Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwel, I have to say that I think your books are fantastic and I have liked every book of yours that I have read (Warlord Chronicles, Grail Quest, Gallows Theif, Stonehenge, Sharpe' Tiger, Triumph, Fortress, Havoc and almost finished Trafalgar.) My favourite series is the Warlord Chronicles and they are also now some of my favourite books. I have read the Last Kingdom's first chapter and I cant wait for it to come out and at the moment, I am reading the Sharpe series in chronological order (although I read Havoc first because it was cheap at a supermarket.) and am finding them very good, gritty adventure books. Just a few questions: 1) You mention finding the characters names for the Warlord Chronicles in records. What are the records called? I would love to look through them. 2) I heard they are making more in The Sharpe series for TV, will they fill in the gaps of the ones they have done or are they re-doing them all in chronological order like the books? 3) Will you ever write a novel on Nelson's battle at the Nile? and finally 4) Will you ever write a novel/series on Harold and the conquest of England? Thanks again for the excellent books, Louis Reed

Submitted July 29, 2004

A

1) Basically whatever's left from the period! We have the historian Gildas's book, there are some documents, old poems, saints' lives, deeds, wills, grave inscriptions. They're scattered all over the place, so it's hard to point you in one direction. I'd start with Gildas's book - De Excidio et Conquestu Brittaniae - and see if you can find a modern translation - it does exist in various anthologies of Arthurian material.

2) There may be a new Sharpe TV series in 2005 - an adaptation of Sharpe's Tiger and Sharpe's Fortress, but nothing is definite just yet.

3) & 4) Probably neither!

Q

SR. CORNWELL... HI... I SALUTE YOU... I'M FROM BRAZIL (ACTUALLY I AM AT LONDON) AND ONE OF YOUR HUGE LEGION OF FANS... SORRY BY THE INFOMALITY... BUT... YOU RULE... Mr. CORNWELL... I WOULD LIKE TO GET A DEEPER DESCRIPTION OF DERFEL... ARTHUR... CEINWYN... AND OTHERS GREAT CHARACTERS FROM ARTHUR'S CRONICLES... I AM ALSO A HISTORIAN... AND I WANT TO WRITE A BOOK THAT RESUMES THE BRITAIN'S HISTORY AND IT'S STORIES! I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE CURSE THAT NIMUE CAST AT CEINWYN IT WAS VERY INTERESTING... I ALSO WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME SOME LINKS OF CELTIC RELIGION... OR A SITE OR BOOK THAT EXPLAINS THE GODS THAT WERE NAMED AT THE STORY... NOW I LEAVE... I HAVE GREAT RESPECT TO YOU... GOODBYE AND KEEP WRITING YOUR FASCINATING BOOKS... THAT STUN ME WITH YOUR WISDOM!! Bruno L.P.

Submitted July 29, 2004

A

A deeper description? There isn't one! He's a very shadowy figure. As for the gods, etc, I'd suggest you use your Library Loan service to get hold of The Celtic World, edited by Miranda Green (Routledge, New York and London, 1995), which has a very good section on Celtic religion.

Q

I just heard about the upcoming TV series about Sharpe in India, possibly to start shooting next year. That's great! Is it planned to shoot all 4 pre-Rifles books are just a few? On the other end of Sharpe's lifespan, I have a suggestion for the final book: Sharpe's Alamo. Your thoughts? Rich

Submitted July 28, 2004

A

I'm not sure it will happen - still a few obstacles to overcome - but the plan is to shoot two. Sharpe would make a good Texan, wouldn't he? But I doubt he will! Thanks anyway.

Q

I am a 15 year old school student and I began reading your novels at the start of the year and have been enthralled by them all. First I read the Arthur books and I am trying to read the Sharpe books in near chronological order. I love how you have made me feel as if I am in the story. It almost feels as if I can actually hear the bullets flying past me. Another thing I love about this series of novels is that whilst telling the story you educate the reader so you can almost think like a soldier. There are three questions I would like to ask you. My first question is how did you fit the fictional characters into the story around the real characters whilst still keeping it story as close to the actual battles as you can? You have obviously put a lot of resarch into making these novels. I would love one day to visit the locations for the battles of the Sharpe series but have you visited every location for the battles and are they exactly as they are described in your novels? Finally are your ideas for each series something that you have been interested in since childhood? I eagerly await your reply, David Hart

Submitted July 28, 2004

A

I've visited all of the sites except Toulouse, where the battlefield has vanished beneath the city's sprawl. How do I fit the two together? By remembering that I'm a story-teller before I'm an historian, which means that the fiction takes precedence. So real events and real people take second place to the fiction, but I try very hard not to cheat the history too badly and it's astonishing how well the two can fit together. A lot of what I write about has interested me since childhood. Reading C. S. Forester's Hornblower series when I was young greatly influenced my decision to write the Sharpe series.

