Your Questions

Greetings from Las Vegas, Nevada. About 15 years ago I gave one of your Sharpe novels to my dad, a WW2 veteran whose experiences were, perhaps, somewhat similar to Sharpe's. I believe he now owns every novel you've written. I was wondering about your opinion of George MacDonald Fraser (Quartered Safe Out Here, the Flashman series), whose approach to historical fiction is also marked with meticulous research, but whose Harry Paget Flashman is worlds apart from Richard Sharpe.
Jack Fisher

I first started reading the sharpe books when I was in the royal navy, nearly 25 years ago and a rather dogeared copy of sharpes rifles was doing the rounds between the mess decks. i have been a devotee since and thoroughly enjoyed the king arthur series, the harlequin series and am now reading the saxon stories. It is great to hear that Sean Bean is making more films of the books and would be interesting to hear how much influence you had in choosing Sean Bean as Sharpe as I feel that the part could have been written with him in mind as it is an inspired piece of casting. I have also seen your comments on the covers of a series of books about the Roman military by Simon Scarrow. Have you ever been tempted to do a series of books about this period of history? Mark Dunford

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. If Sharpe had joined the Royal Navy in 1794 instead of the army, do you think he would have done as well? Are there cases on record of ordinary seamen going all the way to post-captain? Alan Kempner

The Pale Horseman.On page 92 the women milked cows churned the butter,span wool.I left school at fifteen but I thought that span was distance such as over a gorge.In other words the women spin wool,are spinning wool or have spun wool.I bring this up as it is the third time recently that this word appeares to me to have been misused.In a motor magazine and in the Sunday Times by Jeremy Clarkson both span their cars.Would you agree with me.I do enjoy your books,particularly the Arthur,Grail quest and now the Saxon series.If you find time to reply that would be appreciated.
David Clark

Dear Sir First off - thank you - not for any specific series or novel, but just in general. I really appreciate the way your prose tells a story :) First question - You have said that you do not read historical fiction to relax, as that is what you write - But what or who do you read? I strongly suspect that there is some historical fiction that you do peruse, but what else? Second Question - Aristophanes said that it was the duty of the poet to educate the city; Do you have similar didactic views? Once again thanks for the books. Pete Dean

Greetings from Texas. I am now reading your Grail Quest Series. In Vagabond the characters are discussing the Scots' usage of face paint for battle dress. It is an interesting dialog that seems to be taking a jab at the movie Braveheart. Was this intended? Did any tribesmen from the north of scotland do this? Also, I was led to believe that a group called the "picts" would go into battle naked and spike their hair with urine. Could you clear up any misconceptions I have on this? Thanks, Chris Glynn

Hello Bernard, I absolutely loved "Gallows Thief"!!!! I would like to ask you if there is a follow up book planned involving the hero Ryder Sandman? I hope so. yours sincerely, Sharan Taylor.

Hello Bernard I loved the Pale Horseman and am looking forward to the Lords of the North but I am a massive fan of Thomas of Hookton and was wondering if you had made up your mind to write another adventure for Thomas and I am also wondering about the agincourt book you were thinking about writing as being an englishman I feel, we should all be proud of Henrys amazing victory.

I know that you have read the excellent account of agincourt by Juliet Barker and I was also wondering if you have ever read the Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick which is a really good novel about William Marshall probably the greatest english knight of them all. Alan Ralph

Hey Bernanrd. Just finished Sharpe's battle I loved Runcimann, what a fellow. Where did you get the name and idea from for this jolly character? Also did Sharpe sleep with the Donna Junita? I know he has a soft spot for the ladies and she did take Perkins rifleman jacket, going along with the fact she had a wardrobe full of uniforms from the men she'd bedded. Sharpe usually gets the women, will he kiss and tell on this one? See you at the SAS bash hopefully. Thomas Sheard

Good Evening Sir, I would firstly like to say that I really enjoyed your Arthur Books & think that you did a really wonderful adaptation of the stories, thank you, they were one of the best Arthurian adaptations I have ever read & was really disapointed & indeed sad when I closed the final page of Excaliber. On that note, I have recently heard from a friend of mine, that he read an article in a magazine ( in a dentist's waiting room ), that the series is to be filmed for a television adaptation. I have so far been unable to either confirm or disprove this, can you help at all please? I really hope this is the case as I think it would be one of the most interesting things to come to the small (or even the big) screen for years. I Live in Britain & am of Celtic descent & was raised on stories of King Arthur, hense my interest. I wish you every success with your future writings & thank you once again. Hope you can be of some help. Yours sincerely, Bill.