Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, In reading your reply board I noticed that you mention 4 or 5 more books after the latest Sharpe novel and it prompted me to write in to ask if any of the future works will feature the Battle of St-Pierre which was very much a near run thing and if Murrays Castalla/Tarragona campaign on the East Coast might also feature a Sharpe apperance?

Though the question that I am most eager to ask is if after the Barossa book whether a book on Albuera will be next speaking for myself out of all the new Sharpe books thats the one I am most looking forward too.

And in your Archer novels any plan to write about The battles of Verunill which was dubbed the second Agincourt as a victory and the battle of Forigmby (Awful spelling forgive me) and the Archers last stand which Alfred Burne compared to the Whitecoats at Marston Moor.

Finally you mentioned you are going on holiday so can I recommend Poltava the battle that shook Europe by Robert Englund as a great work to read (btw I can also recommend St-Petersburg as a place to visit it's a city that reeks of history) and also Jeffery Werts Sword of Lincoln on the Army of the Potomac as good reading material to take away with you. Have a good holiday Tony P.S Ever thought of creating a message forum for the site ?

Submitted February 23, 2006

A

I don't know is the answer! St Pierre is very likely (I would think) and Soraurem, but the east coast? It's tempting, but we shall have to wait and see . . . .

Again I don't know - timing could be a real problem - I haven't really researched it yet - want to finish Barossa first.

All things are possible! I do want to get through the Agincourt campaign first, and after that I'll see what appetite I have for more.

Thank you! I have the Sword of Lincoln, but am woefully ignorant about Poltava - I'll look for the book.

It's under consideration!

Q

In reading the Your Questions column, I see that Sharpe's Challenge is about to air on British TV. Any chance that we will be seeing it on PBS or History Channel in the U.S.? I am a long time Sharpe fan (since 1980 or so) and am as anxiously looking forward seeing this program as I am for the next Sharpe book, which I understand is due out in the fall. Your books have provided much pleasure for me and for two of my daughters have also gotten hooked. They also made us into great Sean Bean fans. We eagerly run to see any movie he is in. Thanks again! Beverly Fontaine

Submitted February 23, 2006

A

I haven't heard yet that 'Sharpe's Challenge' will be shown on TV outside of the UK, but I'm often the last to know! If we hear anything we'll be sure to let you know.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I just love the Sharpe books and have read them many times. I was wondering if you have ever been approached or thought of a computer game based on The Sharpe serie? In these days of RPG's FPS & strategy games it would be very nice to have a chance of following Sharpe into battle, after all it has been a nice little earner for Tom Clancy. M Wyllie

Submitted February 23, 2006

A

It's been talked about, but so far nothing seems to have come of it.

Q

You say that Uhtred, like Derfel, is writing his stoy as an old man. But he says he still has to take back Bebbanburg from his enemies and you say you'll end the series at Brunanburgh. So has Brunanburgh happened when Uhtred is writing or will the series carry on when we reach that point and, maybe, have him revenging himself on his enemies? Thanks for answering this and for all the books. Max

Submitted February 21, 2006

A

One or the other. I haven't got there yet! I do know he gets Bebbanburg back, but whether that's before or after Brunanburh will have to wait till I write the book.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I would like to offer my sincere thanks for the continuous and lasting entertainment that all of your various series have given me. Having read previous questions, I know that you plan on returning to Nate Starbuck after Sharpe gets his well deserved rest. While I hate to think of a world without new Sharpe adventures, I anxiously await Starbuck's next adventure. But I have wondered for a while now, whether you had any plans to give some insight into Patrick Lassan's life. Maybe I'm a little sentimental, but I'd love to read how Sharpe's boy followed in his father's footsteps...sort of. Thank you for your time and talent! Sincerely, Nick Cooper Pittsburgh, PA

Submitted February 21, 2006

A

Maybe one day? I do want to write something about Sharpe's family, so it'll probably happen.

