Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell
Firstly I'd like to say thankyou for never just portraying the Irish as just drunken louts, yes the odd time but they did fight for the British.  I was shocked to learn that a large part of Wellington's army at Waterloo was Irish.  Have you ever been interested in writing about the Irish past like Cromwell or William and James?  If not, have you read any books on the subject that could be interesting to read?

Many thanks from an avid fan
Mark Mcauley

Submitted October 9, 2013

A

I’m not quite sure why you’re shocked!  Men rarely joined for patriotic reasons, but usually because they were desperate; either through poverty or because they were in trouble with the law (the Duke of Wellington reckoned many volunteered because they’d fathered an illegitimate child and wanted to escape the consequences). Ireland had extreme poverty and just about every regiment recruited there – the average English county regiment had about 25% of Irish, and, though they had little reason to love Britain they fought like tigers. Indeed, the man still celebrated by the Coldstream Guards as ‘The Bravest man in the British Army’ was an Irishman, a sergeant at Waterloo.  I love Ireland, and lived there, but I’ve no wish to write about Irish history – it’s a nest of snakes!

 

Q

I know this may sound an unusual question but as an incredibly successful and prolific author would be interested to know your answer. I remember reaching a certain age some years ago (I'm currently 46) and realising that there are books I will never read, or even be aware of. Do you ever worry that there are books you will never write and on this basis do you have a list of books you want to write in order of priority? On a purely selfish note I am hoping the Tudor period may appear somewhere on such a list.
Thanks for all the great books so far.
Phil Rimmer

Submitted October 9, 2013

A

Well I do have a very short list! It’s really one book ahead

 

 

 

Q

Hi Bernard

I firstly would like to say I'm delighted to here your doing a book on Waterloo personally this was one era of time I have been into since I first got In to history. Obviously this being your first non-fiction book I was just wondering and hoping in fact you will build some history on the likes of Somerset, Uxbrudge, Ponseby and Picton etc. not forgetting nay and Soult....

Can I also fair play that you reply to everyone I'm a top fan of yours and especially Thomas Hookton and Nathanial Starbuck and hope you get the time to add to both of their stories....

Kind regards
Nick Holloway

Submitted October 9, 2013

A

Waterloo....they’re all in there . . . .

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell

I've just finished reading your books for the 2nd time and I'm pleased to say that all of them have not only aged well but improved considerably over the past ten or so years. I understand that Hakeswill was one of your favourite characters or devices in Sharpe. But when he appeared on the scene again I almost felt like throwing the book, or something heavier, at him.

Although Sharpe is my favourite series, I'm very fond of Arthur, Stonehenge, and Stormchild. If I'm not mistaken I read somewhere that you have one or more daughters yourself. If so, has or have your daughter[s] read Stormchild? To me, the sob right at the end expresses so much more than could ever be said in words.

Thank you so much for all your creations. Couldn't you, now that you seem to have settled on just one book a year, create a short Sharpe story each christmas. I'm sure you'd delight a lot of people and maybe even some charities?

Thanks again.

Klaus

Submitted October 9, 2013

A

I think she read it!  I’ve never asked her. She’d probably laugh if I did.

 

I suppose I could, but will I?  I find short stories immensely troublesome to write, I’d much rather write a 130,000 word novel than a 12,000 word short story, but other people have asked me, so perhaps??

Q

Hello Bernard,

I finished reading the Pagan Lord today. I have one question. I was a bit miffed at the Welsh being heroic and turning up to support the Mercians. Did this actually happen? I know the Saxon Chronicles are a little short on details, but I was wondering if it was religious fervor or a few clever priests who managed it?

On another note, I liked the ending. Well done. (Don't want to post spoilers.)

Craig.

Submitted October 9, 2013

A

I don’t know why you should be miffed!  It’s all fiction, anyway, but the reality is that the Welsh were mostly in two minds about the struggle between the Saxons and the Danes. The Saxons were, after all, the ancestral enemy, but they were also Christians, so who did you support?

Q

Hi, loved the new book but was wondering if Uhtred will ever retake Bebbanburg?

