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| (1.) Posting Date: 08 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Good evening Mr.Cromwell, I'm sorry for my bad English, but I don't speak very well it because I'm Italian. I study in University of Ferrara, and I have read, for study,a your great trilogy, The Grail Quest,where the protagonist is Thomas from Hookton. My favourite episode of this trilogy is "Harlequin". I have a question about this book: Thomas is a very religious person, and often he summon "San Guinefort", a saint dog. Do really this saint exist in the story of Catholic Church, or is only fiction? I hope in a your answer. Thank you for your attention, and good luck for your next works. Goodbye! Stefano Magrì
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| A: He/she existed ( Guinefort, bless it, became a saint but never an official one, the Vatican wasn't that daft). .The story comes from Flanders, I think and, curiously, the story is exactly the same as the one about Gelert, the dog that saved a baby, in Wales (buried at Beddgelert now). The tale goes that a baby was left alone in a house, wolf comes, dog kills wolf, blood spatters everything, master comes home, sees blood, suspects dog, kills dog, finds dead wolf under cot, instant remorse, sainthood, tourist attraction. Good stuff. |
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| (2.) Posting Date: 08 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Mr. Cornwell, First, I have greatly enjoyed all of your works. I would love to see a continuation of the story and characters from "Gallows Thief", its a time period that hasn't been done well by others. Second, I have a great favor to ask. I am a wargamer and model figure painter. I have tried to compile notes from the Saxon Tales, but know that I have missed some details. I'm sure you probably storyboard your characters to some degree; do you have the descriptions of all of the various battle banners that you have used? I would love to try and create some of these in miniature and add them to my large Anglo-Danish collection. A simple description of the emblems and colors used would allow me to use the heraldic clip art that I have and attempt this. These WOULD NOT be offered for sale, they are for my personal use only. Thank you Sir, for your excellent work and your consideration. William McHenry
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| A: I don't have any pictures, and I don't make the pictures, and I have a horrible suspicion that my descriptions vary a bit (or more) from book to book, so I can only suggest you take what you can from the books because, honestly, it's all I know about them!
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| (3.) Posting Date: 08 Feb, 2010 |
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Q: I am awaiting THE BURNING LAND, but until I receive it, I am enthralled by AGINCOURT. You are something else. I've never read with such vigor and if I could kiss you I would. I have two questions: 1) What happened to the money that Nick took from Sir Pallaire? The next thing you know he and his girl are living off alms.
2) Since I've read about everything you've written, who would you suggest otherwise? I've read all C.S. Forester and O'Brien is kind of unreadable for me. Thank you again, profusely, for the enthralling, manly reading. My very best regards, Sir Richard Fattengausse
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A: I think he spent most of it on his journey. I hope he blew the rest on wine, women and song.
Take a look at the Reading Club pages of this website; I hope you'll find loads of great reading recommendations there. |
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| (4.) Posting Date: 08 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: I've read the Sharpe books, the Starbuck Chronicles, and the Anglo-Saxon series (just a few pages of _The Burning Land_ to go), but I'd missed _Azincourt_. I found that recently and certainly enjoyed reading it. It struck me as a book that might either stand alone or serve as a foundation for some more stories. Will we hear any more from Nicholas Hook? Michael Dalling
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| A: There is a chance Nicholas will return, but no promises... |
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| (5.) Posting Date: 08 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: First, I'd like to add my voice to those requesting a sequel to 'Gallows Thief.' Second, do you have any plans to tour in support of 'The Burning Land'? More specifically, will you ever be in the Seattle area for a reading/signing? Thanks!
Beau Ellis |
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| A: I am not doing a US book tour for The Burning Land, sorry! |
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| (6.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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Q: Mr Cornwell, firstly, thanks for all of your great stories, I've read a great portion of them. I have two questions that I would like to ask you. 1. Could you suggest a good biography on the Black Prince? I have been wanting to study more on him but haven't been able to find a decent read.
2. Is it possible that you will ever write a story about Cour de Lion? I am fascinated by the man but have always wondered (being American) why he is such a hero as an English king when he spent his time on the continent speaking French. It seems to me that the English would detest a king who didn't speak their language and only spent six months of his reign on their island. Thanks again for the countless hours of pleasure your work provides. I just received Burning Land in the mail, and can't wait to get it to (just as soon as I finish with the book I am currently reading). -Jordan
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A: I really don't know one offhand, but my best guess is to look at the bibliography in Jonathan Sumption's marvellous series of books on The Hundred Years War - I'm sure you can find a copy in a decent library.
I think he's a hero because he was written up as a hero, and contrasted so sharply with his brother. I'm resisting the temptation to write a long and discursive answer on the capriciousness of history which often turns mediocrity into legend . . . right now I'm writing a book which contains an egregious example of that, a man who is now revered as a matchless hero, but who in his lifetime was despised, distrusted and accused (rightly) of cowardice. History frequently gets simplified into total distortion and that, I suspect, happened to Richard, but right now I'm not tempted to tell his tale, sorry.
