Bernard Cornwell Books in Order: Complete Series & Standalone List

Bernard Cornwell writes the kind of historical fiction that makes old battles, kingdoms, and legends feel immediate. If you’re trying to read the Bernard Cornwell books in order, the main thing to know is that his bibliography is built around several major series, plus a handful of standalones, short works, companions, and nonfiction.

The simplest approach is to pick the series that interests you most, then read that series in order. Sharpe and The Last Kingdom are the big entry points, but the shorter trilogies and standalones are great if you don’t want to commit to a long run right away.

Jump to:

• Where to Start with Bernard Cornwell
• Bernard Cornwell Books by Series
• Bernard Cornwell Standalone Novels
• Bernard Cornwell Short Works and Companion Books
• Bernard Cornwell Nonfiction

Where to Start with Bernard Cornwell

For most readers, I’d start with the series that matches the kind of historical fiction you want. Sharpe is the best pick if you want military adventure during the Napoleonic Wars. The Last Kingdom is the best pick if you want Saxons, Vikings, and the making of England.

If you want something shorter, try The Warlord Chronicles for Arthurian Britain or Grail Quest for the Hundred Years’ War. If you want a standalone, Agincourt, Stonehenge, and Fools and Mortals are easy places to sample Cornwell without starting a long series.

Bernard Cornwell Books by Series

Sharpe Series

The Sharpe series follows Richard Sharpe through the Napoleonic Wars. I’ve included the main novels here in publication order, but this is also the one Cornwell series where readers often want a deeper timeline. For the full chronological breakdown, short-story placement, and screen adaptation notes, use my dedicated Sharpe books in order guide.

1. Sharpe’s Eagle (1981)
2. Sharpe’s Gold (1981)
3. Sharpe’s Company (1982)
4. Sharpe’s Sword (1983)
5. Sharpe’s Enemy (1984)
6. Sharpe’s Honor (1985)
7. Sharpe’s Regiment (1986)
8. Sharpe’s Siege (1987)
9. Sharpe’s Rifles (1988)
10. Sharpe’s Revenge (1989)
11. Sharpe’s Waterloo (1990)
12. Sharpe’s Devil (1992)
13. Sharpe’s Battle (1995)
14. Sharpe’s Tiger (1997)
15. Sharpe’s Triumph (1998)
16. Sharpe’s Fortress (1999)
17. Sharpe’s Trafalgar (2000)
18. Sharpe’s Prey (2001)
19. Sharpe’s Havoc (2003)
20. Sharpe’s Escape (2004)
21. Sharpe’s Fury (2006)
22. Sharpe’s Assassin (2021)
23. Sharpe’s Command (2024)
24. Sharpe’s Storm (2025)

Crowning Mercy

Cornwell wrote the Crowning Mercy books with his wife, Judy Cornwell, under the name Susannah Kells. The series is set in seventeenth-century Britain and follows the Lazender family through danger, politics, and romance.

1. A Crowning Mercy (1983)
2. The Fallen Angels (1983)
3. Coat of Arms / The Aristocrats (1986)

Sailing Thrillers

The Sailing Thrillers are different from Cornwell’s better-known historical fiction. These are modern suspense novels tied together by boats, danger, and trouble at sea. Each book stands on its own.

1. Wildtrack (1988)
2. Sea Lord / Killer’s Wake (1989)
3. Crackdown (1990)
4. Stormchild (1991)
5. Scoundrel (1992)

Starbuck Chronicles

The Starbuck Chronicles follows Nathaniel Starbuck during the American Civil War. He’s a northerner who ends up fighting for the South after a Richmond landowner saves his life.

1. Rebel (1993)
2. Copperhead (1994)
3. Battle Flag (1995)
4. The Bloody Ground (1996)

Warlord Chronicles

The Warlord Chronicles is Cornwell’s take on King Arthur, told through Derfel, one of Arthur’s warriors. It is sometimes called the Arthur series.

1. The Winter King (1995)
2. Enemy of God (1996)
3. Excalibur (1997)

Grail Quest / Thomas of Hookton

The Grail Quest series follows Thomas of Hookton, an archer caught in the Hundred Years’ War and pulled into the search for the Holy Grail. The first book is published as Harlequin in some editions and The Archer’s Tale in others.

1. Harlequin / The Archer’s Tale (2000)
2. Vagabond (2002)
3. Heretic (2003)
4. 1356 (2012)

The Last Kingdom Series

The Last Kingdom series was also published as the Saxon Stories and the Warrior Chronicles. I’ve included the main novels below, but if you want the deeper series breakdown, use my dedicated The Last Kingdom books in order guide.

1. The Last Kingdom (2004)
2. The Pale Horseman (2005)
3. Lords of the North (2006)
4. Sword Song (2007)
5. The Burning Land (2009)
6. Death of Kings (2011)
7. The Pagan Lord (2013)
8. The Empty Throne (2014)
9. Warriors of the Storm (2015)
10. The Flame Bearer (2016)
11. War of the Wolf (2018)
12. Sword of Kings (2019)
13. War Lord (2020)

Bernard Cornwell Standalone Novels

Most of Cornwell’s bibliography is built around series, but he has written several standalone novels too. These are good picks if you want one self-contained historical story before jumping into a larger saga.

1. Redcoat (1987)
2. Stonehenge (1999)
3. Gallows Thief (2001)
4. Azincourt / Agincourt (2008)
5. The Fort (2010)
6. Fools and Mortals (2017)

Bernard Cornwell Short Works and Companion Books

These are not main-series novels, but they’re worth knowing about if you’re trying to track Cornwell’s full bibliography.

1. Sharpe’s Skirmish (2002), Sharpe short story
2. Sharpe’s Christmas (2003), short-story collection containing “Sharpe’s Christmas” and “Sharpe’s Ransom”
3. Sharpe’s Story (2007), companion booklet
4. Uhtred’s Feast (2023), companion book with short stories and recipes

Bernard Cornwell Nonfiction

Cornwell’s main nonfiction book is about the Battle of Waterloo. It pairs naturally with the Sharpe books, but it is a history book rather than a novel.

1. Waterloo (2015)

Looking for similar books in order?

If you want more authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Books in Order index.

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