Your Questions

Q

Hello, I am very much enjoy reading your work; my favorites are "The Warlord" series. I have recently gone over all three of the Saxon series and was wondering if you have any plans for future books following "The Lords of the North". Thank you for your time. Tony

Dear Mr Cornwell. I've really enjoyed reading the Last Kingdom series. Coming from North Devon makes them even more interesting to read. I never realised, what an important part the South West played in Englands past. Could you please let me know when the fourth book is due, as I'm really looking forward to reading it and whether you will be in Devon any time soon, doing any book signings?

I live on the fringe of Exmoor not too far from Countisbury Hill. In the historical note to the Last Kingdom you mentioned that the battle that takes place at the end of the first book is most commonly believed to have taken place at Countisbury Hill. Is it likely that the battle may have taken place there? I was just excited to think that such an important hisrorical event took place where I live. Richard Parkhouse

Thanks for your time. Richard Parkhouse

Submitted October 11, 2006

A

The fourth book of the Saxon stories will - hopefully! - be ready for publication in October 2007. I am in England right now on tour, but Devon is not on the schedule (see the Diary page for the full itinerary).

There are two likely spots - and Countisbury Hill is one of them - the other Cannington hill fort at the mouth of the Parret, and I'm not qualified to judge the rival merits! There's a useful discussion in John Peddie's Alfred, Warror King, but I think it likely you do live near an historic spot!

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell. When you eventually write your novel on Agincourt (whenever that is, perhaps next year?) are you going to make the hero a descendent of Thomas of Hookton, perhaps his grandson? Sort of making the Hundred Years War a family business? Alan Kempner

Submitted October 11, 2006

A

I honestly don't know . . . .it's a possibility, but till I start on the book I won't know too much about the main characters. My suspicion, at the moment, is that if there was to be such a descendant, he'd be peripheral rather than central.

Q

dear sir, on the cover of S. Fury the sergent on the front cover, the chevrons are upside down. I was wondering if this was an accident or if it symblolised a different position from that of a regular company sergent?

Also, I am confused about how many ranks made up a square. In you descriptions they always use four, but in the painting I've seen of Warterloo they only have two.

Also, in the Crimea the 93rd halted a cavalry charge whilst in line, why did it not work in the peninsular? the 93rd were equipped the same as the S.E. ?thankyou for your time, Chris

Submitted October 11, 2006

A

This is the US version, yes? I think it's a US artist assuming that's the proper way for chevrons which are often reversed from the British position in America.

Four. It should always be four, though doubtless those ranks got thinned out in battle. A square of two ranks is much more likely to be broken.

This really depends as much on terrain as anything else, and I don't have the answer. If the cavalry charge was on smooth and level ground then I'd be surprised, but if it was difficult footing for horses then the charge would be desperately slow and much more likely to be stopped. Anyway - most cavalry, seeing infantry in line, would go for the flanks because that's where there's no firepower. Quite likely that no French cavalry charged a line direct.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have been a huge fan ever since I started the Grail Quest stories a few years ago. I have gotten many a friend and teachers hooked on the Saxon Stores. I would love to know what your future books will be about or what time period they take place in? I was also wondering if you are familiar with Brittan previous the Anglo Saxon invasion during the Roman invasion because it is a subject I would love to hear more about and I think you could do it justice through your wonderful writing. I would love to hear back from you and once again thank you for your wonderful stories. -Heath

Submitted October 11, 2006

A

There are many many time periods that interest me but I don't like to say too much about future projects. Roman? Probably not - Conn Iggulden does such a good job with it, best I leave it to him.

Q

Hello Bernard, I have read everything you have writen through the years and have loved every minute. My favorite is the worlord chronicles, which I always regard with good memories and a sense of disapointment. My reasons for this is that no continuation of the story is possible and the sad fact that Derfel was left to the mercy of Sansum for the rest of his life. Why did you do this to the poor fellow, taking advantage of his loyal and honourable personality? I would also love to see a movie of these books as they aproach this story with a tremendous gritty reality, giving a realistic example of how legends can be created from real life. I especially loved the way you tackled the issue of Merlin and magic, never at any point suggesting real magic existed but showing how a very cleaver individual could make others think it did. Thanks for the entertainment, long may it continue. What about a book showing the theorised battle against extinction between the Neandetals and the homosapiens? Vance Docherty

Submitted October 11, 2006

A

A nice idea, but not for me.

Q

Dear Bernard in regards to future Sharpe books with the previous books Sharpe has always been at a victory but have you thought of getting Sharpe to any of the very few defeats in Spain like Murray's fiasco at Tarragona or Wellington's defeat at Burgos and subsequent retreat (Sharpe does re-call this in Enemy) and the first few battle's of the Pyrennes with the French victories (albiet dearly bought) at Maya and Roncvallies and Hill's defeat at Lizaso while Wellington was winning Souraen.

btw Soult at both Souraen at St Pierre Had the oppertunity of winning great victories if he had thrown in all his men straight away but did not and ended up losing. Do you think it was the ghost of Albuera where he did everything right but still lost that stopped him?? Finally Ian Robertson's book on Wellington's invasion of France I can reccommend if you have not read it regards Geraint

P.S Can you give a clue on what battle the next Sharpe book will be set around????