Q

I am absolutely delighted to hear that Sharpe is making a comeback to our TV screens.Sean Bean is a fantastic actor and it is amazing how well he fits the character,as one reads the novels Sean is easily transfered onto the page.I must thank you for your kind replies to me in the past regarding my attempts to write an historical book and I am glad to say that my efforts are growing into something almost plausible.I wonder if you could advise me on the best(and most economical) ways to see the battlefields of Spain as I would love to see the main areas of the Peninsula.Thank you for your time and keep up the good work.
Matt Patrick

Submitted February 21, 2006

A

The best? Probably to join a battlefield tour. I'm not sure when the next Sharpe Appreciation Society tour of the Peninsula is, but you can look at their website. Holts Battlefield Tours are good - go to http://www.holts.co.uk/ht329.html and you can see details - there are other companies as well, and a Google might come up with something else. If you go on your own then you'll need a car, and you'll definitely need Julian Paget's book Wellington's Peninsular War. I don't know how economic you want to be - but if you concentrate on Salamanca, Ciudad Rodrigo, Fuentes d'Onoro you can do a lot in a short time. Truly a guided tour is best!

Q

Mr Cornwell, I live with a couple of other big Sharpe fans, and there is a question we are all a bit puzzled over. What is Leroux's, from Sharpe's Sword, first name? Do you remember. Thank you for your time. Sarah

Submitted February 21, 2006

A

Philippe. I do remember.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell. Sorry to bother you with yet another question on French tactics, but I was wondering if the French column has ever beaten a British line? And also, why didn't the column just simply charge the line? If they waited until the redcoats fired their muskets at about 50 yrds, then the column could charge. This is a tactic that work during the Jacobite rebellion. The French had numbers on their side, and the redcoats would never have been able to contest with the bayonet. Thank you for taking time to read this. Chris

Submitted February 21, 2006

A

The column never did beat the line. And the huge difference between the Jacobite era and the Napoleonic era is in the bayonet. The redcoat facing the Jacobites had a 'plug-bayonet' which fitted into his musket muzzle like a cork into a bottle so, once it was fitted, the gun couldn't be fired. Wellington's men could go on firing with bayonets fixed. They were also better trained and fired faster (three shots a minute is fair). Why didn't the French just charge like the Jacobites? First they were facing much better opposition. Their ranks were being pounded by artillery, skirmish fire and volley fire. They couldn't just charge, because their path ws obstructed by dead and dying men (read John Keegan's The Face of Battle). The Jacobites came faster, faced less opposition, and were armed for the melee. Believe me, if the French could have done it, they would. But they couldn't.

Q

Hello Dear Bernard, thanks so much for your wonderful books, the stories are brill and I love the historic details: Today I learned where the phrase to 'toe the line' came from! I am currently reading Fallen Angels and am sure I've come across the name "Skavadale" before - was it mentioned in Gallows Thief? (I came on your website to try to find out.) I am really enjoying your books and plan to go through them all, though I'm a slow reader. Well done for giving us such brill entertainment; it helps me through when things get tough in life ..... I'm a working mum/wife and we have illness in the house. I look forward every day to 'rest-time' when I can escape away with your lovely books. Thanks! from Sally Channon (Sal).

Submitted February 21, 2006

A

Was it? I honestly can't remember. I do tend to recycle names I like, so it's very possible.

Q

Hi Bernard, Just thought I'd drop you a line to thank you for writing such excellent books. As an archaeologist and a keen student of history, I've enjoyed your range of novels greatly. I currently just finishing the 'The Last Kingdom' and was wondering if the 'Battle of Benfleet' AD 894 will make an appearence? I live just down the road from Benfleet in Essex, in Hadleigh, so it would nice to have a mention... I've noticed you were spent some time in Essex, and have spotted in the Arthur and Saxon novels your references to the county and that has just added my enjoyment of your work. Best Wishes, Jamie

Submitted February 21, 2006

A

I grew up just down the road from Benfleet - in South Benfleet - so yes! It will feature largely!