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| (7.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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Q: Hello Mr. Cornwell, I have read the Arthur Books and have just Finished The Saxon Stories with The Burning Land. They have been some of the best books I have read! I know that in the end of The Burning Land you tell that Uhtred will campaign again, but do you plan to follow him beyond Alfred's death through Edward's rule?
Also, while I wait for the next Uhtred adventure, what other books of yours do you recommend that are similar to the Arthur and Saxon books? I am a little hesitant to start the Sharpe Books because they are set around Napoleon's time and being as there are so many of them, I fear my small public library might not carry all of them. Thank you for all your great books, -Brady Plastaras
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A: I do - and beyond that too! He'll be awfully old, poor man.
Perhaps you'd like to take a look at the Grail Quest Series?
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| (8.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Dear Mr Cornwell, I'm a long time fans of your work and I think I own most if not all of the historical books you have written. The reason I am writing is to ask you for clarification of the historical note you made regarding the 'Real Compania Irlandesa' in Sharpe's Battle. In that note your mention that in reality the Spanish Royal Guard had no Irish company, but actually consisted of four companies, one Spanish, one Italian, one Flemish and one American. I've been trying to find out more about this battalion, particularly the American company. (I assume we are talking about a company formed with volunteers from one of Spain's American colonies) But so far I've found nothing. Can you point me at a source or reference, as they don't appear in any of the books I have on the Peninsula Campaign? Kind Regards David
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| A: I can't. The notes for that book are far away, in storage, and I won't have a chance to recover them for some time. At a guess? Oman? Maybe. I use Charles Oman's seven volume history a lot, though always with a mindful eye on more recent interpretations.
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| (9.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: I'm a devoted fan, Mr. Cornwell. I have read a broad selection of historical fiction writers and you stand out as my clear favorite. I always eagerly look forward to the release of your next book. It has long been a curious mystery to me how we ever got from the mead halls of the Danes and Saxons to the socially corseted gentry of Jane Austen. I can see that transition in a very satisfying way in your span of stories between The Warlord trilogy and Gallows Thief. Absolutely fascinating stuff! Thank you for making the journey so enthralling. For me, and I would suppose many fans of historical fiction, there is an element of searching for clues about myself in stories of people like my distant ancestors. I realize that Derfel, Uhtred, and Sharpe are intentionally larger than life, as they need to be in order to carry the frenzied pace of the stories, but along with the vicarious thrills that their heroics provide I feel that we're getting a glimpse of live history delivered in a way that is so much more real than what we can get from sterilized history textbooks. I'd love to see more emphasis on work like yours as a companion to history textbooks in schools. I was amazed to find that you were able to do such a fine job on your very first novel. I would love to spend my workdays weaving these kinds of tales, but I expect that I have way too much to learn about the craft to attempt a novel yet. I have been writing short stories in hopes of learning how to begin, briefly develop and to end a story effectively. I understand that a novel is not the same sort of beast as a short story, but I hope the practice is not a waste of time. What do you think of this approach? -Bradford Robnett
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| A: I hate writing short stories! My view is that they're utterly different things, and a writer who excels at one is very unlikely to excel at the other (there are, of course, exceptions - William Trevor springs to mind). So my advice would be to write what you want to write, and if that is a novel then write a novel! You don't get the Sistine Chapel's ceiling painted by doing little watercolours!
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| (10.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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Q: Good evening Mr. Cornwell, I am the editor o the German speaking History Mag chronico. The new article is about your Books (Saxon stories and Arthur chronicles). This is the link: >a class = "blueblink" href ="http://chronico.de/besprechen/romane/0000530/">http://chronico.de/besprechen/romane/0000530/>. The article also includes material about the German author Gisbert Haefs - a great storyteller too (historical stuff).
So, my questions: Is "Saxon Stories" with "The burning Land" finished?
And: In the article I was thinking about the english legends - Arthur, Saxon Stories - and the missing link: the year 1066 and Hastings. I wrote, that I think, you could write about 1066 soon. Am I right, do you think about this? Thank you for short answer. Best wishes, Marcel Schwarzenberger
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A: Thank you for the link.
The series is not finished; there will be more to Uhtred's story.
Hastings is possible but, truthfully, it's not high on my list. |
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| (11.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: I picked up "The Burning Land" today and just finished the first four chapters. Seeing a boy of ten live and grow in the time period and places I have devoted myself to studying has been a personal joy. I thank you for your illumination of the subject. Also, heard you on NPR today and I think Poitiers is right up your alley. Ever thought of writing about Chalon? I read William Dietricht's "The Scourge of God" in which he explored the matter wonderfully, however, I would sincerely enjoy reading your take on the events surrounding the conflict on the Catalaunian Plains. Thanks for all the entertainment, Joe Wilson
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| A: I haven't thought about it, but I will refresh my memory, thank you!
