Your Questions

I believe it is in Sharpe's fortress that Sharpe throws Hakeswill into the snake pit and I would just like to know how he escaped to return in Enemy. He is definitely the best fictional bad guy ever.
Tom Owen

Hi I love your books, especially the Saxon and Arthurian novels (maybe that's because they are the only ones I have read)and I would just like to know whether you are planning to or have write/written any books from a scot/picts point of view? PETE

1807: Sharpe on the Continent? I've much enjoyed reading your accounts of Mr Sharpe's exploits. We don't know his whereabouts between Copenhagen (Sept 1807) and Corunna (Jan 1809). Is it possible that he might have served in Sir Robert Wilson's retinue during the 1807 campaign in Poland. If so he would have been present at the battles of Eylau and Friedland. (see e.g. R. Wilson, A Brief Remarks on the Character and Composition of the Russian Army and a Sketch of the Campaigns in Poland in the Years 1806 and 1807; available on Google Books). Here's hoping that there's many more Sharpe adventures to tell. John Wladis
.....Correction The battle of Eylau (Feb) and Friedland (July) both occurred in 1807 before Copenhagen, not after as my first message implied

Dear Bernard I am a long term avid reader of your books, and once had the audacity to tell you (at a Waterstone signing session) that you portrayed, in the Arthur series, quite the best picture of post-Romanic Britain that I had ever read. Can you help me - I have read recently a book of late 7th century England, which concerns an Irish emigre, Abbess Hilde, St. Cuthbert (alive!), Wilfred, and the founding of Whitby Abbey. Much of the detail in the book was confirmed in one of Melvyn Bragg's excellent discussion programmes last week. I assumed that it was one of your books, a precursor of the Saxon series, but I can't trace it. Any idea - I can't find it in my collection and my guess is that you may well know the author. Regards Mervyn Sennett PS Recently read Lords of the North - well up to usual standards and again giving a realistic picture of life as it must have been in those times.

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I would like to start by saying that I have been a big fan of your work for some time now. The Arthur Books are by far my favorite and I have probably read them (all 3) 10 times. With all that being said, I am also a tattoo collector, and I would like to incorporate some art work from the Arthur books onto myself. My question is, apart from the covers is there any more artwork to go along with these books? Or a good place to find artwork that inspired you or your stories? I hope to hear from you, Your Fan, Scott T. Hadley

My friend and I have great discussions about which Authorian tale we like the most, yours and Jack Whyte's Camalod series. Both are top notch, wonderful and page turners that robbed me of much sleep. Have you ever met Mr. Whyte?

Joe Chibirka

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Like most, if not all, of your correspondents I admire your writing and enjoy you books enormously. I am intrigued that you seem to be able to create memorable characters like Rider Sandman - or even more so, Eleanor Forrest - and then allow them to languish in limbo. Is it so easy for you to establish such 'people' in so few words or is the availability of time to expand on them so short ? I would love to read more of Sandman, Berrigan and Eleanor and I am sure others would too - any chance ? Thanks for all your 'people' and the history you have told. Best wishes, David Imrie

Dear Mr Cornwell I know that Gallows Thief is rooted in historical research that you undertook for the book, but I wonder if you have thought of developing a series around Sandman and Berrigan ? It would be great to see how they make out...perhaps with a different challenge...and see as they respond to that challenge whether they manage to establish their business in importing cigars...and discover how their relationships develop. Gallows Story is a great read, lots of colour from early 19th century London. As a clergyman I enjoyed too the sermons of the Ordinary! good post Easter reading. Thanks for all the enjoyment you have given me with your writing. Yours Jonathan Martin

First let me say that I enjoyed the Sharpe and Saxon series, and I eagerly look forward to the next Saxon novel. I have a question about the writing process. Authors have said that their fictional characters sometimes do things unanticipated by their author. My question is: does this idea of behavior unexpected by the author also occur when a fictional character is in a series where his personality and behavior have been developed over a number of novels? If there is an example of this happening with one of your characters, I'm sure your many fans would be interested in learning about it.
Mark Irgang

I wonder if you ever get tired of hearing how much people love your books? Well here comes another gushing fan, you really are the best, I look forward to your novels with relish and they speak to me on a level of ancient memory I can't even define, as if they are remnants of a dream of of my past. I too am adopted and have recently discovered that I have Norse heritage and I wondered how you found your connection to the Uhtred's of Northumbria? Lynda Purcell

I love your books! I spent half my honeymoon reading the grail series, and just read the Saxon series in about a week (I wish I would've known the series was not complete or I never would've started it, I can't wait until October!) I just purchased all three of the Arthur books. History has always been my favorite subject, and you really make it come alive. Have you ever thought of writing about the crusades?
Marc