About Bernard Cornwell

Bernard Cornwell OBE is a British author known for his historical novels. His most popular work is his series about Richard Sharpe, a rifleman in the Napoleonic Wars. His historical novels fall into five series, with an additional series of contemporary thriller books completing his portfolio.

Bernard Cornwell’s historical novels make excellent reading for those who share his keen interest in history, such as Geoffrey Webber.

Early Life and Career

Bernard Cornwell was born in 1944 in London. The son of a Canadian airman, his mother was a Women’s Auxiliary Air Force member. He was later adopted by a religious family who belonged to a sect known as the Peculiar People. He eventually left for London University, where he worked as a teacher before joining BBC Television.

It was whilst he was working in Belfast for the BBC as the Head of Current Affairs Television that he met Judy, who would later become his wife, when she was visiting from the United States. Judy could not move to the UK, so Bernard moved to the United States. However, he was refused a Green Card. This refusal led to his decision to begin writing; a career for which he did not need permission from the American government.

Sharpe Novels

Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe is his first and best-known series of historical novels. This series follows Richard Sharpe, a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. The first eleven books detail Sharpe’s adventures throughout several campaigns during the Peninsular War over the course of seven years.

The next five books detailed Sharpe’s earlier life under the command of Wellington in India, covering events such as his officer corps promotion, his return to Britain, and his arrival in the 95th Rifles. The next book in the series is Sharpe’s Devil, which takes place six years after the wars have ended. Since 2003, Bernard Cornwell has written further novels set during the Peninsular War era, bringing the total number of books in the series up to a total of 24.

Other Series

Other notable novel series by Bernard Cornwell include the Warlord Chronicles, the Grail Quest series, and The Last Kingdom. The Warlord Chronicles explores Arthurian Britain and the difficulties faced by the natives during the post-Roman period.

The Grail Quest, set during the Hundred Years’ War, depicts a search for the Holy Grail in the mid-14th century. Thomas of Hookton, an English archer, is drawn into the quest following the murder of his family by a mercenary who goes by the name ‘The Harlequin’.