“I put on a tie because I was coming to a university,” Bernard Cornwell said. “And now I’m overdressed.”

Cornwell, a historical novelist, spoke at Tuesday evening’s Gilbert Lecture Series.

The opening joke began a lecture dotted with humor about Cornwell’s new book, about being a writer, and about inspiration.

“The Last Kingdom, I have to admit, is not Chick Lit,” Cornwell said.

He described it as the story of Uhtred, a boy raised by Vikings in a violent warrior society.

As an example of the Viking lifestyle, Cornwell described a song mothers would sing to put their babies to sleep which began, “Sleep, you black-eyed pig” and wished the child to fall to a dark place with ghostly spirits.

“Try that on your little ones,” he said.

When asked about his inspiration and writer’s block, Cornwell said, “Writer’s block is God’s way of telling you you’re not a writer.”

He said what he does is fun because he’s telling stories, not dealing in literature. “I can’t imagine not doing it.”

Professor bonnie Wheeler, Director of Medieval Studies and Professor of English, said the lecture was a wonderful event and well attended. She described Cornwell as one of the most successful historic novelists and said it is wrong to define his books as women’s or men’s because they are fast-paced fiction informed by a real historian.

One attendee, Charles Curtis, an alternative school counselor from Ft. Worth, said he did not mind the 30-minute drive to attend the lecture because he likes Cornwell’s work.

Holding up his copy of The Last Kingdom, he said, “I just started reading this one. So far it’s pretty good.”

Cornwell said this is his first visit to Texas, but he hopes to return one day.

For those who did not attend the lecture, he recommends the Arthurian series.

“All the books are fun romps,” he said. “My job is to entertain, not educate.”

Those who arrived empty handed were able to buy books at a table the SMU bookstore set up.

Bookstore Department Manager Erin Hajovsky, who worked the lecture, said they brought about 70 copies of The Last Kingdom. When reflecting on the signing’s turnout, she said, “This is one of the most successful one’s I’ve seen.”