Your Questions

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

En España, acaba de ser publicado el libro nº 14 de la colección de Sharpe. Se publicarán los restantes escritos? Jose Luis Atienza

Submitted December 5, 2006

A

When will the rest of the Sharpe books be published in Spanish? The information from my agent is this: They try to publish the series either following chronological order or sometimes to celebrate a historical event (for example, they published Sharpe's Trafalgar on the anniversary of the battle). The next one they will to publish is SHARPE'S ESCAPE in September 2007. SHARPE'S FURY in September 2008 and SHARPE'S RIFLES in September 2009 (which would be the 200 anniversary of the facts in the story)

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I really enjoyed reading the french edition of your excellent book «the last Kingdom», do you have any idea of when the 2 new books of this fantastic story are to be released in their french version ? I am able to read easily in English, but I'm afraid I would lost a lot of your writing as it is so rich than it becomes hard for me to read it in its original version. my very best regards. Franck Edet

Submitted December 5, 2006

A

The Pale Horseman will be published in French translation in January 2007. No word on a French version of The Lords of the North just yet.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell, I'm very sorry to bug you again and if I become some what of a pest kindly let me know. This kind of strange question and if don't answer it will understand. What is the best way to write a love (sex) scene? I mean what do focus on? (How they felt, how they undressed each other what?) Like I said it strange question and if feels weird ignore it.

2nd I heard a lot about the book Rifles and was looking for an x-mass gift for my uncle, he loves Sharpe and all your work. He could quote it in his sleep. (on our hunting trip he did!) Do you it's a good gift? Thanks for time sir, don't stop writing the world would be not the same place! P.S. Have thought of writing 1st person Sharpe book like memoir?
Adam Azzalino

Submitted December 4, 2006

A

haha! Wow! Don't know. I guess it depends on the point of view! I leave sex out of most of my books, but you get before and after, and I'm fairly certain you leave most of the action to the reader's imagination. So you concentrate on other things . . . I still think the sexiest scene in a Sharpe book is the one where he picks the fleas off the Marquesa. And one thing leads to another, as it does . . . . .

I assume you mean the book Rifles by Mark Urban? I believe it would make an excellent gift choice - you'll find it listed on the Suggestions for Further Reading page for the Sharpe books on this website.

No. I think it would jar after 21 books in third person

Q

Dear Bernard, In regards to future novels you write you mentioned another book set in the American Revolution - can you give a clue on what it would be about and have you ever thought about writing about Tarleton and his campaigns he does have very Sharpe like qualities about (Could they ever meet??) him ?

Also in regards to the Sharpe novels the later books (in the chronology) Sharpe is not very much around the real life action Only at the end of Regiment is he at Nieville and at the begining of Revenge at Tolouese and the rest is mainly fictonal battles. I was always curious if that was a conscious descision if due to the state of Soult's army simply being beaten veterans and teenage conscripts being a poor foe for Sharpe ??? And if you tour next year is there a chance you might be in Chester or that Uhtred might find himself in the Northwest (as opposed to the North East).

Finally do you know any good books on the British actions at Santo Domingo which occupied lots of troops at the start of the Napoleonic wars??? P.S Its old but Alfred Burne's Battlefields of Britain is still a great read if you have not read it and are looking for something over Xmas to read. Regards Geraint

Submitted December 4, 2006

A

Not going to give you a clue, sorry, because it's one of the great stories and somehow it's escaped novelists attention. But I will tell you it's not about Tarleton! And maybe one day I'll write him - - but long time down the line.

You're right about those two books, but I deliberately left a lot of action open at the end of the war so I can have something to write in my retirement!

I don't have any information on touring schedules for next year, it's too early!

I don't, sorry! But I do have the Burnside!