Q

I have seen a book called FALLEN ANGELS coming out in August. Is it by you and what's it about? Geriant Williams

Submitted July 28, 2004

A

Fallen Angels, by Susannah Kells (and Bernard Cornwell) was originally published in 1984. The book is now being re-published by HarperCollins in the UK. It takes place during the French Revolution and contains some of the same characters as the first book by Susannah Kells (and Bernard Cornwell) - A Crowning Mercy. Click on the 'Other Books' link for more information.

Q

Having read through the brilliant first chapter of The Last Kingdom, and reading the blurb a second time, I have to wonder, is this the first book in a series? It is a period in history that interests me greatly, and seeing it written over many books would enthrall me as much as the Warlords trilogy did. -Lawrence Richards

Submitted July 28, 2004

A

It is - and I'm working on the second book right now. No title yet, but when I think of one I'll let you know!

Q

Dear mr Cornwell, With the zeal of the recently converted I am currently racing through all your novels and so far I have found each and every one to be an absolute joy! (I think they invented the word "page-turner" for your books!) My favorite ones so far however (by a nose) are the Arthur novels. I found the mix of myth and legend with gritty realism a fantastic combination. That is why I am anxious to know if there might be plans to tackle other myths and legends in a similar way. Currently, I am halfway "Vagabond" and at one point Thomas tells Robbie about an old English folk hero by the name of Robin Hood (or Hude) who fought the French speaking nobility. I wonder if you have ever entertained the idea of giving the legend of Robin Hood the "Bernard Cornwell" -treatment!? I think that would be great!! My second question is, if you are not so keen on doing a Robin Hude novel, is there perhaps another myth or legend that you would like to explore in this way? Or does the idea of returning to this kind of novel not appeal to you? Regards from Eelco van Kappen

Submitted July 26, 2004

A

It appeals to me, and I'll probably find something of the sort - it's just that Robin Hood doesn't set my soul on fire. Maybe he will one day?

Q

I am all at sea. I was looking up Sharpe's old regiment the 33rd, and discovered as you'll already know that they were the 1st Yorkshire, West Riding... I was under the impression that it was an infantry Regiment, am I just being ignorant? Does 'Riding' mean something else military wise? Did the Regiment change at some point into cavalry? Is this source just messing with my mind? ack, sorry for sounding stupid. All at sea. James Trethowan

Submitted July 26, 2004

A

The 33rd are now the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, and are still an infantry unit. They are, as you say, associated with the West Riding of Yorkshire, and you have been understandably misled by the word 'Riding' which has nothing to do with horses, but comes from an Old Norse word meaning 'a third part', and back in the days when Yorkshire was settled by Norsemen (Vikings) they divided the county into three parts, three Ridings, the East, West and North, which are still recognised, but ceased to be official administrative areas in 1974.

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell (Or Bernard if you prefer!) I'm a fan of both your Sharpe work and the Hornblower stories- would you ever consider doing a 'crossover' story between the two or do copyright and legal stuff prevent?- can't help thinking that it would be fun- but just 'the idle thoughts of an idle fellow'. Dean Watson

Submitted July 26, 2004

A

You are right - the copyright and legal stuff would be a nightmare.

Q

Hey Bernard, I was wondering if you have any intention of watching the new "King Arthur" film that is due for release next month? Being an avid fan of your Arthur series and interested in dark age Britain, I wonder if big screen mythology will match the Arthur legend protrayed in your books! thanks - Danny

Dear Sir Thank you very much for writing so many fantastic books. I was wondering, as you know there is new Arthur film made and they are claiming incorrectly that it is "the untold true story", I was wondering did they ever approach you for your Arthur series? Thanks again for all your great books. Ian

I know it's not based on your books, but have you seen the new King Arthur film? I have a bad feeling that it's not going to be anywhere near as good as it could be if it was based on your books, Roman Arthurs and Russian knights et al? Also could you recommend any other fictional Arthur books, just to last me till the Last Kingdom? Damian

Submitted July 26, 2004

A

I haven't seen the movie and I probably won't, only because those of my friends who have seen it say that it is dire. Everyone claims their version of Arthur is the untold true story! The real untold true story is that we don't know what the true story is. My favourite is T.H. White's The Once and Future King.