Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, In your Warlord series, Derfel mentions "The War Song of Beli Mawr" several times. I'd love to read a translation of that song, and I've tried to find it on the internet, but no success so far. Is it a real song, and, if so, where could I find it?

I wondered, as well, if there are any early Welsh poems that were particularly important to you in creating the warriors of the Warlord books? Thanks very much for your help, Roberta

Submitted February 29, 2008

A

I'm afraid the War Song of Beli Mawr is totally my invention.

I read as many as I could . . . more or less all the available Welsh mediaeval poetry - but had a particular fondness for Iolo Goch (he does a rich line in invective)

Q

hello, and good day. (unless I'm wrong) in your books you describe that Sharpe's blade was good for bashing and slashing and that curved sabres were good for stabbing; could they both be good for the purposes(slashing and stabbing just wondering)?

And last thing, sorry for sounding boring, did sir.Graham ever go up in rank? I think he was a General at the battle for Cadiz. Luke Wynes

Submitted February 29, 2008

A

The sabre is pre-eminently a slashing weapon . . . the straight bladed Heavy Cavalry sword was designed as a piercing weapon as well as a cutting implement. A sabre really isn't a great stabbing weapon, though no doubt it served pretty well, but remember the old adage - the point always beats the edge!

Sir Thomas Graham wasn't promoted to full general till 1821! But yes, he did rise in rank, until he was second in command of the Peninsular army under Wellington. he led one of the divisions at the Battle of Vittoria, and commanded the troops besieging San Sebastian.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I am an English literature teacher at the University of Mexico, and I just wanted to tell you how I have enjoyed your Arthur and your Saxon series. The historical backgrounds, descriptions of attires, weapons, homes, and whips are simply exquisite--they really take the reader into the times where the story takes place. I have just finished reading "Sword Song," and just can't wait to get more of Lord Uhtred and "Serpent-breath." One question, I have read that your character Uhtred is modeled on one ancestor of yours--where did you find information about your ancestor? Is he specifically mentioned in any ancient manuscript? Thank you so much for your fabulous stories--they really enrich our lives! Jim Valero

Submitted February 29, 2008

A

He's mentioned many times, but the truth is we know very little about him other than he lived at Bebbanburg as his father and grandfather had done. So my tales of him are pure invention!

Q

Hi Bernard, I see Simon Scarrow is trespassing into the Penisula Wars in his latest series. What does Sharpe have to say about this?
Ed Harvey

Submitted February 29, 2008

A

Everyone is welcome . .. the more the merrier!

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

Greetings from across the big pond-- I just finished Sword Song and wanted to ask--Uhtred the father is joined in Lundene by Gisela and Stiorra, but not by Uhtred the son. In fact, Uhtred isn't even mentioned. Is there any particular reason for this? A social custom of the times, perhaps, or a narrative purpose? It's a small point that in no way affected my enjoyment of the story; I'm just curious. Thanks for your works, and for taking the time to answer so many questions. Best regards!
Bob Taylor

Submitted February 28, 2008

A

The son is mentioned, but he's still very young - just a baby, and Uhtred, like me, is bored by babies, so he'll emerge later.

Q

Starting with the fact that I like and admire your work, I am puzzled and somewhat troubled as I have discussed on www.hookton.com why you seem to have introduced the grail quest and the Cathars into this series when as far as I can tell from brief research, both of these elements are actually a hundred years or so earlier. It seems to me that Thomas is a strong enough character to stand on his own, and that the grail quest actually severely weakens the last book (Heretic). Sharpe, for example, stands as a fighting man without other overtones. So I'll ask you (as I have asked on the other web site, "Why the Grail?" Sharlene Taylor

Submitted February 28, 2008

A

Why not? I really don't understand the problem. The Cathars lingered, and their sad story became entwined with the grail (and other things), and the grail itself, even though it was the invention of a writer, haunted the mediaeval imagination. As for 'why the grail?', I can't tell you. This is fiction, an amalgam of myth, imagination and desperation. Why not?

Q

Dear Sir, I just wanted to thank you for the books you have written. Like so many others, I waiting eagerly for the next Saxon installment. Having said that, the Warlord Chronicles stand above all others as my favourite; my copy of the Winter King has travelled to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq with me. I am curious why both Derfel and Uhtred have to be non-Christians please? Galahad aside, there are very few sympathetic Christian characters. I apologise if this has been asked before but is this deliberate please? Thanks for all you have written, Yours faithfully, James Nichols

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I mean no disrespect with this comment, but is it my imagination or is there an anti-Christianity bias running through your books. The characters themselves do not like Christians or the Christian characters are defective or evil. I love your writing style, and your books overall, but would like them so much more if Christianity and Christians were not always (it seems) belittled at every turn. I realize there is historical basis for some of this, but it does seem a tad overdone at times. Sorry for a negative email. I am looking forward to the next Saxon Chronicles book even with this being the case. Best wishes to you and your wife. Patrick DeVito

Submitted February 28, 2008

A

Sorry you feel that way! Uhtred's a pagan because he was raised by pagans, as was Derfel, so you can't blame them. And the church, in mediaeval times, was the only hierarchy that offered an ambitious, but not nobly born, man a route to the top. It was, as a result, riven by jealousies, backstabbing and downright corruption, which was, of course, at the root of the reformation. The one thing it rarely was, was Christian!

Q

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. Whenever you finally get back to the Starbuck Chronicles, I thought of a plot twist you might want to consider. How about Nate running into one of Patrick Harper's descendants, perhaps his grandson? He could have immigrated to New York to escape the Irish Potato Famine and joined up with one of the many Irish brigades in the Union Army. And wouldn't it be great if he also runs into Patrick Lassan, the son of his granddad's closest friend? It's worth a thought or two. Alan Kempner

Submitted February 28, 2008

A

It is indeed and, as the Irish would say, it's on the long finger . . . Thank you!