Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell - I am a great fan of your books and have so many questions and comments that I hardly know where to begin! I have read the Sharpe series, the Arthur books and the Grail Quest and enjoyed them immensely. Indeed they refuelled my passion for history and after each set I always go and research as much as I can about the respective periods in history. May I also say that in your characters of Sharpe, Derfel and Thomas, you created men that modern day small unit leaders should aspire to. Having had military service myself, I recognise the qualities that they project and would have happily served under them. I do have two questions for you... 1. While looking up the history of Arthur, I came across the character or Sir Bedivere and noted that he was the one who was supposed to have cast Excalibur back into the lake upon Arthur's death, the very same job that I noted you had Derfel perform in the end of book 3. I also noted that Bedivere appeared to have been as well travelled as Derfel, among other things, fighting at Mont St Michel (The approximate site of Ynes Trebes). Was the character of Derfel based on Bedivere?

2. You frequently mention in your historical notes that you visit the battlefields that you mention in your novels. Is there one in particular that stands out for you more that the others? Once again thank you - Dan Machulka

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a student living in japan, and I wanted to thank you for writing such great pieces. I have all the Saxon stories twice each and I have enjoyed them more everytime. Although the books are not being translated in Japanese, I wish I could have read them in my native tongue. I cannot wait for the next book to come out, can you give me a slight hint of what the book will be about? thank you, Sy

Dear Mr. Bernard, first I read the saga of Thomas during the 100 years war. Now is the time of Uhtred during the time of Alfred the Great.I love your books!Normally I read them in my language, portuguese (Record Editora)but only the first book of Uhtred(The Last Kingdom)was published here (Brasil)and I had to buy the second and third volumes in the Harper Collins.Now Uhtred killed Ivarr and is going back to Wessex. When are we going to know the rest of the story? Do you have already a titlle for the next book? Tulio Albuquerque

Hi. Please can you tell me when the new Saxon book will be out? Looking forward to it. Claire

After gobbling up the War Lord Cronicles, I read all three of the Saxon stories. When I just finished Lords of the North, I yelled out damn it. My wife came running into the room to find out what the problem was, and I told her how sorry I was that we did not finish Uthred. Especially since I can not just go to my local Barnes and Noble and buy volumn 4. When will it be out in California. I cant wait Thank you for thoroughly enjoyable reading and history. It comes to life so readily.

Michael Gottlieb

Dear Mr Cornwell, having read the three books of the Saxon series, I was wondering when the next one will appear. This year maybe? The reason I ask is that I will be away a bit later in the year (i'm in the armed forces) & it would be great to have something good to read should we have any quiet, down time...
David

Hi, Both my father and I have read many of your books and have found great interest in the "Arthur Books", "SaxonStories", "Stonehenge" and your current stories on Alfred. What I am interested in and I am sure you have been asked this question many times. Is there a planned sequel to the Lords of the North. Both my Father and I are sure that there will be another one and would love to know when this is planned for. Many thanks for your time Best regards Doug Brown

I have read all your books and you can't write new ones as fast as I can read them. What other authors would be the next best thing?
Brad Christensen

I believe it is in Sharpe's fortress that Sharpe throws Hakeswill into the snake pit and I would just like to know how he escaped to return in Enemy. He is definitely the best fictional bad guy ever.
Tom Owen

Hi I love your books, especially the Saxon and Arthurian novels (maybe that's because they are the only ones I have read)and I would just like to know whether you are planning to or have write/written any books from a scot/picts point of view? PETE

1807: Sharpe on the Continent? I've much enjoyed reading your accounts of Mr Sharpe's exploits. We don't know his whereabouts between Copenhagen (Sept 1807) and Corunna (Jan 1809). Is it possible that he might have served in Sir Robert Wilson's retinue during the 1807 campaign in Poland. If so he would have been present at the battles of Eylau and Friedland. (see e.g. R. Wilson, A Brief Remarks on the Character and Composition of the Russian Army and a Sketch of the Campaigns in Poland in the Years 1806 and 1807; available on Google Books). Here's hoping that there's many more Sharpe adventures to tell. John Wladis
.....Correction The battle of Eylau (Feb) and Friedland (July) both occurred in 1807 before Copenhagen, not after as my first message implied

Dear Bernard I am a long term avid reader of your books, and once had the audacity to tell you (at a Waterstone signing session) that you portrayed, in the Arthur series, quite the best picture of post-Romanic Britain that I had ever read. Can you help me - I have read recently a book of late 7th century England, which concerns an Irish emigre, Abbess Hilde, St. Cuthbert (alive!), Wilfred, and the founding of Whitby Abbey. Much of the detail in the book was confirmed in one of Melvyn Bragg's excellent discussion programmes last week. I assumed that it was one of your books, a precursor of the Saxon series, but I can't trace it. Any idea - I can't find it in my collection and my guess is that you may well know the author. Regards Mervyn Sennett PS Recently read Lords of the North - well up to usual standards and again giving a realistic picture of life as it must have been in those times.

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I would like to start by saying that I have been a big fan of your work for some time now. The Arthur Books are by far my favorite and I have probably read them (all 3) 10 times. With all that being said, I am also a tattoo collector, and I would like to incorporate some art work from the Arthur books onto myself. My question is, apart from the covers is there any more artwork to go along with these books? Or a good place to find artwork that inspired you or your stories? I hope to hear from you, Your Fan, Scott T. Hadley

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Like most, if not all, of your correspondents I admire your writing and enjoy you books enormously. I am intrigued that you seem to be able to create memorable characters like Rider Sandman - or even more so, Eleanor Forrest - and then allow them to languish in limbo. Is it so easy for you to establish such 'people' in so few words or is the availability of time to expand on them so short ? I would love to read more of Sandman, Berrigan and Eleanor and I am sure others would too - any chance ? Thanks for all your 'people' and the history you have told. Best wishes, David Imrie

Dear Mr Cornwell I know that Gallows Thief is rooted in historical research that you undertook for the book, but I wonder if you have thought of developing a series around Sandman and Berrigan ? It would be great to see how they make out...perhaps with a different challenge...and see as they respond to that challenge whether they manage to establish their business in importing cigars...and discover how their relationships develop. Gallows Story is a great read, lots of colour from early 19th century London. As a clergyman I enjoyed too the sermons of the Ordinary! good post Easter reading. Thanks for all the enjoyment you have given me with your writing. Yours Jonathan Martin