Your Questions

Is Sir David Baird any relation our beloved Sharpie by any chance :)? He seems like the kind of fellow who would have 'visited' certain quarters of London, seeking certain 'company', in his youth ! Gavin Collinson

I just wanted to say how much I love all your books especially the Sharpe ones but you mentioned in the "your questions" section of the website that you know who Sharpe's father is!! I just wanted to ask:it isn't Simmerson is it? or Hakeswell? I know it would be a cruel twist of fate and quite interesting but it just seems so wrong if it was one of these two characters. I know the answer to this question will be no but could you please tell me who Sharpe's father is or a least give me a clue so I can try and work it out! Thankyou Dan

Good morning, Have just finished another of your Sharpe books and I have the impression you are steeped in 19th. century history/politics-----perhaps you have the answer to a question that has puzzled me for some time: Why didn't the Royal Navy seize Alaska during the Crimean War? Prior wars were used to expand the British Empire[Cape Colony, Ceylon, Canada,etc.]. Some might say the British statesmen knew that would antagonize Americans but why would distant Alaska be more of an irritant than the colonies strung along the St. Lawrence and the virtually empty West? No doubt there is a book lurking in the answer but unfortunately I lack the skill to create it. I did appreciate your quotation of Lincoln's sardonic comment about the town with two rather than one lawyer! regards, Graham Watson

Dear Sir Could you please help me find the dutch version of Excalibur? I have read The Winter King and Enemy of God and I Liked them very much. I have tried everything to find part 3 in dutch.(that's my native language) but I can't find it. Meulenhoff was the publisher in Holland but they don't have them anymore. If there is no other way I'll read the English version but it would be easier in Dutch. Could you please help me? Thank you for taking the time and reading my mail. Marjolein Joor

Dear Mr. Bernard Cornwell, OBE: My question is about your mention of a Mortimer Percussion Pistol with a rifled barrel as used by Lord John Rossendale (and subsequently broken by Sharpe) in Sharpe's Waterloo. I know of no percussion pistol in use at that time, and I wonder if you had a source for the use of that pistol at that time, or if this was merely fictional license? I enjoy your writing immensely and I especially appreciate your efforts in trying to stay true to the historical record as much as possible. Congratulations on the OBE. I look forward to your response. Yours truly, Sheldon Clare

Mr Cornwell, I love the sharpe books, and i read them all a couple of times each, but i love reading new ones and the release of Fury was great timing with the end of my AS levels this summer and I really enjoyed it. I was just wondering how many more you are roughly planning on writing? Please let me know!! I look forward with anticipation for future releases!! Yours, Charlie. ps also are you planning on writing any more set in England, as I really enjoyed Regiment.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Noticed that someone asked about places to go see that were mentioned in your books. Among the places you suggested was Rye. I just spent a couple nights in Rye last month. Never gave your books a thought at the time. (Actually I did see a copy of one of the Saxon books in a bookshop window, but the shop was closed.) Which books should I have recalled when I was wandering about there? Also stopped at the Portsmouth and saw the Victory. It was a good trip although rainy. Wonder if I can take credit for ending the dry spell England suffered through this summer. It rained 15 of the 18 days I was there. Eileen

How did you get started writing historical novels? History student in school? Inspired by other novels? Perry Van

I know you recieve many requests. May I now add to it. How about writing about the French & Indian War? If it wasn't for the British victory we might have ended up French citizens. A Mr.Sharpe character would fit in fine.Thank you. Bill Muller

This is more a request than a question and is almost certainly impossible but do you think its possible for Sharpe to appear in the Starbuck series if the next one comes out? He would be in his 80's but you've never said he's dead (I think) and Lassan links them. Unlikley I know but... Also, which of your books do you consider to be your masterpiece? (not just your favourite) Thanks very much for taking the time to answer these pointless questions. Max

Hello Mr Cornwell, just wanted to reinforce your comment about Conn Iggulden's 'Emperor' series of books...they are indeed superb and would recommend them to anyone who has enjoyed any of your 'Saxon,Arthur and Grail Quest' books.For me ,the most enjoyable have been your Arthur books..i have read them several times over and am immersed completely each time i do so.I am also lucky enough to have first editions of all your non-Sharpe books from Winter King onwards.I do have one question about Lancelot however.What made you write him as a coward? I have to say I have had many interesting conversations because of this! Oh, one last thing....I also think your sailng thrillers were fantastic and should not be forgotten! Many thanks for many hours of reading pleasure, Neil Millington

Mr. Cornwell, I am impressed with your website. It is very rare that a successful author takes the time to respond to his fans in such an open manner and I want you to know it means a lot to us. I always wanted to read a great Arthur story and never found one I quite liked. While I was deployed overseas a friend of mine told me to read a book of his called "The Winter King" and needless to say, I was hooked. Your trilogy takes up three slots in my top 10. I absolutely love the story. And I often don't like to mix first person narration with my fantasy-esque stories, but Derfel's voice was perfect. Your depiction of the Tristan and Iseault is my favorite version. It is perfectly written. You never lapse into melodrama and make the story all the more tragic. And the small references to Tristan and Iseult throughout the rest of the books are subtle and well crafted. I've often wondered though about your motivation to make Lancelot so despicable. I've often been in the minority when it comes to "classic Lancelot" despite all the literature that makes him out to be such a great hero. In the end he still messed around with his best friend's wife and never seemed to hold himself accountable. So when I first met Lancelot in "the Winter King" I really felt like finally someone had nailed this character down. Do you have any personal reasons for his depiction or was it merely to shake up the legend a bit? Anyhow thanks for the great reading. I've gone on to the Grail series and am finding great. Simon