Submitted October 6, 2006

A

All things are possible - but again - I really don't know!

I think it was lack of confidence.

If I knew, I'd tell you - honest - but I won't know till I get much closer to writing it. And thanks for recommending the Robertson!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I love everything you have written, started with the warlord trilogy and have not looked back. I just have one question for you. Do you ever go back and read your own books leisurely, or is that just too self indulgent? Joe

Submitted October 6, 2006

A

It's the last thing I feel like doing after having written it (and re-written and re-written) and reread the page proofs and the galley proofs, and honestly, you don't ever want to see or hear those words ever again!

Q

Hello Bernard I have just read your latest book 'Fury' and once again enjoyed it. I have all of the Sharpe series books and started reading them back in 1992. I have read most of them at least twice if not three times. You can say I am a fan. I mostly enjoy the character of Sharpe and his rise from a redcoat to green in the 95th Riles, the hardship of the common soldier, the discipline and the reality of the historical fact. I was wondering how many more books you are intending for Sharpe and when your next book may be released? It would be great to get more on the Indian campaigns? Many thanks for such a wonderful series which has keep me entertained for so long and may you write many more. Kind regards Garry Cowan Melbourne, Australia

Submitted October 6, 2006

A

There will be more Sharpe books, but I think his visits to India are over. How many more? I honestly don't know, and have never really sat down to plan them out. Four more? Five more? Truly can't tell.

Q

Bernard, lovely to visit your website. My boyfriend is addicted to your books and was devastated to miss the latest TV adaption. Any idea if these TV adaptions can be purchased form womewhere? Kylie, Australia

Hi Bernard, I have been a fan of the Sharpe novels ever since I worked in a bookshop after I left school. I was wondering if the DVD's of the series are available in Australia? ABC TV are currently running Sharpe's Challenge. I am also looking forward to reading Sharpe's Fury when it is released down under. I live in Hobart Tasmania and have a great view of the Derwent River from my house. Cheers Barry

Hello Do you know if it is possible to purchase the boxed DVD set of Sharpe's adventures in Australia. I believe that Australia is Region 4 format. Regards David Creasy

Submitted October 6, 2006

A

A two disc set 'Sharpe's Rifles/Sharpe's Eagle' will be available on DVD in Australia in November. For more information click on this link: http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/789903.

'Sharpe's Challenge' is also available now on DVD in Australia.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am Atharva from Mumbai, India. I have been reading your books for some time now, and am a big fan. I just read Battle Flag and am in the middle of Copperhead (library didn't have any more Sharpe- the man is addictive!). Was there any particular reason why you put the protagonist on the losing side- or will Nate go North again before Gettysburg? And will Sharpe's son appear again?

I also read Excalibur. Why do you refer to the warriors as 'spearmen'? Was it the primary weapon in dark age Britain? Wouldn't a tougher melee weapon like a sword or an axe make a more sensible choice as chief weapon? By the way, of all the suggested locations for Mount Badon, did you choose the area around Bath because of any particulaly strong evidence in favour of the place?

When was the use of the Baker rifle discontinued? Could you please suggest some sources where I can read about Napoleonic weaponary? Sorry to plague you with so many questions but I was always interested in such matters, and your writings make me want to learn more.

Oh, and do you purposely make your heroes outsiders(Derfel is a Saxon fighting with Britons, Starbuck is a Northerner fighting for the South, and of course Sharpe, the officer who doesn't fit),or is this coincidence? - Atharva Dandekar

Submitted October 6, 2006

A

Why put Starbuck on the losing side? Because it's more interesting - by the end the north is a behemoth, and the south is struggling, and he probably knows he's on the wrong side, but that makes it all the more interesting.

Some carried spears, some swords. Spearmen is fine. They used everything. I tried to be fairly specific in the use of the word, but maybe I failed again. No one has a clue where Mount Badon is, so I used a location I knew , and which has been suggested as the right one.

One of the best sources of weaponry but long out of print so you may have to search a bit for it is BRITISH MILITARY LONGARMS, 1715 TO 1815 by
D. W. Bailey.
It is a short and very good book that is lavishly illustrated and has every weapon that Sharpe and company might have used.

I don't think about it - true - but I suspect it's more than a coincidence. I suppose that 'outsiders' make for more interesting characters than boringly well-integrated people - at least they do for me, and I suppose, too, that my selection of such characters is based on something in my own life. Nothing dramatic, but I was brought up by a strange religious sect that worked extremely hard to keep its children separate from society and its ills, and that made integration later on quite difficult. So I'm sure I have a sympathy for people who are slightly out of the normal ruck - and certainly those are the ones I feel happiest writing about.