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Sir, I recently read the Edward Rutherfurd books The Dublin Saga and Sarum and was looking for other historical fiction when I came upon the Saxon Series. I have finished the first two and have started The Lords of the North. I just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed them and look forward to travelling thru all the other series as well. Keep up the great work. Tod Reed

Regarding the below questions and answers Q: Hi Bernard. I am fascinated with the Sharpe books. I have always had a keen eye with history, and Sharpe has widened the horizons. I love the way that, in mainly revenge and Waterloo, we see the true character of Jane Gibbons, and how her character really acts in other company than Sharpe's/ I have just finished Waterloo, without reading fury, christmas, skirmish or Ransom sadly. But I will pounce on them soon. I have a few questions about Sharpe. Firstly, as many a reader has seen, the films sometimes veer away form the books. What happens to Harris in Waterloo? In the film he dies trying to save Hagman, who in turn dies, but in the book we only hear of Hagman getting shot in the lung. Also, where did Cooper and Perkins go? I just didn't hear of them after. And this goes into a historical extent, what is the difference between a brigade and demi brigade? Calvet was supposed to have commanded a brigade, but demi-brigade couldn't be half a brigade. And lastly, General Calvet seems very nice and cheerful towards Sharpe in the films, whereas, in Sharpe's Revenge, his mouth seems to be as dirty as a barrel full of wattle and dorb. He doesn't seem very friendly. And also, did Tom Garrard, Sharpe's friend from the 33rd, rise up from the ranks. I think we saw him as a Lieutenant in the Cazadores battalion, he was a private in the 33rd, so, is he a "jolly jumper". Your books are great. Regards, Andrew Walter

A: Harris was actually invented by the film people and I slipped him into some of the novels written after the TV films were made - so he hadn't been thought of when I wrote Sharpe's Waterloo. In the film he dies at Waterloo, so I suspect that's his fate! Was Cooper killed or merely wounded? Sorry, I don't remember at the moment. I think Perkins is alive. It's a terrible error in that book, sheer carelessness, all my fault, and I hoped I would die without anyone discovering it, and now you have, and I'm crushed. A demi-brigade was a full sized brigade, but composed of half experienced troops and half raw recruits. Got that off my chest. I'm honestly not responsible for the depiction of characters in the films (though I think most are done splendidly), so I'll stick by my description of Calvet in the book. And yes, Tom Garrard is a jolly jumper.

Cooper was wounded in the series and recovered to do a one off "story of" type tv show. Perkins was killed in the tv series by the Irish Guardsman O'Rourke in Sharpe's Battle. Tom Gerrard was a Sergeant who opted for a commission in the Portuguese army under the British reorganisation. Think he met his end in the novel Sharpe's Battle which was quite different from the film. Nigel James

read the Pale Horseman & Lords of the North. I forgot that I was in the damn 21st century. You are a master of a ancient & honorable craft, a storyteller. If you know a storyteller who could send me to ancient Scotland please encourage him.
Nick Scott

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have greatly enjoyed your Sharpe stories, as have so many. Today I was researching our family name, Dyas, and across the startling story below. Can you tell me if the story of Ensign Joseph Dyas was in any way an inspiration for some of Richard Sharpe's story? Thanks, and best wishes! Inga Holmquist

Joseph Dyas was an Ensign (later Captain) in the British 51st (2nd South Yorkshire, West Riding ) Light Infantry, with whom he served throughout the Peninsula and at Waterloo. At Badajoz on 6th April 1811, one of the bloodiest actions of the Peninsula campaign, Ensign Dyas twice volunteered to be part of the 'Forlorn Hope', storming into the breach of San Cristobel Fort. On the second occasion he led the party after its commander, Major McGreachy, and all the other officers were killed. He was offered immediate promotion by Wellington into another regiment, but Dyas declined to leave the 51st and subsequently served with them throughout the Peninsula and at Waterloo, reaching the rank of Captain. 'The Stormers' - refers to the gallantry of the 'Forlorn Hope' led by Ensign Dyas and originally it was the custom to toast 'Ensign Dyas' throughout the Peninsula Army. In later years, however, the practice has been restricted to the KOYLI to toast 'Ensign Dyas and the Stormers' in silence. From: http://51stlightinfantry.co.uk/ensigndyas.html

I absolutely loved The Winter King, Excalibur and Enemy of God. I listened to audio versions through Books on Tape, narrated by the excellent David Case. My copies are on cassette, and I've been looking for a CD or downloaded version for quite some time now. The publisher doesn't seem to have plans for releasing the books in either of those formats. Can you use your clout to get a CD version released? Cassettes don't last forever, and I want to ensure that this excellent series is always in my audio library. Thank you for a great read, Jean Barolet

Hello, I just wanted to write real quick and say thanx for all your hard work. I just recently finished reading The Last Kingdom and I enjoyed it very much. I am a long time lover of sci-fi, fantasy, sword & sorcery type stuff, especially the author Michael Moorock, as I have collected over 75 of his old out of print titles. But I really liked your more realistic Historical Fiction type writing, and I can't wait to buy some more. Actually I think I'm starting to develop a fetish for British writers. You guys just seem to write differently then most Americans. Ok I think I'm rambling now. I'm just excited to have found another author to add to my bookshelf and my collection list. Thanx again. -Eric Zollman

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I was somehow convinced that "Lords of the North" was the last book of the Saxon Stories. When I bought the book I felt a little bit sad that this would be the last time I would be transported back to ninth century England. At the end of the book I was worrying if Uhtred could get Bebbanburg back in time with so few pages remaining. I am very pleased to read in your historical note that Uhtred will need Sepent Breath again and that a new book will be published. Thank you! Leon Ruyters

Mr Cornwell, May I say I have been totally immersed by your books after been given 'Stone Henge' as a gift some 4 years ago. Your 'Arthur' Books 'Grail Quest' and 'Saxon' series have totally mesmerised my imagination and I cant compliment you enough on your story writing. I look forward to the next adventures of Uhtred in 'Sword Song' and hope their will be many more books from you in the future of warrior ship, mysticism, religion and war. Who needs to invent a 'Time Machine' when your books send me back to that age whenever I open one of your books! Fantastic ;0) Many thanks Joph

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm writing to you to let you know the much I appreciate your work, especially in the Arthur Books, the ones I'm reading (I'm halfway the second one). I just can't stop reading it! Indeed, I even developped something deeper with some characters, like the deepest love and hate. It's something impossible to describe what those books can do with the reader. Sometimes, I feel like I was just there, sitting besides Derfel and hearing Arthur's voice, talking about his wish to destroy the saxons and build the eternal peace. When I'm reading it, I have to set a clock to beep, or I will just go through afternoon to night reading it and won't notice time passing. This e-mail is a bit longer than planned, sorry, but was the best I could do to express all my excitement. Thank you very very much for your work and time reading this. And sorry if my English fails sometimes, that's because I'm brazilian and not fluent. Best regards, João Paulo.

My mother introduced me to Richard Sharpe well over 20 years ago (Mama died in 1986, but she would have loved the newer series.) and I have been hooked ever since. I have given just about all your books a try, but the modern stuff and King Arthur, Stonehenge too, just never grabbed my interest the way Sharpe, Starbucks, and, recently, Uhtred, have. I was tickled to death last month to see some Brits find a Viking hoard with their metal detectors, right after reading Uhtred himself had misplaced a hoard or two. Can't you speed up the release of the new book so we can hear Serpents Breath sing again? Katie McDonald