Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, My Father has read many of your books, including the Saxon Stories. He was under the impression that there would be a 4th book in the series to tell how Uhtred would regain his inheritance. Has this book been written yet please? If not, when do you think it will be available? Kind regards, Jill Ratcliffe (Manchester, England)

When is the next Uhtred book due? I have read all three twice so far and I am waiting eagerly for the rest of the story. I love your writing - it's so primal and down to earth (is that the same thing?) Gillian

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I am a big fan, and am really excited to read to next Saxon Story. When is the next one coming out? Scott.

I have just completed "lords of The North", and I'm just wondering when the next book is coming out? Yours, Mike Watson

Is there a new Uhtred book (part 4) on the way? Love your books btw - especially the ones set in Britain. Kindly, Sanne

I loved The Saxon Stories, and I would like to read more about Uthred. Are you going to write a fourth one please? Katja Jones

Bernard will there be a 4th book to follow on from The Lords of the North? Andrew Mackus

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was recently given a copy of the Last Kingdom by a friend and became so gripped that I immediately bought The Pale Horseman and Lords of the north. I have now read all three and am hoping that there is more to come (???). Thank you, I feel like I'm learning all the time I am reading your books. I studied the period during my degree but did not enjoy that module as I found it so dry - if only your books had been available then! Best regards, Jane

Submitted May 6, 2007

A

There is more to come. I am working on the fourth book of the Saxon stories now - likely to be called Sword Song. We hope to have it published in October of this year.

Q

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. I saw the film "Pathfinder" last week. It centers around the resistance of Native American tribes against the invading Norsemen. The movie had a number of inaccuracies, such as the vikings having fantastic horned and spiked helmets that made them look like monsters, and that they brought horses to the New world. But more importantly, it seemed to me a very biased film against the vikings, portraying them as a pack of blood-thirsty psychopaths who would routinely kill every man, woman and child in whatever village they encountered just for the fun of it. I get the impression from the Uhtred books that they were more discriminating in their raids, and would usually not bother with poor villages where there was likely to be little or no booty. They preferred rich targets where they would be likely to make a profit, such as larger towns and rich manor houses. And usually, they only killed those who resisted them. Is this borne out by your research for the Saxon stories? Alan Kempner

Submitted May 4, 2007

A

I think so. They were feared, of course, and could be unbelievably nasty . . . the Viking culture is essentially a warrior culture, and what goes along with that is a code of honour. They did, doubtless, slaughter a lot of people, enslaved many, but also settled and lived peaceably with new, foreign neighbours. My feeling about 'Pathfinder' (which I haven't seen, but am making an assumption from your question) is that it's in thrall to the current fashion to ennoble American Indians. The myth of the noble Savage is nowhere so alive as in the American media whenever it comes to a discussion of native Americans.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, I doubt you remember me so if you dont object please let me give you background on myself. I am a high school student who wishes to write a novel about Bull Run. I have some questions to ask you if you dont mind: (1) In many of your novels you have parts of your books where you show characters from the other side. Example Adam from starbuck or various French officers. How do you keep the balance with those characters and your lead characters? And how does a writer know when its best to show the other viewpoint?

(2) When you depict real people like Wellington and Gen. R.E. Lee how much of those descriptions would you say are taken from historical research and how much is fiction? I remember in Sharpes Escape there was a commander, who rode up wearing night coat and nightcap. Do things like that come eyewitness account or your brilliant imagination?

(3) Have you heard of the book, Battle at Bull Run by William C Davies? I was thinking of buying at help with my novel on Bull Run and was wondering what you thought of it. Or can you think of any other good books about the (1st) battle of Bull Run?

(4) I would like to know where you got the idea for Starbuck in the first place? I wont even bother to ask you to finish. Wait I just did didnt I? Thanks for your time. PS: Please tell your Personal Assistant thank you for the link to the 95ths web page. I really helped. Good luck with your next novel whatever it may be. Adam Azzalino

Submitted May 4, 2007

A

I hope I don't keep a balance! Those characters will be introduced (or the story told from their viewpoint) solely to advance the plot . . . . and if they or those scenes don't do that, they won't be there. Which is the best I can do to answer your question! The hard work (awwwww) of writing a book is getting the plot right, and knowing just how much information to give the reader at any one time, and those characters work to that purpose! So it's plot driven! I hope that makes sense!

I try to work as far as possible from original sources . . and to get, say, the physical description right (as well as, obviously, the events of the life). But you can't restrict yourself to what is only available from such sources, so the essential trick is to try and project the character into fictional scenes, but staying true to what you know about him or her. Wellington and Lee are both quite easy, because both are strong characters, and we have many recollections by people who knew them, and so it's fairly easy to get a good picture of what they were like. I fear I don't remember the nightcap episode - whether that was imagination or an eyewitness account.

William Davies's book is terrific. You can' go wrong with that. There may well be something more recent, but I fear I haven't kept up with the literature since I wrote that first Starbuck, so not sure I can be really helpful, other than to say that Davies is very good. Try putting Bull Run into Amazon's search engine . . . you should come up with anything more recent.

