Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell Thank you very much for the bookplates I received this week. They have found their way to my favourite books. Riffles, Winter King and Sword Song. I have just finished Sword Song. I loved it very much. I wondered how you came with the attack on Lundune by Uthred. Is it fiction or is it fact? Can you also explain why the standard of civilisation dropped as it did after the Romans left England? With kind regards, Frank Kramer

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

We know that Alfred captured London, but the sources are very confused about the exact year, or whether or not a fight was involved, so I took huge liberties!! Why did the standard of civilisation drop? The Romans were a much more sophisticated society, with an administration capable of running a vast empire, a large and well-educated (thus literate) middle and upper class, a legal system that (mostly) worked, a vast trade network, roads . . . and so on . . . the people who replaced them had none of those things (or few and less), and so the quality of life declined precipitously.

Q

Are you going to or have you written a book that takes me from the end of Excalibur to what happens to Derfel, Ceinwyn, Sansum and Meurig forward to Derfel in the monastery of Dinnewrac ? Thank you for your books. I am working my way though all of them. Richard Lord

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

No, the Arthur stories are finished.

Q

I'll apologise first for taking up your time, but we are working in Japan and it is difficult to access a good English language bookshop. (By the way, I showed my Japanese university students the first Sharpe DVD as an amusing way to extend their English. I'm now having to show the entire series in monthly sessions! More fans and well deserved.) I wonder if you could help us with research about English money from 1800-1816 when finally the mess was sorted out and sovereigns were first issued. Do you know, thanks to all that research for the Sharpe books, a good reference source? A couple of my American friends here are writing historical romances set in 1805 and 1810. They insist that one and two pound notes were in common use (they've been reading the Old Bailey records on-line)and so when people talked about money, like making a bet, or buying things, they did so with pounds. I thought it was guineas. We'd be really be grateful to find a good reference source. We have tried to find books but apart from Ken Elks' 'History of Coins' we are not having much luck.
Pdr Lindsay-Salmon

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

I'm really not sure I know a good source . . . . . but yes, pounds were in common usage, far more common than guineas. The whole thing is wonderfully English and completely confusing. the penny was always written as 'd' (threepence was 3d) because it was named for the Roman denarius, which really makes sense! There were 240 of those to the pound, and 252 to the guinea. 12 to the shilling, 24 to the florin and 30 to the half-crown. the crown didn't really exist, but notionally existed. The guinea was the posh peoples' coinage. Ordinary folk used the pound, but smart people insisted on guineas. No rhyme or reason as far as I can see. Some prices were still quoted in guineas when I was growing up, though the coin had long vanished, but it added cachet to what was otherwise a sordid commercial exchange. Not sure about a two pound note? Maybe, I don't know! Sorry I'm not being more helpful!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading the superb sword song a great book in a great series and I look forward tho the next one in 2009. My favorite books are the grail quest series, any chance of another Thomas adventure? Now that I see that you are writing about Agincourt I can not wait to read this as this is my favorite period in history, anyhow when is it due to be released, not to long I hope. Alan Ralph

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

Thomas of Hookton? Probably not. I like him, and it's tempting, but I think his story is probably finished. I've just started the Agincourt book so I can't say for sure when it will be available, maybe next October?

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell. If you were going to guess, which series do you think you'll finish first, Sharpe or Uhtred? It seems to me that there are roughly the same number of books to go in each saga. Alan Kempner

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

I've no idea!!! Truly! There are 21 Sharpes? I doubt there'll be that many Uhtreds . . . .

Q

Mr Cornwell, Thank you for your last reply. I will most certainly follow your advice immediately. I have become a huge ancient history fan ever since I read your works and other history books like Adrian Goldsworthy' s In the Name of Rome. Sir, I have a question: after you finish the Saxon Stories, will you consider writing about the Romans? -Best Regards. Jack Jiang

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

Probably not. I sort of took a decision to leave the Romans well alone - plenty of other good writers dealing with them!

Q

Saxon Stories fantastic series, noting else to say on that, in the books there are so many names and places which are unfamiliar to me and I live in the west country, and trying to search for some of these places have taken so much of my time. Where is Oxton and the river Wiskas examples? Some books have a basic map with many of the main places marked, would this be something which you could consider at some point or maybe a link to a website that gives a map of these places Keep up the good work. Craig Parkinson

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

There's a list at the beginning of the book. Don't worry about Oxton, it's too small to find (near Kenton). Wiskas? Don't remember that one! Or are you thinking of Isca? Which is Exeter. But all the books have a list of place names at the front and your answer should be there!!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell: I recently read the first three of your Saxon Stories. I became aware of the series when I learned my favorite actor, Richard Armitage, was reading the audiobook of Lords of the North. While I waited for the CDs to arrive, I read the first 2 books and quickly fell in love with the story and characters. But Richard Armitage's narration of LotN was amazing. I normally have a hard time listening to audiobooks but was riveted to Armitage's performance. And it was a performance, not just a reading. There were times I forgot that he was the only person reading it and I got so involved that I actually cried at points. Do you have any say in who narrates your audiobooks? If so, please try to get Mr Armitage to narrate Sword Song and following books. You and he have a built-in audience at the Armitage Army messageboard. Many of us have been introduced to Uhtred's world because of him and are anxiously awaiting listening to him read your next books. Thank you! Julie

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

I don't have any say! But I'm happy to pass your comments along. Thank you!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Your books are fantastic. As a child and teenager, I read all of C.S. Lewis's Hornblower books and most of Alexander Kent's books as well. When I discovered Sharpe (from the PBS series), I was hooked. They were probably one of my few indulgences that helped keep me sane when I attended law school back around 96 to 98. I didn't have a lot of time to read for pleasure, but reading a Sharpe book every couple of months really helped me keep a level head. I would be very interested to know whether you have noticed a difference in the perceptions of American readers vs. your British readers regarding the Sharpe series. Although I'm sure both British & American readers love Sharpe, do you believe they view him in a different way? From my perspective, he'd have made a great American -- but I'm glad he was a little too young to have ever sailed over to help the Redcoats, or we'd probably still prefer tea over coffee. Thanks very much, Mark Taylor Rogers, AR

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

I've not noticed a difference . . . and, truly, I doubt he would have made a difference!! I've just finished Mark Urban's new book on the experiences of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the American Revolution (the book is called Fusiliers, and is terrific), and what is surprising is how swiftly the British reacted to battlefield conditions in the thirteen colonies - all that guff about red-coated automatons marching stolidly to their death while surrounded by nimble sharpshooters is just that - pure guff. In fact the Brits swiftly introduced light troops of their own who achieved remarkable success, but the war was lost for other reasons - mediocre generalship certainly (and on both sides, too), but most of all because the territory involved was simply too big. So I think Sharpe is best out of it!!

Q

As a history student I find it particularly interesting to delve into lots of different periods of history, and look for connections between them... What attracted you to the particular historical periods you've chosen to set your stories in? And another thing (apologies for pestering you) - which of your own books have you reread?
Jen Waghorn

Submitted October 12, 2007

A

It's a capricious business, without system or logic. Whatever takes my fancy! I re-read the Arthur books once. A very frustrating experience because I kept wanting to rewrite . . . .