Your Questions

Dear Bernard,

I've been home sick with a severe throat infection so got some books from my library to read, including Justin Pollard's excellent study of Alfred the Great. As a result, I just had to re-read the Uhtred novels again while I'm recovering - just the tonic I needed.

Just one question: there's so many great stories in history about Alfred's descendants, including Edmund Ironside - have you been tempted to write about this much-troubled period (the reign of Aethelred Unraed?

Also, very much looking forward to reading the Pagan Land when it's published.

All the best and may your writing arm be as strong as Uhtred's in a shield wall!
David Sibley

Your novels include a varied range of periods throughout history. But have you ever considered writing a story about James Wolfe and the capture of Quebec during the Seven Years War? Would researching yet another period prove a daunting task for you? You mentioned earlier your enjoyment of reading about the roman era, but content leaving it to authors like Simon Scarrow. However, which periods have you considered as a setting to a novel?
Robert Douglas

Bernard,

Thanks so much for the books you write. I really enjoy the the Saxon Stories as well as the Grail Quest stories. Looking forward to the new Saxon book coming out here soon. It has been a little while since the last Grail book the Heretic. When could we expect to see a new Grail book?

Best Regards,
Dennis Blair

Mr. Cornwell,

I have emailed you questions in the past and I always appreciate your honest and forthright responses. I was reading the Saxon series to completion for my sixth or seventh time, and I just noticed an oddity. Uhtred in his various leadership roles refers to a particular move, the boar's tusk, numerous times. But, as the series progresses you notate that same move with various interchanging names- i.e boars tusk, swine head, etc... Is there any specific reason for the change in vocabulary? Is there some historical significance to that?

Thank you (and I cannot wait for Pagan Lord),

Rich S

Hello Mr Cornwell
I have just finished reading the Harlequin, and I have spotted a mistake where you quote that the city of Rennes is on the river Seine. From my memory it is on the confluence of two rivers the Ille and the Vilaine.
Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed the book, as all the others books and they are numerous that have been written by yourself. At the moment I am looking forward to the next installment of the Warrior Chronicles.
Dave

The quote "everything ends in tears" comes from Excalibur, a day or so after the battle of Mynydd Baddon when Derfel meets up with Merlin and Taliesin.  "'Fate is inexorable,'  (Merlin) said sourly, 'and everything ends in tears.'"  My question is about the first part of the quote, which is not only one of Merlin's favorites, but is used in the Saxon stories.  Can you tell me when you first ran across this?
Bob Burton

If you could own one weapon that you have written about, what would you choose?

Also, what are you writing at the moment?
William

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I know that you have said in the past that Uhtred is based on a real man that you are descended from. If I remember correctly, at the end of Agincourt you also stated that you are a relative of Sir John of Cornwaile. I'm just wondering if that would make, at least in the world you have created, Sir John a descendant of Uhtred?

Luke

Dear Bernard
On the napoleon website, there is an interesting discussion on whether Wellington could have beaten Davout if they had ever faced each other and whether Suchet could have done better had been taken out of the Eastern theatre, I wondered what your own thoughts were on the subject? Do you think Davout could have bested Wellington and seeing as how Suchet lost at Castalla could he have done better than Soult in the main battles against Wellington or even Hill ?
Also will you ever visit Chester in the near future, when you visit the UK you only seem to do London, there are fans of your books in the north west too as well you know, besides the battle brunaburh was only round the corner on the wirral.
Yours sincerely
Geraint
P.S Dunno if you have read it or not but there is an excellent book called A bold and ambitious enterprise by Andrew Bamford on the British campaign in the Low Countries in 1813/14 commanded by Thomas Graham, which is worth a read especially since it's a campaign that has not been studied very much.

Bernard,
I Love it all, what's next?
Stewart O'Brien