Your Questions

I would just like to say how much I enjoyed reading your Warlord Chronicle series. I find the amount of facts included in this series are incredible! I have never enjoyed learning so much about Britain's history. (Though I realise that a lot of your work in this trilogy is fictional). I have many questions but I will only ask one, and this is; How long did you spend doing all the research for the Warlord Chronicles? I can only begin to imagine all the research performed! Once again I would like to thank you for all the hard work you put into these fabulous books, they are a joy to read over and over again, and I will always hold your writings in high esteem. Yours faithfully Chris Stendall

Dear Bernard, I wrote to you a few weeks ago and have just noticed youre reply. Many thanks. It is a great pleasure to know that youve taken the time to read and reply to readers comments. I feel compelled to write again to expand on your references to mushrooms (fungi) which is one of my favourite topics. The first reference I came across was in the Grail Trilogy, Heretic I believe. Thomas is hiding in the woods and is desperately hungry. He comes across some black mushrooms but is too frightened to eat them - Anglo-Saxon fear of toadstools. He missed out on a good meal especially if hed be able to make an omelette with them as I suppose you were referring to the Horn of Plenty. The second mention of fungi was in the Saxon books. You say the Danish poets used red capped mushroom as inspiration by this I assume you are meaning Fly Agaric. I have read that the Viking Berserkers (although you dismiss their existence as mythology in the historical notes) used Fly Agaric to get into a frenzy before a rape and pillage spree. I think if the Berserkers had existed their worked-up state would have been down to ale rather than mushrooms. The third citing of fungi is in Stonehenge, which I am reading whilst waiting for the Lords of the North to be available in paper back, and this has prompted me to write. Saban during his stint in the woods, as part of his passage to manhood ordeals, gets a bit peckish and starts munching on Morels after having picked out the woodlice - wonderful detail!! I would like to point out that raw Morels are quite toxic, without being deadly, and, if hed had the misfortune to confuse them with false Morels hed have been in trouble. They are deadly poisonous raw. In any case hed probably have been pretty sick. Having said that I think that the Neolithic man probably had a more robust digestive system than us 20th century whimps brought up on sterilised, pasteurised industrial food and were probably capable of eating things that we wouldnt even give to the dog. Finally youve mentioned both in the Grail Quest and Stonehenge the use of dried Puffballs as tinder. Interessting that. Ill try next time I go camping. I take it you are interested in fungi? Glad to hear that the Saxons will go beyond a trilogy. Thanks to you Ive read more books in the six months than in the last thirty years Best regards, Chris BISHOP, France

hey, I've read many of your books, but not all of them... yet. I'm not sure if you have one already, but do you or have you thought about getting a myspace account? John Whitcomb

Mr Cornwell, Just have one quick question. What sort of "time-device" was used in Europe during the middle ages? Did they use expressions such as "see you around 10.30 PM"? I would have guessed that they used the sun during the day and sand-glass-device (sorry dont know the name in English) at night but could that have been accurate? Would appreciate a reply very much because the question has been bugging me for quite some time. Thanks for all the well-written books, Kind regads, Carl-Adam

What's your opinion on the Brunswick Troops, especially The Black Duke, inspired leader or crazy kraut ? Do you think the Brunswick Uhlans would have been on a par with the Polish Lancers, had there been more of them ?
Mark Roberts

Dear Mr. Cornwell, One of the most fascinating characters in your Sharpe series is William Frederickson. Have you ever considered writing a novel about him, before he meets Sharpe? E. R. Johnson

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a great fan of your Sharpe series books, having read them all. Your series stirred within me a passionate interest in the history of the Napoleanic Wars. My only geographic or other connection with some of Wellington's heroes unfortunately is the proximity of my home here in New Orleans to one of their battlefields. I believe that many of the fighting units you reference in your series were involved in what some have referred to as something along the lines of the "Napoleonic Era Gallipoli". i.e., "The Battle of New Orleans." I have always felt that the citizens of the United States have never fully appreciated the international benifits and significance of that one battle for our young nation. Indeed, the battlefield is treated much as a minor footnote by visitors here, if they are aware of it at all. Do you know if any of the units Sharpe would have been involved with fought there? As well, have you ever considered the possiblity of having New Orleans in December, 1804 and January, 1805 as the scene of one of your Sharpe tales, were the timing not to conflict with the existing timeline of the series? The cast of historic characters involved and the drama and tragedy surrounding that surprizing defeat would not only establish a unique connection between your series and so many avid fans in the States, but it might even stir great interest in our oft-forgotten and poorly understood local field of battle... Such interest would all the more be welcome here were it to entice some of your many fans to travel to our fair city in these times of our struggle to recover as a community. Thank you so much for your obvious devotion to your craft and for your passion for your subject. Rick Miller

Hi, love your work, i refuse to read any thing else but yours. just a quick question. Lords of the north ended, and although it was a great book,the end seemed a little quick. I hope this is because there is another book on the mill. There is still much to do for our Northumbrian friend. Is there going to be a fourth book? Stuart Noble

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a tremendous fan of your work. Since reading Sharpe's Tiger six months ago I have since devoured almost all of your fine work at a rampant pace. Thanks for all of your amazing and diverse literature, it has been educational and exciting, two qualities that unfortunately seem rarely met. I was curious to know if you planned to write anymore Saxon novels? Uhtred is fantastic, and I'm very curious to hear the rest of his tale. Please take as long as you like to respond, a man only has so much time, my sincerest thanks, praise, and respect, Jesse Rasmussen

I have read all of the saxon series books ie(last kingdom, pale horseman,lords of the north)please can you tell me when the next book in this series will be available. Many thanks Barrie Smith-Wright

Please can you tell me whether there will be a forth book in the saxon series, if so when will this be released? Suzanne Dunn

Reading through your questions and answers section you say repeatedly youd like to see your other books made into films but you say youre not a filmmaker so its not down to you. My question is how much did you know about the Sharpe scripts before they were made? I know that before his tragic death, David Gemmell had been approached a few times with scripts of legend but turned them away because they were rubbish and Terry Goodkind has finally decided on a TV series rather than a film. If someone were to say I want to make an Uthred film' would say Id like to see a script and then give it the green light or would you just say go for it? Ben

Hello, just wanted to say that I am very much enjoying reading your books. I have been through the warlord chronicles and am halfway through The Pale Horseman. I just have a quick question - how do you pronounce the name "Aelle" (and also "Uhtred")? Thank you for your time, Kathleen