Honestly have no idea! Certainly living in the US made me interested in the Civil War, so I began reading about it, and the idea must have come from that reading. I remember visiting Nantucket and being struck by the name Starbuck (a Nantucket family) - this was just before a coffee lover was also struck by the name. This all happened twenty or more years ago, and the genesis is lost in the mists of my head.

Q

I am a great fan of all your books. I have noticed though that there is often a feeling of paganism running through them. As a point of interest is this something you personally atune to or is it just a good story line? Paul Brown

Submitted May 4, 2007

A

Well, I often write books set at times when there's conflict between Christianity and paganism, so I guess the inclusion of paganism is inevitable. I don't really think it's more than that, though I do feel that religion played a far more important role in the lives of people way back when, so must be represented in historical novels.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, In Lords of the North, UK hardback, at the top of page 247 there is a conversation between Guthred and Uhtred regarding the state of Guthred's kingdom and who he should ally himself to. It includes an interjection from Gisela (which is over-indented), and I can't follow the passage. Is it a misprint? Quote: '...You've got me now, and you've got Earl Ragnar. He's the best man in your kingdom. Look after him.' 'And you,' he said, 'I shall look after you. I promise.' 'I am,' Gisela said. 'Because you're going to be my brother-in-law,' I told Guthred. End quote. Thank you so much for your fine body of work. It's a great achievement. I got frustrated waiting for the sequels to The Winter King and Harlequin to be published so I resisted reading The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman until I had Lords of the North as well. I'm twelve pages from the end of the book and it's clearly nowhere near the end of the story, and I've now learned from this website that Sword Song is to be published but not until October. Damn. Fate is fate. Thanks again, David.

Submitted May 4, 2007

A

You're right! There's a whole passage missing! And you're the first person to notice it, for which many thanks. It should read:

"You've got me now, and you've got Earl Ragnar. He's the best man in your kingdom. Look after him."

"And you," he said, "I shall look after you. I promise."

"I've had your promises before," I said, making him flinch. "Besides, once we've killed your enemies, I'm going back to Wessex. I don't want to, but I promised Alfred I would." Guthred glanced at his sister. "And she's going with me," I added.

"I am," Gisela said.

"Because you're going to be my brother-in-law," I told Guthred.

Q

Hi Bernard. I'm from Australia and very much enjoy reading all your books. I'm just wondering where the inspiration for a multi-dimensional villain like Billy Blythe comes from? I mean, he's so easy to hate but then again his motives are really quite easy to understand. As much as you hate the things he does, in some ways you catch yourself finding a guy who can go up and flat out lie his way through a conversation with stonewall Jackson humorous! Do characters like that come from someone you meet? Anyway, thanks for your stories...won't bore you with another "please write another Starbuck soon request..." All the best and thanks for being so accessible. James.

Submitted May 4, 2007

A

laughs. Not sure I should confess this... Let's pretend I'm NOT answering your question, ok? And instead I shall pass on the totally unconnected piece of trivia that President Clinton was born William Blythe, and had his name changed when his mother remarried. But as I say, that is a totally unconnected piece of trivia.

Q

Reading through the archive of emails on your site, a couple of thoughts popped to mind. For Tony April 20, 2007. I suggest he get a copy of "The Traditional Bowyers Bible, Volume One", Allely, et al, C 1992 Bois d'Arc Press. It will answer his questions regarding wood selection and goes into specifics about the Yew Longbow. The other thought regarding a letter of April 12 2007 asked the question about Sharpes whereabouts between Copenhagen & Corunna. In "Sharpes Rifles" he indicates he fought at Rolica & Vimiero. Will you ever cover what our heroic quartermaster did there? Thanks again or all your wonderful books. Skal, Sven

Submitted May 3, 2007

A

Thanks for the recommendation.

Vimerio/Rolica are not in my plans at the moment, but it's possible they'll feature in one or more short stories some time in the future.

Q

Hi, I am an avid reader of your books as are so many who write to you. Unusually, after reading so many books with a masculine hero, I recently read one of your early books, A Crowning Mercy which I thoroughly enjoyed. The thing that coming to my mind was a what a fantastic television drama it would make in conjunction with the masters of drama the BBC - has this ever been a consideration? Thanks.
Nigel Corbin

Submitted May 3, 2007

A

Thanks, but I don't think it has.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I love your Saxon novels and just finished reading Gallow's Thief. What are the chances of you witing a story about Jack Hood, the Highwayman? Thank you! Wendy

Submitted May 3, 2007

A

The highwaymen are a good subject, but it's not in my plans at the moment.

Q

I have thoroughly enjoyed your writing, for example the Sharpe series, and would like to read a book or two from the author or authors that inspired your writing in order to further enhance my appreciation of your novels. Could you give me some names? Many thanks, Ivor

Submitted May 3, 2007

A

The inspiration for the Sharpe series came from reading C. S. Forester's Hornblower series as a child. If you haven't read them, I recommend you do!