Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just read the first chapter of the Last Kingdom and I noticed that you have called an Ealdorman the same thing as an Earl. I was under the impression that they did differ. I thought that an Ealdorman was chosen by the King and did not have an hereditary position, it was up to the King to present the title to the Ealdorman's son or another candidate. This is very similar to the way the crown was passed as after Eathelred's death the crown passed to Alfred and not Eathelred's sons. Anyway I was under the impression that the word Earl comes from the Danish Jarl and it is an hereditary position and it did not appear properly in Anglo-Saxon Britain until Cnut's invasion in 1016. Also the powers granted to the individual differ on what they can do with regards to calling out the fyrd and various other things such as their position on the Witan. I was wondering where the information for this book came from and I also would like to know if there will be many parallels drawn between Uthred's writing and that of asser's? (apologies about the spelling but I am slightly dyslexic). Matthew Bowman

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

You'll understand, when you read the rest of the book, why Uhtred calls himself an earl which is, as you rightly say, a Danish rank and did not enter English usage until Cnut - but there is a reason!! Ealdormen? Some were appointed by the king, but many families were so powerful (like the real-life Uhtred family) that they arrogated the rank and no king was strong enough to take it away. There certainly are hereditary ealdormen - lots of them - though doubtless the kings would have preferred it otherwise.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just read the first chapter of the Last Kingdom and I noticed that you have called an Ealdorman the same thing as an Earl. I was under the impression that they did differ. I thought that an Ealdorman was chosen by the King and did not have an hereditary position, it was up to the King to present the title to the Ealdorman's son or another candidate. This is very similar to the way the crown was passed as after Eathelred's death the crown passed to Alfred and not Eathelred's sons. Anyway I was under the impression that the word Earl comes from the Danish Jarl and it is an herediatry position and it did not appear properly in Anglo-Saxon Britain until Cnut's invasion in 1016. Also the powers granted to the individual differ on what they can do with regards to calling out the fyrd and various other things such as their position on the Witan. I was wondering where the information for this book came from and I also would like to know if there will be many parallels drawn between Uthred's writing and that of asser's? (apologies about the spelling but I am slightly dyslexic). Matthew Bowman

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

You'll understand, when you read the rest of the book, why Uhtred calls himself an earl which is, as you rightly say, a Danish rank and did not enter English usage until Cnut - but there is a reason!! Ealdormen? Some were appointed by the king, but many families were so powerful (like the real-life Uhtred family) that they arrogated the rank and no king was strong enough to take it away. There certainly are hereditary ealdormen - lots of them - though doubtless the kings would have preferred it otherwise.

Q

Thank you for improving my vocabulary. I do know that I need a dictionary for some of the words. One does not seem to be in the dictionary. It appears in the book after Trafalgar when he is trying to sell his commission. The word is "fungled" or similar. Sorry, I do not have the book with me and I only just discovered your site and this word occasionaly pops up in my head and is a constant irritant! Please help. Philip Norman

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

Fungible! You need a new dictionary! Something fungible is an object that can be exchanged - either for money or barter - something with intrinsic value. Sharpe's commission is not fungible - poor man.

Q

I have been an avid fan of books classed as fantasy by authors such as Terry Brookes and R Feist as well as David Gemmell. I came across Stonehenge by accident and was well impressed, I followed this up with the Arthur books and the Grail Quest and was lost in history of early Britain and Europe and did not want to return. When will you take us back and will you base a series that spends time in early Scotland or can you suggeest authors that do? thankyou for your work and long may it continue. cheers, Neil McDonald

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

I'm not planning such a series - though it's a good idea. Did Nigel Tranter write the period? I don't know any other names to suggest - alas.

Q

I've recently been transcribing family papers. One forebear was wounded at Seringapatam, another an officer in the 88th who fought at Vitoria and in Buenos Aires & sent letters home describing his battles. However my query concerns a water colour I have which shows what seems to be Wellesley's army - elephants and all - crossing the river Godavery. It matches nicely your description in Sharpe's Triumph. Did you research on the spot? Or did you find you some image with which I can compare this painting. It seems to be contemporary, probably painted by an officer in that army. James Irvine Robertson

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

The river in Triumph was the Kaitna - which I did visit - though I was there in the dry season so the river-bed was empty. So far as I remember the operations about the Godavery were in the wars against Scindia - which Sharpe seems to have missed. There is a picture of the river in Jac Weller's book - Wellington in India, but I don't know of any contemporary prints - yours sounds fascinating!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell This will probably be another one of the many you already have of these: thank you for making history so interesting. I am a big fan of the Arthurian Ledgend and basically all the history around that period. So, ever since The Winter King was first published here in South Africa, I have scrambled to find the books (at least the last two in the trilogy - sort of stumbled on the first one and was hooked after just looking at the cover...A STORY OF ARTHUR...). For some reason the legend has always fascinated me, and am not even close to British. Actually my last name is from Danish origin... Anyway, I saw a few people talking about movies in the F.A.Q.'s, so before I ask my question, I would just like to say that I would love to see the movie version(s) of the Warlord Chronicles, provided that it is made by someone who has as much passion for the story as Peter Jackson had for the LOTR trilogy. Otherwise it just might be another Hollywood mess... There are many other things I would like to say, but this is getting way too long, so here comes the question. I have always tried to picture the faces of the characters in the Arthur Books and wondered which actors I would pick to play the parts (seeing as I'm an actor myself...hope you can understand that logic). For the main characters, who would you pick to play them (if there are any)? Bea Claassen

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

I honestly don't have a clue - I'm terribly bad at casting - not that I need to be good, thank God. But the professionals get it wrong too- - Brad Pitt as Achilles? Spare me.

Q

Your stories are great. I have a question about The Winter King. Did you invent the word "edling". I can't find it in any dictionary so far. Thank you. April Filis

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

It's Welsh - and I didn't invent it - basically the crown prince.

Q

I am an avid fan of all your fantastic books and the Sharpe series in particular. The question I have is about Sharpe's Devil, I was talking with a friend recently and he told me that in the first version of this book Sharpe and Harper died!! I rushed back to my book case but nothing of the sort happens in my copy, please could you tell me if this happened? (I'm sure if it did then there would be a large pile of enemy corpses around their bodies) and if it did how!!. Nick

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

They didn't die! I think your friend was rattling your cage!

Q

Mr Cornwell, Any chance that you may come and visit us in Australia? Regards Steve

Submitted July 14, 2004

A

I hope so!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I have now read all your historical fiction. I love your work, and hate having to wait until October for your new book. Thanks for so many great days... Please consider writing about Francis Marion, "the Swamp Fox," a fascinating American Revoloutionary War-era soldier from the Carolinas who, like Wellington, had Banestre Tarelton as an adversary. With your affinity for stories from the early American south, I would love to see you take on this character! Jeff Hill

Submitted July 13, 2004

A

Maybe! One day. Not soon. You're right - he is fascinating - as is Banestre Tarleton, but my plate is very full at the moment so he's on a very long finger.