Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, I am a new fan of Sharpe and in just two months I have joyously sailed through the first 12 books (chronological order). I have enjoyed reading Sharpe's story from the early days in India, but the hole I find in Sharpe's life seems to be the period where he is trained in using the Baker Rifle. From what I've read the first time he holds a rifle is in India when he is asked to shoot McCandless. There is mention of Wellesly telling Sharpe about his new assignment as a skirmisher, (for which Sharpe is morose) but the actual time period where Sharpe is trained in using the Baker Rifle is a story I haven't read yet. Did you write about this period and have I just missed that book? Or is it a possibility that there will be a book about this episode in Sharpe's life, just you haven't had the time yet with the work you're doing on all the other wonderful projects you are writing. Might I recommend drinking tea to increase your stamina for writing? Keep those books coming - and take care of that wonderful brain of yours! Rose Haisty

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

I haven't written of his training time in Shorncliffe and, to be honest, I'm not sure I will. Maybe a short story one day?

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.

Q

Hello sir, I am writing a novel on the American Civil War and am finding it hard to find a story within the battles I am consenting to write about. For example, in Sharpes Rifles Sharpe has to raise the banner of st. James during sir John Moores retreat. Any research you would recommend? (And where do you come up with engaging little plots like that in the mist of a bloody mess, and how do I come up with my own?) Also I am very tempted to write about the battle of Bull Run from the Union side but I finding it hard to end the book with the northern soldiers involved still having some trace of dignity. Any Ideas? I dont want to end it with wild run back to Washington, I want there to be some positive on my characters well. What do you think is the best source of research on a war? Books about the battle or in general, reenactments, memoirs of soldiers, or what? I have to do a 5-minute speech on the 9th rifles and I was wondering if they have a foundation, museum, or Website? Your reader and hopefully someday fellow writer, PS: Long live the fighting 95th first in the field and last out of it!
Adam Azzalino

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

The 9th Rifles? No idea. The 95th has a museum at Winchester - but you probably didn't mean that. The only research I recommend is to read everything, and I know that isn't helpful, but there really isn't a prescribed course of reading for novelists! You read everything and anything and hope the ideas come. There isn't a magic source! Almost all historical novels have a big story and a little story. Think of Gone with the Wind. The big story is the civil war, and it's kept in the background of the book. The little story is whether Scarlett can save Tara, and that's in the foreground. On the whole we make up the little story, but do our best to make the background big story accurate. That's probably not much help, but really you'll have to devise that little story - and hope ideas come for it from lots of reading. As for Bull Run? Well, if your main character has a personal victory at the end of the disaster it will mitigate the big story's loss. That's how I'd go about it! Good luck!

Q

I finally got to see Sharpes Challenge. I must say I thought it a very good idea to combine the three novels. It reminds me of what was done with Patrick O'Brians "Master and Commander". Its amazing how time flies. I believe it had been 9 years or so since the last episode. I'm afraid we are all a little older. Seeing a little grey on Patrick Harpers head kinda reminds you of how time does fly. I saw your interveiw in the special features section of the DVD and was wondering if you were able to ejoy the Indian countryside and everything that was going or did they put you to work as a technical advisor? You were right however, Sharpe is a villian and a rougue, but he's our villian and rougue, and that makes it all right. PS. It is about time that Sharpe went off to rescue Harper for a change. Not that he needed rescuing anyway. Don

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

The don't need my advice! No, we were tourists mostly, and hung about on set as cheerleaders. Anyone interested in the filming should really read Linda Blandford's book, Sharpe Cut (see the link on the home page of this website to the Sharpe films page). It's superb - not a puff job by the production company, but a shrewd, tell-it-as-it-really-was tale by a very good journalist.

Q

Hello, I am writing to you with a question about the language in vagabond. Robbie Douglas uses the word grolick, now I'm not sure if that is the correct spelling, but me and a friend have been having a rather heated argument about it. Is it a word based in truth or is a word that you invented. I am convinced that it is factual but we can not find a reference to it anywhere. so the essential question is what dose it mean if it is a real word. Thank you for any reply. Sincerely, Tyler Warburg

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

umm, grolick? I don't remember it, and a quick flick through the book can't find it. Sorry. I suspect it's real, but if you can find the right spelling and a page number I'll tell for sure. Sorry . . . .

Q

just found your site ,, I really am fasinated by Stonehenge ,, went to the first opening to public, of the summer solictis,,I was told the stones have been moved ,,and stood up right in concrete ,,, surely not ,, they meant something to me ..Angela

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

Don't worry - the stones have not been moved - at least not to any great extent. I believe one sarsen was re-erected in the early 20th Century (can't swear to that, and my research has long been filed away) . . . but whether concrete was used, I don't know. I don't think it was . . . maybe the confusion is with the Sanctuary, near Avebury, where concrete blocks mark the position of now lost stones. Many of the stones at Stonehenge were destroyed in antiquity . . . . and, of course, the bluestone circle was rebuilt by the original builders. But what you see is authentic . . . . . . though much degraded by time, weather and the four millenia of vandalism.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, I have very much enjoyed the various books of yours I have read. I have the Grail Quest series, the Arthur Books, Stonehenge, Gallows Thief and have just finished the Saxon Stories. Will there be any further books in these series? Sue Easter

I just read "Lords of the North". Fantastic read! When can we hope to see Uhtred again?
Kevin Sudds

Submitted February 28, 2007

A

There will be more Saxon stories. The next book in the series will be available in October.