Q

Dear Bernard, Just one question is the settings of Sharpe's Devil in Valdivia, Chile real or fictional? Or have they ever existed? Have you ever been there? There's no short way of explaining this, but I'll try to be brief. In the case of time shortage, feel free to stop reading, the important question has been asked. I heard your name for the first time 3 weeks ago. I'm a Chilean born Taiwanese (weird as it sounds), and I've been living and studying in London for the last 3 years, lately and for the first time since I arrived I felt homesick, and sick of the city.One day I was doing my weekly food shopping when I came across a book abandoned in a bench with a yellow post-it over it with the word "anybody's" writen in it, the rest you can imagine, SHARPE'S DEVIL bold and gold, BERNARD CORNWELL bold and white and an ilustration of the Chilean independance war in the cover. Anyway, I don't believe in coincidences, especially this kind, I got hold of my flight home and I'm determined to get to Valdivia as soon as posible, sounds nuts but if I don't go I'll never know the reason of this event, and I'll regret. So, I wonder if the places you mentioned or described exist... maybe with a different name or ever existed. If they do, I guess my backpacking route was already traced. Thanks a lot, for provoking this little adventure in search for the unknown. And by the way, your book is going to remain in Chile, where it may trigger another chain of events to an anonymous person. Regards Kris

Submitted December 4, 2006

A

Those places all existed, and still do - under the names in the book! And yes, I try to visit all Sharpe's locations before I write the books. Have a wonderful trip!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I have just finished reading the Grail Series and I truly enjoyed it. I was given the book Vagabond as a gift awhile back but never bothered to read it until last month. After I finished reading it, I had to get the other two books in the series and they were all great books. I don't read many books but I love medieval warfare. Please let me know of any other books you have written that deal with this time period and that you feel I would enjoy reading. As I said before, I'm not a big reader and I am not familiar with too many authors by name, so you may be my one and only favorite author. Please write back. Steven P.S. Whatever happened to Thomas's first love Jeanette? Stephen Sajle Jr.

Submitted December 1, 2006

A

Jeanette? I'm sure she survived. She did seem to just fade away - that happens sometimes. I hope you'll read all of my books!

Q

Thank you for some of the most entertaining books I have ever found. My favourite reading is the arthur,saxon, & grail quest series. So my question is, when can I expect the next in the saxon series?. Having just finished Lords of the north I hope it is not too long coming!. Regards John Wingfield.

dear Mr.Cornwell I started reading your books with the holy grail series and thought they where fantastic, I then moved onto the stories of Uhtred which I also loved and was wondering if there will be any more stories of Uhtred? thankyou for your wonderful books. Marc

hi,enjoying your books,1 question when will Uhtred ride again and when the films will be made? lord of rings pales into insignificance by the way.thankyou for your time.Doug

hi, first of all thanks for all the great books. they really are great escapism. My question was if you had a release date for the next book in the saxon series, after " the Lords of the North"? Because I was wondering if it would be released by christmas?. Keep up the good work! thanks and regards Luke Gibson ( Australia)

Thank you for many years of enjoyment I have had reading all your books (one collection that I will not be getting rude off) I have just finished your latest saxon series (The Lords of the North)and like most of your series cannot wait till the next one. The question I like to ask you is this, are you planning to do one more book for Uhtred or is there going to be more? I wish you all the best and eagerly wait your next novel. Kevin Harland

Excellent news about the 4th Saxon book coming out so soon, I had heard, and I was dreading haveing to wait so long (had been told October07) before it would be out and I would have forgotten a lot of detail by then, mind you, good excuse to re-read them over another bottle of Whisky or Brandy (Vintage Saxon of course hehe) Have you decided on the title of it yet? Happy yule by the way. Dave.
hello I am wondering if the saxon stories will end with lords of the north or if you plan to continue the stories after that? Dan

Submitted November 28, 2006

A

The next book of the Saxon Tales is likely to be published in October 2007 - no title yet, but I'm thinking on it! No film plans at the moment, but there will be more books in the series.

Q

G'DAY BRENDON HERE,I ENJOYING YOUR BOOKS SO MUCH I AM STARTING TO COLLECT THEM,.COULD YOU TELL ME IS SHARPE'S WATERLOO IS GOING TO DVD? KEEP UP THE GOOD WRITNG.

Submitted November 28, 2006

A

'Sharpe's Waterloo' is currently available on DVD from both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

Q

Mr.Cornwell, first let me say how much i enjoy your work. i truly feel the bullets whizzing by and the sword smashing shield. Thank you. Have you ever thought of doing a fictional series on WWII ? and if not what authors would you recommend that have ? Also, I live in Hingham, do you do local book signings, PR, etc ? Thanks again, you are a master. Happy Thanksgiving. JT

Submitted November 28, 2006

A

WWII is not in my plans - I prefer to stick to the more distant past.

I occasionally do something locally, although nothing is on the schedule at the moment. Take a look at the Diary page of this website every now and again as I try to list all appearances there.