Bernard Cornwell is an English novelist who specializes in historical fiction. In addition to his famous Sharpe series, he has written four books on the American Civil War, three books about Arthur’s Britain, three books about the Hundred Years’ War, and five modern thrillers. He is best known for creating the fictional character Richard Sharpe, who served as an English soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe’s development in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars is chronicled in his Sharpe series, which includes multiple books and short stories. His Sharpe series was so well-received that it was converted into a television show. Cornwell, an active and nice man with a happy disposition, is completely devoted to his career. True love, in fact, was the catalyst for him to begin writing. He was residing in the United Kingdom when he fell in love with an American visitor and followed her to the United States. He started writing fiction since he couldn’t find another work. He decided to write historical books after combining his passions for writing and history. His books eventually grew popular with readers, and he decided to make writing a full-time career. He has written non-fiction about the Battle of Waterloo in addition to fiction.
Childhood and Adolescence
He was born on February 23, 1944, in London, to Dorothy, a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, and William Oughtred, a Canadian airman, after a brief connection.
He was put up for adoption as a newborn since he was born out of wedlock. He was adopted by Joe and Marjorie Wiggins of the Peculiar People, a now-defunct Protestant fundamentalist cult based in Essex. At the Wiggins house, he had four adoptive siblings.
He had a terrible childhood, with his father abusing him frequently. His parents were conservative and pious, and they even forbade him from watching television at home. Bernard had a tumultuous connection with his mother, who was a miserable lady.
Monkton Combe School was where he acquired his primary education. He later proceeded to the University of London to study theology. He became an agnostic after studying religion.
A Career of Bernard Cornwell
He worked as a teacher for a while after graduating, teaching “O” Level Tudor history. He tried to join the British armed forces but was turned down due to his myopia.
He was intrigued to television and landed a job at the BBC, where he worked on ‘Nationwide,’ the channel’s news and current affairs show. For the next ten years, he worked for the BBC, eventually rising to the position of head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland.
In 1978, he met a party of American visitors in Ireland and fell in love with one of them, Judy, a lovely American travel agent. She reciprocated his affections as well, but due to family obligations, she was unable to relocate to the United Kingdom.
As a result, he chose to come to the United States to be with her. He was unable to obtain a United States Permanent Resident Card (green card) and hence was unable to work in the United States. But he never gave up; he began writing novels, which did not require a work permit.
Richard Sharpe, a fictional Napoleonic Wars rifleman, was the primary character in a story he created. Despite early rejection, he was eventually successful in obtaining a contract with Collins publishers, and the Sharpe series was formed.
Richard Sharpe, a veteran soldier described by the author as “six feet tall, with an angular, tanned face, long black hair, and blue eyes,” became a famous character among readers.
Cornwell had always been fascinated by history, and creating historical fiction was a dream come true for him. He was quickly cranking out multiple books and short stories that were greedily devoured by his followers, thanks to his vivid imagination and amazing flair for story-telling.
The ‘Warlord Chronicles’ are made up of three novels: ‘The Winter Kind,’ ‘Enemy of God,’ and ‘Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur.’ This series blended historical fiction with Arthurian legends.
He wrote five modern thrillers, the last of which was published in 1992, in addition to historical works. Although the novels were favorably received, Cornwell prefers to write historical fiction.
In the year 2000, he published ‘Harlequin,’ the first book in the ‘The Grail Quest’ series. The second novel in the series, ‘Vagabond,’ was published a few years later in 2002. The trilogy was finished with the novels ‘Heretic’ (2003) and ‘1356,’ which were published several years later in 2012.
‘The Saxon Tales,’ another of his well-known series, tells the account of the Danish invasions of Britain in the 9th and 10th centuries.
Major Projects of Bernard Cornwell
He is most known for creating the fictional character Richard Sharpe and the books that follow his wartime adventures. Sharpe’s works were so famous that they were made into a British series of historical war television dramas starring Sean Bean as the principal character.
Personal History and Legacy
He fell in love with Judy, a visiting American, while residing in the United Kingdom. Judy, however, was previously married and had three children in the United States, so she was unable to relocate to the United Kingdom. As a result, he relocated to the United States and married her in 1980.
His wife co-wrote a series of novels with him under the alias “Susannah Kells,” and the couple is happily married.
Estimated Net Worth
Bernard Cornwell is a British author. Bernard Cornwell has a net worth of $5 million as an English author of historical fiction.