Your Questions

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

Dear Mr Cornwell May I firstly thank you for the wonderful books you write. Another author I like is Simon Scarrow and his "Eagle" series of books featuring Centurions Macro and Cato, who are almost a Roman version of Sharpe and Harper. I Note on the cover of these books you are quoted as "I don't need this kind of competition". I was wondering how you feel about having your quotes on the covers of other authors books and if you have actually read the books in question? Thank you Gary

Dear Bernard I picked up The Winter King when i was just browsing and i am immensely glad that i did! I took the Warlord Chronicles on holiday with me, read them, and instantly re-read them. Since i've got back i have read Stonehenge, The Grail Quest trilogy and the Saxon Stories. I finished Lords Of The North yesterday and feel slightly downcast now because i've read them all now (or maybe it's because i have to go back to school tomorrow! Your stories were absolutely fantastic and i'd just like to thank you so much for writing them! My favourite was the warlord chronicles because i felt like i knew the characters so well by the end of the book. I live in Dorset so am very proud to live in what was Dumnonia and Wessex and you have made these historical novels SO much more interesting than any history lesson! I was just wondering whether you find much time to read books yourself? (and i don't mean research books!) I strongly admire you for being able to live without much rugby and cricket because i would find that very difficult! I look forward to October 2007 and the next Saxon book! Thank you again, Rebecca

Dear Bernard, Whilst waiting for the library waiting list for Sharpes Fury to get to me (36th on the list at the mo, you are just too popular) I was reminded of a fact about the Peninsular war, but I am not sure if I am imagining it. Apparently at one famous battle a line of british infantry charged a line of cavalry and won! If true which battle would it have been? Its the sort of hair brained scheme Sharpe would come up with. Hint, hint. Many thanks. Tarquin Hoskins

Mr. Cornwell, I have only recenlty become aquainted with your books and am enjoying your Sharpe's books to no end. This summer I was able to watch most of the television series on BBC America and it led me to read the books ( which are of course much better ). I am in the middle of Sharpe's Fury and it is tremendous fun. I was wondering if you have any plans to do an American Tour and if so will you be coming to to Northern California? Andrew Roberts - a new fan.

Hello, Mr. Cornwell! Greetings from the small hick town of Clifton, Tennessee! I wanted to drop a line and let you know how much I love reading your books! I have visited our local library quite often lately in pursuit of any of the Sharpe series and any of your other novels. I have read several and enjoy them very much (the next time you see Sean Bean, tell him thank you - my adoration of him led me to your brillant work!). I was wondering if you are perhaps going to be in the US, more particularly in the Nashville, TN area for a book signing? I live in an extremely rural area (population for the entire county is about 2500 people) and Nashville has our nearest and largest book stores. I have wanted to purchase your novels but have found that in my area, unfortunately, you are somewhat obscure. So, I am saving my pennies and biding my time until I can purchase some of them online. Well, enough for now. Thank you for your work, and I look forward to the next Sharpe Novel (Sean Bean, sigh!). Sincerely, Melissa Franks

Hello Mr. Cornwell. I want to thank you for rekindeling my love of reading. My favorites are the Arthur novels and Stonehenge. I have just finished The Lords of the North that I bought on Amazon.uk(I couldn't wait for the U.S. release in January;). So my question is, will you be writing a fourth novel of the Saxon Stories since Aelfric the Usurper is still in controle of Bebbanburg and not Lord Uhtred. I am also curious about Iseult's prophesy in The Pale Horsman that Uhtred will rule Bebbanburg again with a queen of gold. Is Gisela the "golden" queen? You have described her are "dark." Is that a clue of a fourth book? I don't mean to be a pest but I am to curious. Thank you in advance. Sincerly, Amanda

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have enjoyed reading your books. Can you recommend any other authors of historical fiction (other than CS Forester & Patrick O'Brien)? I need to fill the time as I wait for your future novels. Thanks, Matt Dorfman

After finishing the third installment of the saxon stories, 'Lords of the North', I was left with an absence of desirable reading matierial when I discovered that I could delve no further into the life of Uhtred, Ragnar and Alfred, having already read the entire Sharpe, grail quest,warlord chronicles, and starbuck series'. Stonehenge was also a joy to read. however, my point; please could you inform me if a sequel to 'Lords of the North' will be on the shelves in the near future, and if not, do you have any recommendations for reading matierial?this would be much appreciated, and my preference would be toward novels similar to the warlord chronicles and saxon stories. thank you for your time,keep up the fantastic work. Robert Goss

Hi, I have just discovered your books and can't wait to read more, but I thought maybe you could give me some advice on your Sharpe novels. Should I read them in any particular order? I have read the first two in the Saxon series and await the third, but I wouldn't advise reading them out of order. Eric Zander

Dear Sir I have finished the Starbuck books and have been blown away by them! I have enjoyed these books and could not wait to start the next, I have been left wanting more! I have read on your website how you stopped to write Sharpes epic adventures but I was wondering if you had any plans to write the last Starbuck book about the battle which is the bloodiest battle in american history? Yours hopefully Barry Williams