Your Questions

Q

Mr. Cornwell, First of all thanks for your wonderful books (have just read Sharpe's Christmas which was brilliant). I wish to know if you have any information about balls in the 19th century? From what I've read in 'Fallen Angels' it is my wish to know more about the balls during this period. thanks-Luca

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

Not a lot, sorry. Don't even know of a good book on the subject, though there must be one. I rather skate round it! The ladies would have a dance card, of course, probably hanging from their wrists, and would allocate dances to certain gentlemen. Dance fashions changed drastically - think of the introduction of the waltz which was considered by many to be a real threat to public morals! Sorry, can't really help. Jane Austen must have a good description?

Q

First just 'Thankyou' for hours of gripping escapism , i have been completely absorbed by the journey through Uhtred's life. The Last Kingdom page 166 makes a statement re the three norns 'fate is unstoppable ' and provides a translation into English but what language is the original text please. I would be most grateful if you could find the time to reply. Thankyou. Jamie Annakin

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

English! But the English spoken in Uhtred's time, which these days we call Old English. But it is still English, which is why it is not in italics.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am working my way through the Sharpe books and am now up Sharpe's Enemy. It, like all books in the series before it, is a truly riveting read. It is fascinating and very satisfying to watch Sharpe rise through his own merit against all the impediments thrown up by an appalling class system. I enjoy history, military stuff and a good adventure and each of these books has those things combined in spades. The stories have given me a great deal of pleasure and I thank you for that. One very minor - on a couple of occasions Sharpe's riflemen have "stood to" (and they have just done it in the Convent in Enemy) at dawn or dusk. I had understood that the British army did not adopt this practice until the disaster at Isandhlwana in 1879 at the hands of the Zulu but I can't recall where I got that notion from. So Sharpe doing it in 1812 doesn't fit with my understanding. In your research did you come across anything on the history of this military practice? Keep up your wonderful work. Best wishes - David Richardson (Sydney, Australia)

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

They did it from the earliest days! You may be referring to some more formal practice (don't know), but they certainly did stand to in the Peninsular War!

Q

Could you tell me when the next book in the saxon stories is out please? Jeremy Forster

Hello Mr Cornwell, I am a big fan and would like to know if there will be a fourth volume of the Saxon Stories and if so when can we expect it please?

John Cummings

Hi I have really enjoyed reading the Saxon stories, but am anxious to know if and when I will be able to read the next instalment which, I assume, will revolve around Uhtred's return to Benbbanburg. Many thanks, Ian Preston

I have read the pale horseman series, up until the lords of the north. I love the whole series, and even call Uhtred " my Uhtred" it's funny. any ways When is the next book in the series coming out? Sincerely, Lindsay

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I enjoy your books. I have read the Warlord Series and the Saxon series (Last Kingdom, etc). Good reads, much fun, but I must make one complaint: reading your work has put the damnable notion into my head that I might be able to write fiction myself.....I can't believe me..I've read what I've written and it is simply terrible. So,...thank you for this curse!...lol... Will you be adding any more to Uhtred's tale? Jim Walton Ottawa Canada

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

The fourth book of the Saxon stories - tentatively called Sword Song - will be available in October.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading your excellent third Uhtred novel, "The Lords of the North". However I have to point out a glaring historical mistake (p301f p/b edition). You make reference to the name of the "christian god" as being Jehovah. Despite the claims of a modern-day sect who claim this as being the name of God in the Jewish and Christian scriptures, the word JEHOVAH was a word device created by Petrus Galatinus in 1520 AD - being the joining together of the vowels of the Hebrew word Adonai and the consonants of the Hebrew divine name, YHWH. Therefore Giselda, living over 600 years before Galatinus, would not have known the Almighty as "Jehovah". On the other hand, I am not sure what alternative single name you could have put into her mouth other than "Jesus" or the "Christ". Looking forward to where the story of Uhtred goes from here. Graham Warmington

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

Well I could have used Yahweh, but decided against it. You're right, of course, that the form Jehovah was an early 16th century invention, but I decided it was more accessible that Hayweh, Adonai or any of the other names of God. Sorry it upset you!

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell. In two of your recent Sharpe novels, Havoc and Escape, you featured the character of Rifleman Dodd. I assume that you had to get permission from C.S. Forester's estate to include him. Did this take a lot of legal wrangling, or was getting their permission comparatively easy? Alan Kempner

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

Names are not copyrighted . . . . . .and Dodd is a fairly common name, as is William.

Q

Subliminal Advertising? How many times is Coffee mentioned in The Starbuck Chronicles? I hope they paid you well. Martin Croucher

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

The name has nothing to do with the coffee - it's an old New England name (mainly from Nantucket), and, of course, it's the name of the Pequod's first mate in Moby Dick.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I Just started reading your grail quest series after reading all of the Sharpe and Saxon Books. I have to say I love them all. I noticed that both Thomas and Uhtred seem to have a strong belief in fate. Is that your personal beliefs coming through or just a coincidence? Thanks of for taking the time to read this. Brooke Morey

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

It was a very common mediaeval belief! Uhtred keeps quoting wyrd bid ful araed, which is a quotation from an Old English poem, while Thomas would have firmly believed in the Wheel of Fortune, a very pervasive mediaeval idea! I believe in genetic predisposition!

Q

Hi it's me Luke again. I was just wondering two things #1 In a lot of the Sharpe books you put "And he raised the musket to his shoulder and the butt slammed back" I always thought a musket was a small hand gun like a pistol in the 1800's? Please describe. I do know my history quite well just not well enough

And in the book Sharpe's Fortress Gawilghur is that a real fortress and the "Cobras regiment" Was that all real?

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

A musket is a longarm, like a rifle, i.e. fired from the shoulder. The word seems to have come from the much older Moschetto, and Italian word for a crossbow bolt - and crossbows were fired from the shoulder, which might explain the connection, but early firearms were often named after birds of prey and the Moschetto, I think, was a kind of falcon. But it was a long barrelled gun, flintlock, fired from the shoulder!

Gawilghur is real - it's still there and you can find some pics on the website (go to Image Gallery). All overgrown now and overrun by monkeys, but still quite magnificent! I think I made up the Cobras . . .

Q

I have always been confused about a few certain things #1 What is the great conflict between the British and the Scots and the Irish in all the Sharpe books it seem as though the British always have a grudge against them or the other way around? Why is that? And one more thing if you don't mind I don't know if you know anything about Canadian History I am forced to in school but much rather learn about British history. I find it much more interesting. Anyways in 1812 the Americans attacked Canada in hope of gaining land and there was a General there Sir Issack Brock he always wanted to fight in the Napoleonic war but they made him stay there in Canada. What was so much important about the other war across the sea? Thank you for your time. Luke

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

The English were historically the enemy of the Scots and Irish for the simple reason that they were neighbours. The Scots also led the way in beating up the Irish, and the English followed, and so it went on. It's all incredibly complicated! The Scots were originally from Ireland, they conquered Scotland, more or less obliterating the indigenous people (Picts mostly), then the Saxons invaded Britain and shoved the Scots north and Welsh west, more warfare. So it went on! Mostly confined to the rugby field these days, which is A Good Thing. The significance of the War of 1812? Not a lot, it was a stupid war, fought for reasons that had really been settled before the fighting began. The main result, of course, was the defeat of every US invasion of Canada which more or less guaranteed Canada's survival as a nation.