Your Questions

Mr. Cornwell,

I just finished The Pagan Lord for the second time and the biggest "beef" I have with your books is that I devour them too quickly! Thank you for sharing your passion and talent with us.

The next time my wife and I vacation in England, we would like to visit a number of the sites referenced in your books. We visited Edington (Ethandun) when we vacationed in England in 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed trying to visualize Alfred's forces defeating Guthrum on that ground in 878. Any suggestions for our visit next year? We plan on staying for at least 2 weeks.

Thanks,

Michael
Sterling, VA

Your explanation of the riddle states that the answer for "Four dilly-dandies, etc." is a goat.  From my hands-on experience, I know that goats do not have four teats -but only TWO!!  Very unlike you to make a mistake -or was it your character Uhtred trying to outwit Cnut Ranulfson?

Apart from that thoroughly enjoying the book!  Well done! Again!
Michele Deereux-Austin

First of all, as an archaeology graduate whose major interest is the Anglo-Saxon (particularly the pre-Christian 'heathen') period, I have to say your Uhtred books were inspired. You are the only author who has, for me at least, captured the true essence of our early culture in fiction.
I am also an aspiring writer and I just wondered what you think the most important aspect of a great historical action adventure story is?
Ian Carr

Dear Bernard,
I'm currently flying way too swiftly through The Pagan Lord. 'Tis most excellent, and I'm very much looking forward to reading all of the Uthred books when the series is done, which brings me to my question.
Unless it's giving away any trade secrets, did you know how Uthred's story would pan out when you started The Last Kingdom, or did the story develop as you wrote the books?
I keep on procrastinating over my books (not that I've written anything!). It's either a Sharpe/Harper-esque book about some Mongols in Genghis' army, or a Viking book with zombies (draugr) in.  Anyway!
Thanks for the untold hours of book loving you've given me! I remember reading a Sharpe book my dad had when I was about 14. Can't remember the name but it's the one where they break a French square with a charging dead horse. Read Redcoat swiftly after, and then the rest is history. Made several drunken shield walls in Uni, involving me and some fellow drunks yelling 'shield wall!' after reading Derfel's accounts! Sorry, I'm waffling!
Salutations
Owe Phillips

Dear Mr Cornwell
I have read most of your books and have just finished Pagan Lord in one sitting and greatly enjoyed it. I thought it would be the last in the Warrior Chronicles. However, I was very pleased to see in one of your answers that there is more to come. Will Uhtred's son play a more prominent role? Were you being cryptic in the last line of the Historical Note by saying:' Uhtred will be there to witness it' . Uhtred senior or junior?
Unfortunately, I will have to wait and see.
Thank you for all the enjoyable books.
Yours sincerely
Brian

Bernard,
>From one of your strongest advocates here in Australia, I've felt compelled to write to you once again. After waiting 9 months for The Pagan Lord to be released, I finally opened the pages to be transfixed into this wonderful brutal world of English history.
You made a point of introducing former "characters" in the Uhtred saga which was a little contrived. Maybe, this is the last chapter of our super-hero and you wanted to bring them all together in a fitting finale?
Nevertheless, I will still be waiting for the last chapters of Richard Sharpe, the great British hero, who surely must now rest on sheer animal cunning and intelligence than the brute force of his earlier years. Thank you so much.
Howard Boughton

 

Hi there Mr. Cornwell.

Great books, your brilliant. Will there be more books past book 7 in the Warrior Chronicles?!?!  I didn't sleep a wink last night due to the ending of book 7.  Uhtred loves to Quote Fate, so, make it 8!

Troy

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I'm sure you have probably been asked this before, but who are some of your favorite authors?  Also, what do you read for pleasure, other than historical fiction, and why?
P.S.  All of your books are great!
Ben Mercer

I have always been fascinated by a good authors ability to have his character solve problems in ingenious, clever, subtle, etc. ways. Sharpe does it over and over.  If you could project Sharpe's solutions onto  the political scene...what would you have him do to fix Washington DC?
Belinda Baker, MLS

I gather you are a sailor, as am I. I heard that you sail a traditional boat. I sail a Cape Dory 36, a Carl Alberg design, built in 1979, not exactly a classic but at least classic plastic. Would you like to tell your readers more about this side of your life? Where have you sailed? Why do you prefer classic boats. What about sailing interests you? What (besides Hornblower) do you consider great books about sailing and the sea? (My book collection features two authors who show up more frequently: Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brian.)
David VanDenburgh

The Pagan Lord is a brilliant story, enormously well written but you have surpassed yourself with the final 4 pages (thank goodness for the historical note).  I now have 30 Cornwell first editions and desperately need you to walk through West Mersea with a pen in your hand - all the first editions are going to middle grandson but not yet! - bookshelf space is at crisis level.  Two questions will you fill another desk/bookcase if I get one (I know you can't answer that!) and have you any plans to come to the UK again?

Oh, yes, what's next please?
Roger Gaspar

I haven't yet read The Pagan lord so apologies if this is answered in there but I have started reading the Saxon Series from the start again and whislt reading the start of The Last kingdom you write that the story is about how Ethelflaed became so important to England. Whilst her presence has become greater and greater with each book, in The Death of Kings she was still not, what I would call, a major character.

Therefore, can I ask if the theme of the story arc has changed since The Last Kingdom or whether you still intend for the series to be the telling of Ethelflaed's story. I'm not complaining, but it was something that struck me upon re-reading and with knowledge of the rest of the series so far up to Death of Kings.
Andrew Rose