Bernard Cornwell is a British-American author known for his historical novels. He was born in London on 23 February 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother was in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Adopted by a family in Essex who were part of a strict Protestant sect known as the Peculiar People, Cornwell eventually left them and adopted his birth mother's maiden name.

He attended Monkton Combe School and the University of London. After working as a teacher, Cornwell joined the BBC, where he worked for a decade, ending as Head of Current Affairs Television for BBC Northern Ireland. It was in Belfast that he met his future wife, Judy, an American, which led him to move to the United States.

Unable to obtain a Green Card, Cornwell turned to writing, creating the famous Sharpe series, centered on a British soldier during the Napoleonic wars. He is also known for The Saxon Stories, focusing on the unification of England, and other series based on English history. His works often include an end note detailing historical accuracy and modern-day site relevance.

Many of his series have been adapted for television, including Sharpe by ITV, The Last Kingdom by BBC, and The Winter King for MGM+. In 2006, Cornwell was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He currently resides in the United States, alternating between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Charleston, South Carolina.