Robert Burch

 

Bernard,
Just finished the above book and loved it- as I did all the rest. Intrigued with the link to Bamburgh- our favourite place in England but disturbed with the ending; unsure if our hero is dead and whether there will be another in the series. I do hope so, even if the Uhtred you refer to at the end of the historical note turns out to be the son.
Thank you for the many hours of wonderful reading.
Regards,
Graeme Whitehead

 

Dear Bernard Cornwell
First of all I really enjoy your books I have read most of them and I really loved 1356. I have just read Pagan Lord, which I read non-stop, but I am really upset. Please tell me Uhtred is not dead.
Thanks again for all your books. They really bring me a a lot of pleasure
Yours hoping Uhtred is not dead
Richard

Submitted October 9, 2013

A

There will be more to Uhtred's story!

Q

I am currently writing a book (using help from this website) but now I'm having a bit of an issue. The issue is with my romance between my characters Tiberius and Catriona. The problem is that the romance is developing too fast and while I think I've figured out how to fix the situation I can't be sure if it will work with the readers. In your Winter King series you were able to masterfully bring Derfel and Ceinwyn together in a way that the reader (myself included) didn't know if they would end up together so what I'm asking for is help in making that same situation with my own characters so that my readers won't know what's coming next. Any help is appreciated. Thank you very much and thank you dearly for such wonderful books.
Benton Walters

Submitted October 9, 2013

A

Well, the fix will work if it satisfies you!    Remember, you write for yourself first and hope readers like what you like. The easy way is to throw an obstacle in the course of true love, and you’d know best what that might be. But sometimes, when characters do what we neither expect nor want, it’s best to let them get on with it. Maybe they’ll surprise you?

Q

Just finished reading the Pagan Lord and it was utterly fantastic! I only found out about the Warrior Chronicles (or the Saxon Chronicles -as I was in the US at the time of discovery) a month or two ago and completely blitzed the books, fantastic.

Just out of curiosity how many more WC books do you think there will be? Uhtred is getting on a bit now and I can't wait for his final capture of Bebbanburg! I thought the final fight scene between him and Cnut was excellent and thoroughly enjoyed everyone bearing their sentiments to Uhtred at the end, finally getting the recognition from all ends that he deserves. Really tugged on the heart strings.

The only gripe I have is that 60-70 years later, along comes William the Conqueror and just captures what was then England! Did you know that 70% of England today is owned by the Normans relating to William the Conqueror's invasion?

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read this and a fantastic adventure involving Uhtred.

Warm Regards
Robin

Submitted October 4, 2013

A

I didn’t know that!  The Normans won’t arrive for another 150 years, not that I shall fill that gap with stories, but the purpose behind the Uhtred stories is to recount how England itself was formed.  So the Normans will have to wait in the wings.

I'm not sure how many more books there will be....but there will be more!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,
Will you be writing any more in the Sharpe series? If so, when might the next one be available?  I am going into a serious case of withdrawal without any new yarns to read. I guess I shall just have to re-read the already published volumes and find items I missed previously.  Your 'Sharpe's Waterloo' is superbly clear.  I visited the battlefield, but didn't feel I could envision the battle until after I read your account.
Many thanks,

David Rolfe

Submitted October 4, 2013

A

There will be more Sharpe, but not for a few more years I suspect.  But you might like to know the book I am currently working on is a non-fiction book (my first) on the Battle of Waterloo!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell
I am a former British soldier turned harp maker from Derbyshire, I'm a fan of the Sharpe series and enjoy the Uhtred books and have noted quite a few harp references...strings in mouth etc.. Just curious if you have any harp connection? .. Weird question, I know! But I've been wondering for a few years now and thought "Why not ask?"

With thanks and best future wishes

Paul

Submitted October 4, 2013

A

And why not ask!  I have none, and till you wrote had no idea I’d mentioned the harp that often. I suppose they’re inevitable in the Uhtred tales, but Sharpe heard a harp?  I did once date a harpist, but that was a long long time ago, before I knew what I was doing . . . .