Bernard Cornwell Reading Order

5 books (1983–1986)

The Crowning Mercy series is a complete historical fiction sequence consisting of five books published between 1983 and 1986. The first two installments were co-written by Bernard Cornwell and Susannah Kells, while the final three books were written solely by Kells. Readers should begin with A Crowning Mercy and proceed in publication order to follow the intended narrative progression of this mystery-thriller set in historical times.

Start with A Crowning Mercy(With: Susannah Kells), the first of 5 books in the Crowning Mercy series.

#	Title
1	A Crowning Mercy(With: Susannah Kells) 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Fallen Angels(With: Susannah Kells) 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Coat of Arms / The Aristocrats(By: Susannah Kells) 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Coat of Arms(By: Susannah Kells) 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Aristocrats(By: Susannah Kells) 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2000–2012)

Bernard Cornwell's Grail Quest series comprises four historical fiction novels released between 2000 and 2012, with the complete sequence consisting of Harlequin (also titled The Archer's Tale), Vagabond, Heretic, and 1356. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Harlequin and concluding with 1356. This concluded series blends mystery and thriller elements with Cornwell's signature historical fiction style.

Start with Harlequin / The Archer's Tale, the first of 4 books in the Grail Quest series.

#	Title
1	Harlequin / The Archer's Tale 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Vagabond 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Heretic 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	1356 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2015–2015)

5 books (1988–1992)

Bernard Cornwell's Sailing Thrillers series consists of five complete novels published between 1988 and 1992, blending mystery, thriller, and literary fiction elements. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Wildtrack and continuing through Killer's Wake, Crackdown, Stormchild, and Scoundrel. This concluded series offers standalone mystery and thriller narratives set against nautical backdrops, showcasing Cornwell's versatility beyond his better-known historical fiction work.

Start with Wildtrack, the first of 5 books in the Sailing Thrillers series.

#	Title
1	Wildtrack 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Killer's Wake / Sea Lord 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Crackdown 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Stormchild 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Scoundrel 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

27 books (1981–2025)

Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series comprises 27 historical fiction novels following a military protagonist through various campaigns and conflicts, with the first installment published in 1981 and the most recent in 2025. The series remains ongoing and should be read in publication order, beginning with Sharpe's Eagle. Notable titles in the sequence include Sharpe's Gold, Sharpe's Sword, Sharpe's Waterloo, and Sharpe's Rifles, among many others, each exploring different battles and periods. This long-running series offers readers an extended chronicle of military adventure spanning decades of storytelling.

Start with Sharpe's Eagle, the first of 27 books in the Sharpe series.

#	Title
1	Sharpe's Eagle 1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Sharpe's Gold 1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Sharpe's Company 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Sharpe's Sword 1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Sharpe's Enemy 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Sharpe's Honor 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Sharpe's Regiment 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Sharpe's Siege 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Sharpe's Rifles 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Sharpe's Revenge 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Sharpe's Waterloo 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Sharpe's Devil 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Sharpe's Christmas 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Sharpe's Ransom 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Sharpe's Battle 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Sharpe's Tiger 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Sharpe's Triumph 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Sharpe's Fortress 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Sharpe's Skirmish 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Sharpe's Trafalgar 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	Sharpe's Prey 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Sharpe's Havoc 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	Sharpe's Escape 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	Sharpe's Fury 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25	Sharpe’s Assassin 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26	Sharpe's Command 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27	Sharpe's Storm 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2007–2007)

#	Title
1	Sharpe's Story 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (1987–2017)

Bernard Cornwell's six standalone novels span from 1987 to 2017 and should be read in publication order, beginning with Redcoat. The series is now complete and encompasses works across mystery, thriller, historical fiction, and literary fiction genres, including titles such as Stonehenge, Gallows Thief, Agincourt, The Fort, and Fools and Mortal. Since each book stands independently, readers can also choose individual entries based on their interests, though experiencing them in the order published provides a view of Cornwell's evolving style across three decades.

Start with Redcoat, the first of 6 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	Redcoat 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Stonehenge 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Gallows Thief 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Agincourt / Azincourt 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Fort 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Fools and Mortal 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1993–1996)

The Starbuck Chronicles is a four-book historical fiction series by Bernard Cornwell published between 1993 and 1996, following the saga through the American Civil War. The complete sequence consists of Rebel, Copperhead, Battle Flag, and The Bloody Ground, which should be read in publication order. This finished series is best experienced chronologically from the beginning to fully appreciate the character development and historical narrative arc that unfolds across all four novels.

Start with Rebel, the first of 4 books in the Starbuck Chronicles series.

#	Title
1	Rebel 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Copperhead 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Battle Flag 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Bloody Ground 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

14 books (2004–2023)

Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories, also known as The Warrior Chronicles, is a 14-book historical fiction series published between 2004 and 2023 that has reached completion. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with The Last Kingdom and concluding with Uhtred's Feast. This long-running series spans nearly two decades and follows interconnected narratives set during England's Anglo-Saxon period, combining military action with character-driven storytelling across its substantial collection of adventures.

Start with The Last Kingdom, the first of 14 books in the The Warrior Chronicles / Saxon Stories series.

#	Title
1	The Last Kingdom 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Pale Horseman 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Lords of the North 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Sword Song 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Burning Land 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Death of Kings 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Pagan Lord 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Empty Throne 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Warriors of the Storm 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Flame Bearer 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	War of the Wolf 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Sword of Kings 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	War Lord 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Uhtred’s Feast 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1995–1997)

Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles trilogy presents a historical reimagining of the Arthurian legend across three books published between 1995 and 1997. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Winter King, followed by Enemy of God, and concluding with Excalibur. This historical fiction series draws from Cornwell's characteristic blend of military narrative and literary depth to explore the legendary figure of Arthur.

Start with The Winter King and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Winter King 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Enemy of God 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Excalibur 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible