Your Questions

Q

Hi Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading Max Hastings book 'Warriors' which devotes a chapter to rifleman Harry Smith and his devoted wife Juana. I was just wandering if Sharpe was in some way based on /modelled on / influenced/ inspired by Smith's story? - there are lots of parallels in Smith's adventures and character. I was unaware of Smith's story (as I had no interest in the Napoleonic wars before your wonderful stories)and as I was reading about Smith it brought back to me a lot of Sharpe's adventures and made me want to reread them all. Many Thanks, Steve Barry

Submitted April 24, 2007

A

Not really! I'd read a lot of Harry Smith and, inevitably, he and Sharpe are at the same events, but they're very different characters. I think any similarity is probably coincidental. A good man, though!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have started reading your Saxon stories through hearing words as I am registered blind. I live in Northumberland and I instantly recognized Bamburgh castle. I have two questions, The first is did you do your research in northumberland area, did you enjoy our part of the world? The second question is, when will the next book of the series expected to be published? so I can ask my local library to order it in talking words format. many thanks for your skills, Keith Shepherd

Submitted April 24, 2007

A

I love your part of the world! And yes, I've made several trips there, and will probably make several more, and think Northumberland is one of the great undiscovered secrets of the English countryside!

The fourth book of the Saxon stories, Sword Song, should be available in October of this year.

Q

Hi, I am a student psychiatric nurse and am currently doing some research for a presentation. Part of this includes a section on the way that mentally ill people were viewed and treated in the dark ages, a very small part obviously as there is little information available. I was considering this a couple of days ago and remembered reading about the "Isle of the dead" in Enemy of
God and was wondering what your basis was for this, and if perhaps you could help me with a couple of references to help me on my way.. If you can not then that is fair enough. I am a massive fan of yours and enjoy your books immensley. Simon Austin.

Submitted April 24, 2007

A

Oooooops. Think I made it all up. Not very helpful, sorry! Do I have a vague idea that the late Roy Porter wrote a book on the history of treating mental illnesses? You could try putting Bedlam (or Bethlehem Hospital) into the Amazon.co.uk search engine, any book on Bedlam will surely discuss the history of treatment. And I have another vague idea that, not so long ago, I read a review of a book that talked about the history of such treatment, so using the history category of Amazon search, you could try terms like mental, madness, etc. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Q

Hi Bernard, I,ve been a big fan of yours for several years, and I have read all your books. Some of them more than once, and what I really like is the incredible detail, of wildlife and trees and flowers, and the amazing battle details, for example in The Last Kingdom, when Uhtred was in the shield wall at Cynuit, he started off with Wasp Sting and after a few deadly bloody blows, Wasp Sting was pulled out of his hand by an unnamed Dane, he then drew Serpents Breath and carried on killing. What happened to Wasp Sting? Because it's next mention is in The Pale Horseman, when Uhtred hands it to Iseult to kill Haswold at Aetheningaeg. Did someone pick it up and return it to him or did he pick it up himself?Excuse me for being picky Bernard, but as I said I really like the detail. I have enjoyed all your books, I am halfway through Vagabond for the second time, that Thomas is some lad isn't he? I am really looking forward to Sword Song and Uhtred's further adventures, keep on writing, you and Wilbur Smith are my top two authors. Many Regards Peter Carragher(UK)

Submitted April 24, 2007

A

I suspect he picked it up. Can't remember. He's still got it, so he must have!

Q

Dear, Mr Cornwell I am a student in his first year of high school and I really enjoy reading your Sharpe books. The way you blend the right mix of history and fiction, as well as how you finish with a historical note. I also like the way you put in info on Sharpe's weapons and tactics. I am in the process of reading Sharpe's Trafalgar and am thoroughly enjoying it. I am wondering if there is a site where you can find a ship of the line cross section on the Internet. I must commend you on providing an enjoyable read for me and many others. Scott Allen

Submitted April 24, 2007

A

Must be! Don't know where! Try putting HMS Victory into search. Otherwise there's the magnificent book by Stephen Biesty called Cross-Sections, Man of War published by Dorling Kindersley - aimed at a young audience, but beautifully done!

