Your Questions

Q

thanks for the arthur and thomas stories!-what about john twelve hawks and the book 'the traveller' including, it is said, a group of characters called the harlequin!?-best richard

Submitted August 8, 2005

A

Afraid I've never heard of it - but I'll look for it, thank you.

Q

Dear Bernard Such great novels! I am steadily working my way through your inventory, though slowly, as I sadly have too little time to read and like to read widely. I would say that the Grail Quest series is my favourite of your books, as it's my favourite period of history, though when I open another Sharpe, I feel at home. Certainly looking forward to the next instalment! One question: As a keen writer myself (only for pleasure - no plans to publish) I am constantly amazed by some of the things the pros so effortlessly achieve. For example, the thing that sticks most in my mind from the Sharpe series is Sergeant Hakeswill's catchphrase, "Says so in the scriptures." I have tried to introduce similar things into my own writing, but have always abandoned them as sounding too contrived. Just wondering if you remember how you thought of that catchphrase. Was it something you spent a long time dreaming up, or did it just spring to mind? Keep up the good work and all the best. Chris. PS. Any plans to tour Australia soon?

Submitted August 8, 2005

A

Honestly don't know. These things just come. Wish I could be more helpful! Sorry - Australia's not in the plans at the moment.

Q

Hi there - yet more questions about Warlord I'm afraid! How do you actually pronounce Nimue? And what do you think happened to her after Camlann? Adam

Submitted August 8, 2005

A

Nim-you-ay. And I've never wondered what happened to her. A nice question, but alas, not one I can answer!

Q

I just finished reading The Last Kingdom and I loved it. This is one of my favorite periods of English history and I've found so little fiction written about it. In particular, I always thought that the most extraordinary person from this time was Elthelflaed, the Lady of the Mercians. I hope that she will be featured in some of your future novels.

I am rereading The Last Kingdom and enjoying it just as much as the first time. One thing I'm wondering about is the depiction of Alfred's wife, Ellswith. You aren't very flattering about her character. Is there really very much known about her? She is the mother and grandmother of some very amazing characters. Isn't it unusual for women to be mentioned at all in this time period?
Thank you for such an enjoyable read. Ann Madonna

Submitted August 8, 2005

A

She's there, in The Last Kingdom! Very young, of course, just a baby, and in the next book, The Pale Horseman, she appears again, but still only a child. I think you can guarantee that if she's present in those early books then I intend to use her in later ones - indeed, I've long known that she's the heroine of the whole series!

We know next to nothing about her - and I've probably been unfair to her. We do know she came from northern Mercia and that her father was an ealdorman. It was fairly usual for high-born women to be mentioned, because they had status, so we have the names of many noble and royal wives. We know a lot about Aelswith's daughter, Ethelflaed, because she became the Lady of Mercia and led armies against the Danes. We know a fair bit about some prominent abbesses. But it was still a man's world, and how.

Q

This question may be an obvious one but the Patrick Lassan of Cooperhead is made out to be a relation to Sharpe yet he seems to have gone through conflict and I was wondering what conflict that was? Jack Upton

Submitted August 8, 2005

A

Probably the Crimean War!

Q

Hi! I've read A Crowning Mercy and I love it. I think it would convert very well into a TV serial (too much excitement to be condensed into a feature film, I feel!). Are there any such plans? Jonathan Lodge

Submitted August 3, 2005

A

Glad to know you liked the book - but there are no plans for a TV serial.

Q

Congratulations, Mr Cornwell, your books have been read a lot here in Brazil. I have one question for you or for your staff: Do you intent to write something about the Roman Empire? All the best Paulo

Submitted August 3, 2005

A

Probably not - Conn Iggulden does such a good job with it, best I leave it to him.

Q

Dear Bernard Cornwell. I would like to say how much I have enjoyed reading 'The Last Kingdom'. Before reading your novel last year I had never been one to get engrossed in one particular book. However with The Last Kingdom it became an addiction to read over and over again. I have to be honest and say I cannot wait for October when The Pale Horsemen is avaliable. I would like to ask how many novels will be published in this series? I have enjoyed the tale so far and would love there to be many more. Many thanks, Paul Asher.

Submitted August 3, 2005

A

I wish I knew how many books will be in the series, but more than three and probably less than twelve is about all I can tell you. The second The Pale Horseman will be published in the UK in October and in the US in January, and the third, untitled, is being written. I see it as a decade's work, at least.

Q

My father got me hooked on your books several years ago and I have enjoyed each and every one. I was curious as to which book was your personal favorite. Which one do you take the most pride in? Was it easy to write or was it a struggle? Just curious. Thanks so much for all the great reads. Jill

Submitted August 3, 2005

A

I've always said the Warlord Chronicles were my favourite because they were so enjoyable to write, but I am finding the story of Uhtred hugely enjoyable as well.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I think the Warlord Chronicles would make the best arthur film by far. Is there any chance of it happening?

I have read most of your novels now, all are fantastic reading, the Warlord Chronicals are my favorite. I now find I have less time to read and I drive a lot more, so are the Warlord Chronicals available in spoken word format?

Matthew Sharrad

Submitted August 3, 2005

A

Thank you! But I don't think there's much chance of it.

The Warlord Chronicles are available in audio format. Click on the Amazon links found on the Warlord Chronicle book pages then scroll down the Amazon book page until you find the links for the audio version. Hope you'll enjoy them!