Your Questions

Hi Bernard was just wondering if you listen to music whilst you're writing and if you have any songs or pieces of music which remind you of any of your characters. I only ask this because I was listening to Tom Petty's Greatest Hits the other day and I remembered the first time I listened to that album I was reading Crackdown and the songs brought back really strong images from the book, especially my favorite character Maggot. I just thought this was a bit weird as I read that book 10 years ago and haven't read it since. Heather

Hi Bernard Cornwell! It's a pleasure to me to right to you. I've read many of your books and I'm particularly interested in the Chronicles of Arthur. I have to do a monograph to College and I've chosen this theme: the influence of the epoch in the writer's way to compose the character. So that I'd like to ask you if the epoch you wrote the books (the chronicles of Arthur) has influenced you to built the character of King Arthur. I would appreciate if you could send me an answer. Thanks a lot ! Alessandra Fagundes from Brazil

I'm reading the Saxon Stories, because I've reread the Sharpe Series, The Grail Quest & more. Please kill off more of the characters, I do believe you have become more of a screen writer, keeping them alive to avoid having to come up with new ones. How can people live a less violent life in Saxon - Viking times than Napoleonic? Simple research would suggest far more people living longer in the later time. So go ahead and write screenplays and books at the same time, but give us more Sharpe books. I will visit the Iberian peninsula someday to check the stories out. Thank-you. Mitchell C. Johnson

Have finally read ALL of your books (except the two short stories) and wanted to let you know how very much I have enjoyed them. Did not understand your preference for the Arthur series until I picked them up again after finishing everything else. Now they are among my favorites too. Sought out Rifleman Dodd after reading your recommendation, and am now looking for other adventures in reading. Have found Ambrose Bierce's American Civil War stories. What do you think of them? I am so far impressed with his voice. Saw someone else recommended King of the Khyber Rifles...one of my favorites when I was a young girl, along with Kipling's Kim. Have started Zoe Oldenbourg's French crusade series, but finding it slow going. Hornblower long gone, and Sabatini is not my cup of tea. Would love to get a push in a new direction. (By the way...I did enjoy the books you wrote with your wife, as a change from the darker series you wrote alone, but I prefer the dark I am afraid.)And add me to the list of those who wait for Starbucks and Gallows Thief to continue! Thank you for many hours well spent with Sharpe and Harper, and your other wonderful characters. Paula Tupper

Dr Mr. Cornwell, Two years ago I discovered and got hooked to Patrick OBriens stories and soon afterwards by Foresters Hornblower series. Last month I discovered your books. Ive read the first of Arthurs, breezed through your first 4 of Sharpe, and am currently reading the fifth of that series. I look forward to the rest of your collections and wonder if you had any advice on similar authors for when I catch up with your writing and need to give you time to finish the next novel. Regard Aurelio Garcia-Ribeyro

Bernard, the books are all great (although getting a tad predictable) and the weaving in to actual history is fantastic. I am writing to see if you are aware of the effect of your books on wargamers here in the UK. We read the books avidly and the Arthur series (my all time favourite) is now responsible for a Warhammer Historical supplement for which many manufacturers are now making figures. Have you ever tried Wargaming? Having read you family History recently (in the daily mail?) I to seem to have had a strange affinity with the North East of England although born and bred in East Anglia and in the last month my Niece has just found out I have a half sister I never knew about from Croft on Tees. Bit of a shock when you are 51 - Life is just as strange as fiction! Steve Wilson

AHA!! Just saw in a genealogy that there was an Earl Uhtred of Northumbria, who married Elfgifu, the daughter of King Ethelred...could it be our Uhtred?? Fionna

Dear Bernard, I enjoyed 'Gallows Thief' very much, and particularly the colourful and often bizarre vocabulary that your London characters used. I noticed (correct me if I'm wrong) that none of them referred to each other as 'mate', which contemporary Londoners seem to do all the time, taxi-drivers especially. Did that term of address not exist in Regency times? Sorry, this is not the most riveting of questions, but I am very much curious, and I wonder when did it ever creep into everyday use. Do you have any idea? Thank you. Paul Reid, County Cork.

I recently wrote you regarding how much I enjoyed your Saxon series. I have a quick question if you don't mind answering. While writing the books, did you find that you enjoyed writing Uhtred more when he was with the Danes or with the English? Or did you find no preference either way. I was just curious. Thanks again for all of your work. David Stackel

I have enjoyed your Grail Quest books immensely, and I have especially enjoyed their accuracy. So I am a little surprised to find a mention of phlogeston, which I thought was seveteenth century invetion. Do you know something I don't? Please make you books longer. Ol Rappaport

Bernard, I am so thrilled to write you. You have become my favorite author. I have spent many days and nights the past two years reading everything that I can get my hands on. You have taught me more about the Napoleonic wars than a semester of history. I have just finished the Nathaniel Starbuck series and am reading Stephen Sears's book about Antietam. As I was reading the series it occurred to me that Colonel Lassan is indeed Richard Sharpe's son, you sly dog! It raises the question of how create your characters. You obviously created the son while you were developing the father, judging by the copyright dates. Does this mean that Starbuck will continue the war and when should we expect to be at Chancelorsville and into Gettysburg? I also wanted to ask you if you write your novels in the chronological order as they appear in the books or do you write as the thoughts occur and then edit later to give the sequence? Also do you ever tire of a character and decide to have them killed or removed? Is Hakeswell as beloved to you as say Adam Faulconer or even Sharpe and Starbuck? I will let you go before I take up too much of your time. I have Sharpe's Fury in the wings and am desperately looking for Sharpe's Revenge to see how Colonel Lassan was procreated. Best wishes and thank you for keeping me company, Rick Schatz