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| (12.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Hello Mr Cornwell, heard your interview on NPR and decided to visit the local library. As you spoke of Agincourt, I wondered if you had read any David Howarth? He seems to enjoy recounting the absorbing minute-by-minute and day-by-day of historical battle(1066, Trafalgar etc) and, while he has not yet touched Agincourt, I wondered if you had stumbled across his works. Has 1066/Norman Invasion come into your ideas at any point? Take care!
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| A: More than stumbled! Fallen full length and wallowed in his books. He's marvellous! I've thought of the Normans, but it's not likely to happen any time soon.
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| (13.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Hello Mr. Cornwell. I love The Saxon Tales and Agincourt. I was curious as to how the now extinct ash letter is pronounced in the Saxon Tales. Thanks Again. P.S. I am a descendant of those Welsh Raiders. I like your take on them.My husband thinks I am too much like them-especially when I take the checkbook. Kristen Bihar
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| A: It differed in different parts of the country . . . and a West Saxon probably found the Northumbrian accent almost impenetrable. I'm NOT an expert on old English pronunciation . . but I generally assume the ash was pronounced more or less to rhyme with 'say'
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| (14.) Posting Date: 07 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Hi Bernard, I am mid way through Sharpe's Battle and I am very interested in the Loup character. Basically, is he real or not? I love the idea of French troops running about like Wolves! I can't find any info on him! also, looking through your Q&A section you mentioned another Sharpe Book...However in your notes at the end of Sharpe's...(Sorry can't mind the name, the one where Napoleon dies and Cochrane in it)you mention, to paraphrase "it is time for Sharpe, like others of his time, to fade into history..." I took this as meaning that there would be no more from Sharpe, am I wrong? Cheers Franny
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A: He's fictional.
There will be more Sharpe. |
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| (15.) Posting Date: 05 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Just finish "The Burning Land" and found it completely enjoyable, as are all of your books. Uhtred is a delightfully entertaining character to the extent that the Saxon books are the only ones I have determed worthy of rereading in my 64 years. My question is, why do the UK books have better covers than the US books? The UK has better pubs and thus have no need to have better book covers as well. Waiting with great anticipation for Uhtred's next adventure. Nels Krogh
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| A: I'll mention that to the publishers! |
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| (16.) Posting Date: 05 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: I have just finished reading "Sharpe's Trafalgar. Is there any book about what happened when Sharpe joined the 95th and what happened to Lady Grace and child?
Maurice Evans |
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| A: Read Sharpe's Prey -the next book in the series, to discover Lady Grace's fate. As for Sharpe joining the 95th? I've thought about it . . . . . will it happen? I honestly don't know. |
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| (17.) Posting Date: 05 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Bernard, I've lived in Benfleet all my life and am avidly interested in local history. Your books always captivate me and your saxon story's allow my imagination to take flight! Therefore& I am very interested in the standing stone in St. Peters churchyard, Thundersley. Is it real or imagined? Living only two miles away from the church Ive spent many an afternoon up on the hill, gazing into the distance, admiring the vista and dreaming of past happenings on that lofty (for Essex!) ridge, but Ive never seen a standing stone! Can you tell me where it is? (if it is real) Thanks. Bill West
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| A: It WAS real, because I saw it frequently, but that was many years ago - at least forty, and the last time I visited that church it had been abominably modernised and appeared to belong to the happy-clappy denomination, and, if I remember rightly, the stone was gone then. I think it was pulled down, but I don't know when or why.
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| (18.) Posting Date: 05 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Hi, I have read all of your Saxon series books and I wanted to know if "The Burning Land" will also come out in CD format? Thank you, Jerri Jensen
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| A: The Burning Land will not be available in the US on CD. The Burning Land is available at all of the major downloadable retailers (iTunes, audible.com. etc.) - it went on-sale on the 19th of this month. It will be available on Kindle on 2 March 2010. |
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| (19.) Posting Date: 05 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Hi Bernard I have just finished "Sharpe's Regiment", which I found to be one of the best in the series so far....got through it in one go, on a hot, but wet, Sydney Sunday Rather than be picky, as you obviously do more historical research than I will ever do, I ask as a point of clarification: You make a few references to "Australia" (even "the Australias"?) and the possibility of Sharpe being sent there as a captain of a convict guard It is my understanding that Matthew Flinders did not make common reference to "Australia" until 1814, and, then, still in conjunction with the term Terra Australis, and Governor Macquarie did not start bring it into use until after then, until the name was formally proclaimed in 1824 Until after 1814, and, therefore, in 1813, reference would have been made to the penal colony of "New South Wales" But, probably, that would have confused your American readers Best Regards Vic Whiteley Sydney Australia Member Sharpe Appreciation Society
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| A: Yep, you're right, it should always be New South Wales. My error.
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| (20.) Posting Date: 05 Feb, 2010 |
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| Q: Back in November of 2001, you said you were going to get back to the Starbuck Chronicles. It is now 2010 and I have not seen any new book. Any in the works? Mike Seitz
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