordered Stonehenge & the first Sharpe novel. I'm sure you've been asked this infinitely, but are there any plans for either Uhtred or Derfel's stories to be told on screen? PS- I live in MA and if I ever have the honor of seeing you in a Cape Cod pub then you'll be receiving a few pints sent to your table at my expense. Respectfully, Chris Foley Sudbury, MA

Submitted March 3, 2008

A

No plans for either right now!

Q

Dear Bernard, Noticed in an earlier posting that you recommended David Howarth's Day of Battle, and Jac Weller's Wellington at Waterloo as good examples of non-fiction books on Waterloo. Have you read Iain Gale's book on the subject, Four Days in June, and would you consider this a good example of an exciting and interesting read? Your own entry with Sharpe should also be included in the non-fiction category, although more maps would have helped. Can I put in a request for either Leeds or Bradford for your next book tour in October?

On a different subject, what do you think of Lesley Vainakola being allowed to play for England at Rugby Union. Best Wishes Steven

Submitted March 3, 2008

A

I think it's terrific! It's fiction, of course, but very much based on real people and a vast amount of research. It's a great book! As is his ongoing series about Marlborough's wars!

Much the same as I feel about Pieterson playing cricket for England! Fine by me!

Q

I have read most of your books and have enjoyed all of them although the Arthurian books were probably my favorites. I noticed that the creator of Harry Flashman passed away recently and wondered if you are also a fan of the truly missed George M. Fraser? Any idea if another author, you perhaps, would carry the torch and bring back Flashy? Randy Cutler

Submitted March 3, 2008

A

I did know George, liked him a great deal and was very saddened by his death. The publishers won't ask me! I couldn't write Flashman, anyway! That needed George!

Q

Hi Bernard. I've enjoyed your Saxon Stories so much, that I'm doing my Extension History project on Alfred's England. I just wanted to know what sources you would recommend for my topic, which is more specifically Alfred's historical scholarship. Thanks, Sam P.S. can't wait for number five

Submitted March 3, 2008

A

There's a must-read book, and I'm not at home this week and I can't remember the title - it's a collection of scholarly essays. I'll try and remember and send you an answer later. But why not start, say, with Justin Pollard's biography and work off his bibliography?

Q

Hi Bernard, I am a huge fan and have read both the Saxon stories and the Arthur books and am looking forward to Azincourt. The books are an enormous help for me as I travel endlessly with work so Uhtred and Derfel have kept me going on long haul flights airport lounges and long train journeys. I cannot thank you enough for this, I do hate though finishing a novel by you though because then there is that agonising period where I await your next book, I have found some similar authors though and am a huge fan of historical fiction based on fact. Conn Iggulden with the Emperor series and now his series on Ghengis Khan alongside Valerio Massimo Manfredi with his Alexander legend and also the many roman novels. I also admired and continue to admire David Gemmels works, although more sci fi than historical fiction I loved the series on Troy. Can you give me a brief synopsis on Azincourt?

And is there any plans to witness Derfels final battle? Keep up the amazing work. Rory Brisby

Submitted February 29, 2008

A

No. Sorry. The book stays in my head until it's finished. I'm not being awkward, but until it is finished I won't know that the story, as it stand, will remain the same. There's also a lot of superstition involved . . . .

No, I will not be adding to the Warlord Chronicles.

Q

Dear Sir I love all of the books I have read of yours ( not finished yet thank goodness) but I think Sharpe is my favourite character. I am a volunteer dog walker for a local rescue center, and sharpe and I have many encounters while I am beeing dragged round the woods by some large out of control Rotweiler. Please tell me you have not put Sharpe out to Normandy Pasture but are at present planning other adventures for him?

Also is filming of further Sharpe adventures going ahead? I hear confusing stories of Sean available ,but no funding. Then Funding now in place,but no Sean. Hope you can help out a poor foot weary old dog walker. Thanks, Lois Stacey

Submitted February 29, 2008

A

There will be more Sharpe books, but not for a few years as I have other projects to finish first.

My sources tell me filming is just about to start (in India) on the next film - 'Sharpe's Peril'. And, as far as I know, Sean is there.

Q

I would just like to thank you, I first read one of your books back when I was 17, I didn't do a lot of reading, but the book I read was amazing, it was the start of the Grail series, and I could not put the book down, since then I have read as much as I could, recently being Sword song, so my question I wish to ask is will there be any more books in this series, and will Father Pyrlig still be in the story? hope to hear from you soon. Best regards AJ

Submitted February 29, 2008

A

There will be more books in the Saxon series. And I like Father Pyrlig, so I think we may see him again.