Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was flicking through a TV listings magazine yesterday when I saw a picture of Sharpe standing with his rifle in front of 2 elephants that had 2 turbaned riders. The caption stated that the shot was from the forthcoming new series of Sharpe to be aired on ITV2. I swiftly grabbed the phone to tell my brother the great news, and was smiling right up until the moment he asked me the air date, as I realised I had no idea and that he magazine didnt give one. This feels a tad cheeky, but I was wondering if you could enlighten us with a few more details, mainly when will it be aired? Thanks for your time, and thanks also for giving me such pleasure via your books Best Regards Dal, Cornwall, UK PS This was meant for your forum but I couldnt see away to post there, I hope this is ok. Darren Lean

Dear Bernard, one of the main reasons why I love historical novels is because the author has put a depth of research into them. A good historical novel abducts the reader and carries them back to the time in question, so that they can see and smell and hear and almost live the story being described. I think you achieve this beautifully. It's a wonderful feeling, for a reader like me to feel that they are running alongside Richard Sharpe or Horatio Hornblower or Sean Courtney or whomever. My question is: how do you manage the research? I would find it quite daunting. The general history of any period could be had from books or the internet, but what about the finer details? Things like, what people wore on their feet in such a time, how much a horse cost in such a time, what was considered good food in such a time, or bad food, or good music, or good taste in furniture, or what type of wood made the finest bow. The list goes on. There must be a million such details. It seems to me to be a monumental task, for someone starting afresh on a new book. Where on earth do you begin???
Paul Reid

Just dropped by to check on the next Uthred novel and am very pleased to see a due date and was shocked to see you have been very ill so my questions - are you better?(I hope you are and feeling much better) and Who is your favorite hero? not wishing to steer you but Uhtred rocks. Simon Whyte

Dear, Mr. Cornwell First I wish to thank you from all your hard work. I was one of those people how never really read books; I started reading books after finding one of yours 'the Last Kingdom' at a bookstore in the airport last year. Since then I have read your 'Warlord series, Grail Quest, Stonehenge, Gallows's Thief and the Pale Horseman', and I plan to read them all. I have to ask if you ever plan to write about the Jacobite Rebellion if not, do you know of any books on the subject, written like your own? Thank you, Alex

Bernard, Have you read Andy McNab's books (i.e.'Bravo Two Zero')? While waiting for the next Sharpe ;)- I'm reading his biography "immediate action" and reading his life story in the army always reminds me of Sharpe. So you must have the soldier persona spot on! Tim

Dear Mr Cornwall After enjoying a number of your books, Gallows Thief, The Grail Quest series and more recently The Last Kingdom, you have fired my interest in English history. Would you give me some advice on reading material which will tell me who ruled when,who suceeded who and what they each achieved. Nothing too exhaustive, (reading for me is so much more about escapism than anything else,)basic historical facts . I loved your character Thomas of Hookton and learning about the bow he would have used and the significance of the two finger salute!! I would so love to see the series made into a movie. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival in my mailbox of The Pale Horseman, thank you for the great reads! Kind regards...Rebecca, Perth, Australia

I have just completed The Pale Horsemen. What can I say? Once again you have blown me away!! I eagerly await the last instalment. However I have just one reservation about reading the last Uhtred book. Like Arthur and Derfel, Nathaniel Starbuck and Thomas of Hookton, I know now that I will miss Uhtred as much as I have missed all the others when I turn that last page. Sure my life is much better for having met them and I thank you for that. IF you could find a story to continue one of these great characters, who would it be? Which one do you miss the most? Thank you for all you do!!

Dear Bernard. Having read the Sharpe books from end to end, and watched all the DVDs, there is one thing that struck me as odd. In the DVD of Sharpe's Waterloo, our hero gets stuck in with the troops at La Haye Sainte, and we see the famous closing of the gate that Wellington observed was so pivotal to the outcome of the battle. But surely that happened at Hougomont - both in reality and in your book. Artistic licence on the part of the film makers or just lack of attention to detail? Philip Orbell

Sean Bean has just been on BBC Radio 2 and has said that the New Sharpe, Sharpe's Challenge will be on TV in the UK on 23rd April, concluding on 24th April. Did you have any input into the story or is it all scriptwriter? Richard Pike

Sir: I am reading the grail quest and I am reading the second book at the moment. I was very interested in the battle of Crecy. We have always known that our direct ancestor on my fathers side was Sir Hugh Cressy of whom was in the Prince of Wales retinue at the battle of Crecy. This in addition is how we got our family name. We still live in the Yorkshire(UK) area where we originally came from. As an authority on the battle of Crecy, I am impressed by your research and knowledge of this battle. Our oldest coat of arms (as you know the coat of arms belongs to the man not the family as such) is a ram and a lion with fangs and claws bared on a black and white background with NO MOTTO. I was wondering if the arms and armour of Sir Hugh Cressy still exist today please? Once again I am very impressed with your knowledge of this battle. regards Christopher Cressey (Leeds, England)