Your Questions

Q

Hi Bernard, my name is Andrea, I'm 28 and I'm Italian. I'd like to know when The Pale Horseman will be available also in Italy. Thanks and bye. Andrea ps if you come to Reggio Emilia and you want to eat Italian food call me I'll be glad to let you discover our cusine. Andrea Burani

Submitted December 8, 2006

A

Thank you! I love Italian cusine! The Pale Horseman will be released in Italy in autumn 2007.

Q

I love your books. Ive always been a big fan of stories written about the Dark Ages, Medievil Times etc...so naturally I've read your Warlord series, Grail series and I'm waiting for Lords of the North to reach the states so I can read more of Uhtred. I finally made myself buy Sharpes Tiger and well...2 weeks later I'm on Sharpes Prey. Anyway, my question is about the size of the armies in your Warlord and Saxon series. Roman Legions had some 5-6 thousand soldiers, yet the major battle in the Warlord series had 2 thousand Celts vs 3-4 thousand Saxons? The number seems low to me. Is that because its easier to keep up with fewer people in books or were not that many people soldiers during these times? Thanks Josh Raines

Submitted December 8, 2006

A

Because the Saxons did not have nearly the logistical experise of the Romans! Anyone can assemble a huge army, but it takes boring bureaucracy to feed and equip it, and keep it fed. The Romans had a civil service adequate to the task (and a much larger catchment area from which to recruit). The Saxons did not. I'm still guessing, or course, because there are no reliable sources, but all the evidence points towards smaller armies.

Q

Mr. Cornwell -- Just a quick note to say what incredible enjoyment I've gotten from reading the Sharpe series of books. I first heard of "Sharpe" on a BBC America commercial, eventually watched all the movies, and noticing that each was "Based on a story by Bernard Cornwell", decided to pick one up at my local Barnes and Noble. Since that first purchase, I've purchased every Sharpe novel available (including Fury). I'm burning through them at a pace of about one book every 2-3 days. The bad thing being that soon, I'll be finished with the series. The characters you've created are wonderful, and I wanted to express how much I am enjoying the series. Much to the detriment of other books I've purchased lately by Clive Cussler, or L.E. Modesitt, Jr. After finishing the Sharpe series, I think I'll be exploring some of your other works as well. Again, thank you for the hours of enjoyment; and I'll hope to see a new Sharpe book next year. If I might ask... I noticed in your FAQ that you mention that publisher's tend to change the titles of some novels (Harlequin -> The Archer's Tale). Are there any other differnces between the US and UK versions? Thank you. -Irving Gilbert

I love your books very much and am eagerly looking forward to the next Saxon novel. Why is it published so much earlier in England? Is there any actuall difference in the text? And why different covers in the US and UK - which do you prefer? Will we have the same US lag time for the next book in the series? Wonderful books - thank you very much.
Geoffrey DeWeese

Submitted December 8, 2006

A

because publishers are separate! They might both be HarperCollins, but they operate as separate entities (more or less) and a cover that works in the US might not work in the UK (and vice versa). So they prooduce covers which they think will work in their own markets. I don't think there'll be a time lag on the next book - and as to which I prefer? Generally speaking I like the British covers, but that may be becaue I have British taste? US are fine, though - British marginally better. There is no difference in the text aside from the Americanising of the spelling of some words.

Q

Hi sir, Seeing as how youre a British writer maybe can help me. How is it after Ian Fleming died there were new writers using the Bond character? And have you thought of picking up the pen? Thanks,
Adam Azzalino

Submitted December 6, 2006

A

Why write a book and give the proceeds to the Ian Fleming Estate? Much better to go to the Bernard Cornwell Corn Flakes fund. That's why.

Q

hello Mr. Cornwell. I really like your Richard Sharpe series, and I just finished your book The Gallows Thief. I was wondering if you planned to write any tales of Richard Sharpe's sons who most likely joined the army. Also, would it be possible to have any more books about Captain Rider Sandman, or a possible team up with him and Richard Sharpe? thanks for listening, Ben Patton

Submitted December 6, 2006

A

You can meet up with Sharpe's son in the Starbuck novels. As for a follow up to Gallows Thief? I'd like to, but I'm just not sure when I'd get round to it...

Q

I'm bit confused about what's happening in Copperhead. The battle of Shiloh has already taken place, yet you stll refer to General Johnston as if he is still in command of the Confederate forces. Johnston died in the Battle of Shiloh, that is why Beuregard had took over and ordered the retreat. Usually you mention things like this in the historical notes at the end of the book, but not this time. Your books are a good read, but this one inconsistancy is a bit distracting, unless there's something I missed. Tyrone Elbe

Submitted December 6, 2006

A

There is! Albert Sidney Johnston was the General killed at Shiloh, while Joseph Eggleston Johnston is the guy in Copperhead. There were, in fact, four Confederate generals named Johnston, and another four called Johnson. I'm sorry it confused you, but there was no inaccuracy, merely, perhaps, something that, as you suggest, needed clarification in the historical note.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, where could I find some good historical information about the Britains in India and about the battles with the Indians and French in India that you describe in your Sharpe books? Thank you for your help. Pim P.

Submitted December 6, 2006

A

Look for Sahib by Richard Holmes. A wonderful book telling of the British soldier's history in India. Well worth reading!

Q

Hello, I would first like to say that I am a big fan of your novels and enjoy reading them very much. I am currently a student at Umass Amherst and am taking a history course on the early middle ages. We have been assigned a primary source essay, and I have choice to write about the Martyrdom of St. Edmund, King of East Anglia, 870. It was written/translated by an Abbo of Fleury. As you probably know it deals with one of my favorite scenes from your Saxon Stories. When the invading Danes shoot and kill the East Anglian King thus proving that God would not protect him from the heathen blows. I was wondering if you could point me towards any other source material that you may have used in your research of this topic. I thank you for your time and look forward to your reply. -Jeremy Williams, Umass 2010

Submitted December 6, 2006

A

Hmmmm. Really the only primary sources I use are Asser's life and the AS Chronicle, and I'm fairly sure that my take on the poor guy's death came from neither of those, so I must have used a secondary source, but have no idea which one. Sorry. Equally sorry this reply is so unhelpful, but if I get any bright ideas in the next few days I'll follow up.

Q

Hi me again. I asked you about how you feel about filmakers making your books into films. Can you just clarifiy something, would you really not want to read a script? wouldn't you be worried about someone making an utterly crap version of YOUR books? Ben

Submitted December 6, 2006

A

They do sometimes. But what can I do? Say no? On the whole they don't. And the sure way to start a flaming row and make an eternal enemy is to criticise another writer's work. Better to be cool about the whole thing.

Q

As a Texas reenactor, I took my brown bess musket which the Mexian army used to a firing range. I carried a bag of 30 75 caliber musket balls. I was shocked at the weight. Do you know how many balls the british soldier would have had to carry? Would Sharpe as the quarter master have to carry all the balls for the entire army? How many wagons would have been needed? Thanks for the writing and if you are ever in Texas during the spring come by and catch a reenactment. Scott Wendt

Submitted December 6, 2006

A

They carried 60 rounds of ammunition (usually). The transport of spare ammunition was regarded as a battalion responsibility, but obviously there was a central reserve as well. I have no idea of the number of wagons! Maybe Haythornthwaite, in Weapons and Equipment of the Napoleonic Wars, would have an answer.