Q

I have read every one of your books. I read Redcoat many years ago and recently reread it. It is a very good book. I was wondering if you ever thought about continuing the series and go farther into the American Revolution? Can't wait for the next Saxon book. Also wish you would go on with the Starbuck series. Thanks for all of the hours of reading I have enjoyed. Chuck Grantz

Dear Mr Cornwell, One question if I may - Now I think I read/heard this somewhere, on the other hand though, I may have made this up. I normally do with these things, down side to drinking too much caffeine and working shifts &Are you planning a new novel on the American Revolution War?? If so, any chance of a few bits of inside info - obviously not the big stuff that would ruin the story. Will it be like Redcoat - many main characters - or one main character. Will they be Brit, Rebel or German, French maybe?&nooo. Will it be a one off, or a series etc& Ive always found that campaign interesting, though, granted I dont know much about it - and personally I think the rebels cheated a bit (They had a very unsporting habit of hiding behind tress). Many Thanks for your time P.S. Thanks again for kindly signing my copy of Sharpes Rifles I sent you. Hope you didnt find the enclosed letter to worshiping. Thanks again, Andrew

I can't tell you how much I look forward to your historical novels. My only complaint is that I've read all your available works and have to show patience for the next one. Have you ever thought of doing an American Revolution novel (or 2 or 3)? Thank you for hours and hours of pure pleasure.

Jim Lucey

Submitted April 24, 2007

A

I am, but I'm not going to tell you anything about it! And I really don't know when I'll get round to writing it. And IF it happens it will definitely be a one-off, based very firmly on diaries and letters recounting a very specific (and largely forgotten) event.

Q

I have enjoyed reading almost all of your other books except the Sharpe and the Starbuck series. I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled I have been in reading your books. Your style of writing just strikes a chord with me. I am intrigued by the way you handle female characters in your books (the one I have read, of course), a similar thread seems to run through them, is that deliberate or unconscious? (I could elaborate but I'm sure you'd know what I am talking about). Of course, you accord them general respect but women seem to have key characteristics and relationship with the heroes of your stories. I can't wait to read the next book in the Saxon Series. When shall we expect the next one? Thanks for such entertaining and beautiful style of writing. Ishaya Yarison

Submitted April 24, 2007

A

Do they? Must be the subconscious at work, because it certainly isn't deliberate. Except, perhaps, that I like strong women characters? One thing that always annoys me in films is, when women are running away, they ALWAYS trip over. It's such a cliche! I try to avoid it by making my women competent.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell O great bringer of joy and happiness I was just wondering what were the names of Harper's children? I've not yet finished Devil and I was just wondering what their names are? Thank you for all the books and the 25 weeks its taken me to read up to now.
Tom Owen

Submitted April 23, 2007

A

Harper has a son mentioned, I believe, in Sharpe's Siege named Richard Patricio Augustine Harper. Is there another child? If so, I've forgotten...

Q

Just a quick question Mr. Cornwell, as I am now reading SHARPE'S SWORD I have noticed a similarity in nearly all of your books. Almost all of your Ensigns are young, usually 16 or younger and they usually ALWAYS die. Is this a historical fact or do you just prefer killing off young inncocent children? Ryan Quint

Submitted April 23, 2007

A

It's a sort of bad joke - when I killed my first Ensign (Sharpe's Gold) a woman in the publishers expressed shock and horror, so she now gets a dead one in virtually every book. Such is fate.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwall I am currently looking at historical accounts of Sheffield - particularly the Norfolk Street Riots, 4th August 1795. After reading about the story of how the Volunteers 'dispersed' the crowd it struck a chord with me and sounded similar to part of Sharpe's Justice from the series. Was Norfolk Street a source of data that would have been used to underpin this story? Many thanks Shona Blackwell

Submitted April 20, 2007

A

Honestly don't know because I had nothing to do with the writing of 'Sharpe's Justice' - that was entirely devised by the script-writer and I was out of that loop!