Just finished Sharpe's Eagle, and like others have told you, it's one of the best. I'm trying to read the Sharpe books in order but one question is killing me - does Hakeswill return? Stuart
Keep reading!
Just wondering if the Light Division, besides the Rifle Regiments, used something else besides the brown bess? Were some issued rifles or other firearms? Also will we see Antonia pop up in the future? Thanks David
They used muskets and, of course rifles. Nothing else. Antonia? Never say never.
Hi Bernard Are any of the Arthur audio books available on CD? I have only ever been able to track down cassette versions. If not presently are there any plans to produce CDs at a later date. Many thanks. Chris Gay
As far as I know, they are not currently available on CD. Will it happen in the future? There's been talk of it, so maybe?
Dear Bernard. I have a friend in London who is a published author. We have talked about your books together, and I was rather put off by her assumption that, just because you have published so many books (and perhaps because she has only published 2 in 6 years), that you don't actually write your own books. She poo-poohed you away with a flap of her hand and said there were many writers who do the Bernard Cornwell books. I don't believe her myself, but have to ask, do you write all your books yourself? PS I always bring out Sharpe's Christmas at this time of year. I just love it.
Robin Goodhand
Oh my God! If only!!!!!! Noooo, I write them all, all by myself! Not sure how I can prove that to your friend, but there it is!
Dear Mr Cornwell, I seem to recollect somewhere that you wrote a description of the Viking era and lifestyle, probably as a foreward or brief essay, in which you rounded up the piece by saying that we as a culture were fascinated by the Vikings because they were essentially free spirits. Unfortunately I cannot remember where I read this, but would love to find and read it again. If this rings any bells, please can you point me in the right direction. Keep up the good work, Tom.
Oh dear, I don't remember writing that! Was it a piece in a newspaper? Could be, but I never keep any cuttings so wouldn't be able to find it. Sorry.
Hello Mr.Cornwell. Recently read (and enjoyed!)your three viking books,I was wondering if you delibaretly dropped out the influence of skalds and their kvads(heroic poems) in your novels? I am a Norwegian and I teach history here,so I have read a few Scandinavian novels from this period of time. All of them give the skalds(bards)a very central position and the writers put lots of kvads (with heavy alliteration) in every other page, but you have dropped this entirely. Personally I think this is a good thing, as they tend to bore the reader. If you ever need a viking name for a character,feel free to use mine.. Merry Jule to you and your family. Leiv Ingebretsen
A good name! Thank you. The skalds are there, though I agree their centrality is diminished, mainly because so much of the tales are told from the Saxon view. I tried to be subtle about this (even using a few kennings), but perhaps I have been too subtle?
I thought I read in your "Diary" that you received some honor from Queen Elizabeth, but I cannot remember what it was, or what it means. Thanks, --Joe
It was the OBE, the Order of the British Empire, and it was very nice to receive it, though I have no idea what it means. Maybe someone somewhere likes the books?
I have just finished reading Harlequin and it seems that I underestimated your talents once again for that novel was better than any Sharpe book and Gallows Thief. Therefore it has become my favourite book because everything about it was brilliant. Apart from the death of Will Skeat. Why did you kill him off? Elliot Clayton
I wish I knew. Probably because I needed to clear a path for Thomas? Maybe it's to shock the reader? Decision like that are not taken rationally, but are entirely instinctive, and they may not always be right!
Merry Christmas Mr Cornwell Thank you so much for the books you have written I have joined Audible Books and discovered you :) I just wanted to tell you. your mone heck of a author I am a white woman married to a black american and had always been anti south for the civil war You made me feel like cheering eveytime the Rebs won a battle and crying when they died so bravely Of course I am refering to the Starbuck Chronicles and my question is Will there be another book after Bloody Ground and have you any idea when :)I have also listened to the Saxon and the grail books You are now one of two best writers I know of You are in very good company with Setphen King in my books :) thank you and keep them coming :)
Peggy Craggette
Yes, there will be more Starbuck books, but I'm afraid I can't say exactly when.
Hey Bernard. I just finished my first book. I don't care if you see it cause it may be crap. How do you give the story dive.. I guess I am asking, why the hell did I go to Talevera instead of boozing it up an extra week in Madrid? It has something to do with the story being true. I get that bit. What I am after is how do you set the scene and make people like me fall in love with the whole mess? Mark Spurdle
I wish I knew! I could bottle it and sell it. I really don't know! I keep falling back on the answer that writing stories is an instinctive activity, and though I would never claim to give it no thought, the thought is mostly subconscious. I give it a lot of worry, but that isn't the same thing. Sorry to answer so unhelpfully.