Your Questions

Q

Hello, I've just finished reading the first two books in the Saxon series in Swedish. I'll probably have to turn to the English originals for the other two since I assume it will be some time before they are translated. I really liked your books both as good reading but also for the historical interest. I'm involved in a viking association where we shoot old time bows and arrows and we have also organised a couple of viking festivals: http://www.gnejron.se/engindex.html. This year we had a Swedish historian/author holding a couple of lectures.

I wonder how certain one can be of the historical facts. In my genealogy I have found a connection with king Edvard (1003-1066). According to some source he had a daughter Jutta that married a Kiev king and a granddaughter of theirs married a Danish king. My son also used king Egbert as a base for a historical project in school. It this Egbert stone actually a place you can visit today in England? Johan

A

I wonder how certain you can be of historical facts too! And the farther you go back in history, the murkier those facts are! As for Egbert's stone, there are four possible locations - Stourhead in Wiltshire (worth a visit, even if no stone remains). The village of Coombe Street (near Stourhead) where tradition says Egbert raised a stone to mark where three counties joined (I'm told there is a small boulder there, but I've not seen it). The village of Willoughby Hedge (doubtful) and lastly Kingston Deverill (also Wiltshire) where legend says three large stones once stood on Kings Court Hill. The stones were brought to the village where two remain close to the church (but on private ground). The stones were known as King Egbert's stones, but were probably neolithic monuments (same age as Stonehenge or earlier). My bet would be Kingston Deverill, but Stourhead is also a strong possibility.


Q

Dear Bernard, love your work. Can you tell me if you plan to write any books about Lassan, Sharpe's son. he sounds as if he has lived an interesting life and I'd like to know how he 'earned' those scars! regards Mark

A

I doubt I'll write any books about Patrick Lassan, not because I don't like him, but simply because I have too many other books in mind (and have to finish Starbuck too!)


Q

Dear Bernard First let me say I bought Sword song yesterday and finished it today and thought it was fantastic with a cracking pace. Easily the best of the Viking books so far and let me congratulate you on an excellent book. In relation to it I wondered if you when you next tour if you will ever get to Chester (Selfishly if for no other reason so that I can get my copy signed) but a city still that is rich in military history all the same You can still the damage in the Roman walls from Parliamentarian cannon.

Sword Song also seems to suggest that in future Uhtred will be fighting the welsh and Scots is that true ?? (and speaking as someone who is half welsh bring him on!)

As for your next work will it be the rather open secret of Agincourt or a musket novel??? Although I hope you do not mind me saying it seemed a rather one sided fight with a small but veteran and disciplined army taking on and beating a large but motley hoard who were in the middle of a civil war (hard not to see the English as the bad guys in that fight).

And finally in regards to Sharpe he has served under Graham at Barossa any chance of him fighting with him at his last fight at Bergen-op-Zoom???? I think Wellington himself was surprised how after getting into that place the British managed to get kicked out.##

Finally I wondered if you had ever thought about the 1775/6 siege of Quebec It had some of the best fighters on both sides Arnold/Morgan/Carleton etc and was pretty epic While Carleton seemed rather similar to Wellington in that he was and Irish Protestant commanding fighting in a Catholic country and never lost a battle against an invader. Anyway Congrats again on an excellent book. Geraint

A

I don't have a tour itinerary yet, so I'm not sure of the plans.

Have no idea! Honestly! I'll know when I write the future books. Sorry to be so vague, but I really haven't planned out Uhtred's whole life because, as I write it, he'll insist on doing what he wants, so there's not much point.

Agincourt

Won't know about Sharpe til I get there.

It is a great story, and who knows? One day? Maybe?


Q

I am writing to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading your books I have just finished reading the saxon stories again in time for your new book coming out next month. I have read all of your books and was wondering when you will be finishing the starbuck chronicles? write back David Rutherford

I was just wondering after reading your last instalment again, if there are any plans for any more Starbuck books. Will Starbuck meet Billy Blythe again ?. The last line in the book says 'Starbuck will march again'. Will starbuck and the legion go to Chancellorsville or Gettysburg ?. Terence Aldcroft

A

I do plan to get back to Starbuck one day so hopefully we will find out.


Q

Hi Bernard Im looking forward to the release of Sword song this autumn and also of the impeding (hopefully) novel on Agincourt at some point in the future. I was wondering if you have ever consider ed writing a novel on any of the following historic British characters Robin Hood, Dick Turpin, Hereward the wake, William Wallace or Boudicca? I have also just re-read lords of the north and was wondering when we see any of Uhtreds children especially after Uhtred was told that one of his sons will break his heart, another will make him proud and his daughter will be mother of kings. Thanks for all the great books Phil

A

Hereward is a good tale so who knows? I've thought about Robin Hood a few times, but it is not likely to happen any time soon. I probably won't write a book on Boudicaa, although it would make for an interesting story. No plans for the others either. You'll see Uhtred's children soon!


Q

Hi Bernard, Just a quick note to tell you how much I admire your thriller books-all the boating stories. Naturally I'm a fan of Sharpe, but it was your first person novels that really grabbed me. I wondered whether you found writing in first person harder? I'm a full time artist. I sell my art all around the world, and whenever I can I play a Bernard Cornwell talking book in the studio to get me through the endless hours of photorealistic painting. In fact, you and Wilbur Smith have been the inspiration to attempt my own novel. So thanks, mate. (Tony from Australia)

A

It's swings and roundabouts. You do lose something by writing in the first person - not just the suspense of whether the main character will survive (which he or she usually does even in third person narratives), but also the alternative points of view that can increase suspense - i.e. you can watch an ambush being laid, then watch your hero walking into it. On the other hand there's an immediacy to the first person which can increase excitement and pace. I don't think one is any better than the other - and though most of my books are third person I enjoy doing the first.


Q

Mr. Cornwell - I love your books. I have two questions for you: What comes first your historical research and then plot or otherway round? And do you ever get writers block, what do you do to get out of it? Many thanks. Mark

A

They emerge together. Impossible to separate them! I research until a plot develops in my mind (or at least a starting place for a plot) and then I begin writing, but the research goes on. It is NOT an exact science!

Writer's block???? Writer's block is nature's way of telling you you're not a writer. If a nurse could have a block, then I could have one: that's how I feel. Nursing is much more difficult than what I do. And they're not allowed to phone up and say: Awfully sorry. I've got nurse's block today.


Q

just wondering if there will ever be a tv version of the Arthur books as I have enjoyed all 3 of them loads of times now, thanks. Ben

A

No plans for it Ben.


Q

hi, started Sword Song today and it is very good but I've got one question for you, who in your opinion is the better fighter in single combat out of Derfel and Uhtred? lots of love, Lucie

A

They're as good as each other, which is all you'll get from me!


Q

Hi Bernard In Sharpe's Fury (which I'm currently halfway through) you refer to 'Brigadier' Moon, although I'm fairly sure that they were 'Brigadier Generals' before the end of the First World War (when they were briefly changed to Commandant Colonels and then Brigadiers). My (long winded) point is that sure he should be referred to as 'General Moon'. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Cheers Luke

A

They were Brigadier Generals, of course, but there were also Major-Generals and Lieutenant-Generals, and they have to be distinguished one from the other, which the appellation 'general' doesn't do. In letters and diaries I often see B-G's referred to as 'the Brigadier', so I'm happy to go with that!