Your Questions

I enjoyed your Sharpe books and also the recent book about the Dane invasion of England. My question about Sharpe: Is it your view of history that Sharpe's morales were typical of a soldier of that era? He seems rather ruthless when compared to other officers of that distant innocent age. I know he has to be hard enough to take on your hard guys like the French Colonel who liked to torture. Napoleon did not seem to be such an evil guy that he would use tools like your Colonel...I am thinking of his relationship with the English toddler on St. Helena. After all he did not seem to go in for genocide like some other tyrants I could name...Tammurlane, Hitler, Stalin and even Richard the Lionheart. Bob Long

It appears that throughout Sharpe's career those who wrong him in some way or other always seem to get what's coming to them. However two examples spring to mind where this seems not to have happened. Messrs Morris & Simmerson. Do you have any plans along those lines? >From one who has read all of your books on more than one occasion may I say keep up the superb work. Finally without wishing to go over something that I know has been asked plenty of times. What about Starbuck? Kind Regards Dave Bruford

Dear Mr Cornwell, Can I please start this message by saying a HUGE "thank you". Your books have given me months of enjoyment. I have just recently finnished the Arthur series and I have just one question. At the very end of "Excalibur", Arthur and co sail off to find Merlin's last enchantment, what is it? Im a romantic and would love to think that the last enchantment enabled Arthur to rise from the mist to come to Britains aid. Could you shed any light on this? Once again many thanks for the enjoyment your books have given me and I am looking forward to reading "the pale horseman" tonight as it came in the post this morning!! Enthusiastically looking forward to your future works! Andrew Coles

Hi Bernard. I have just finished the Pale Horseman and enjoyed it very much. With regard to Hubba, I was searching the internet and when reading some literature about my home town 'Appledore' in North Devon I read a paragraph stating the following: "Hubba, the Dane, landed here in the reign of Alfred the Great, and was discomfited and slain, with about 2000 men, before Kenwith Castle, which stood near Kenwith Lodge, in the adjoining parish of Abbotsham. Tradition says he was buried at the southern end of East Appledore, under a large stone, called Hubba stone." As you can imagine I am very excited to learn that this historic moment happened on my home turf. Do you think there is much truth in the statement, as the only mention of the Danes that I have ever heard of in this part of North Devon is in Croyde? I look forward to your response and keep up the great work. Ed May (North Devon).

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I am an amature historian. I prefer reading well researched and written historically based fiction, which do more to bring a time and place alive than simple renditions of dates, people and places. For that reason, I have been devouring your books for some time now (first the Starbuck Chronicles, and then the Sharpe series). I have just finished Redcoat, which I loved, and I could not help noticing that it appears to be written as the beginning of a series. I liked very much how, in similar fashion to the Starbuck Chronicles, the main character starts out fighting for one side and ends up on the other. It appears as if a sequel or sequel(s) would follow Sam's enlistment, exploits and rise in the Colonial army, all against the historical backdrop of the American Revolution. I note that these are observations garnered from reading Redcoat after having followed the progression of your Starbuck and Sharpe books, so that it is clear that I am not trying to take credit for suggesting an idea for a new book for you to write. I am merely noting observation as to the direction I believe you already had in mind. I am writing to inquire whether you intend to write a sequel to Redcoat, as I very much look forward to learning more about the American Revolution and Sam Gilpin. I remember reading a comment that you made in answer to a similar question about whether you would be writing any more Starbuck books. Your comment was something to the effect that you had decided to focus more on the Sharpe series, and would not be writing anymore Starbuck books. As an American and historical enthusiast, I would urge, nay, beg you to write more about this pivotal point in world history. Granted there are so many interesting periods to write about ( I look forward to reading your Arthur, Stonehenge and Saxon books), but the American Revolution is such a pivotal point in the direction that the world would take, that it so needs your attention. If it is persuasive at all, in an internet search, I was not surprised to come across a school assignment based upon Redcoat. Your books are a valuable tool for bringing the past to light. I have enjoyed them immensely for their historical insight, as well as for the quality of the narrative. I look forward to reading more. I wish you well and hope that your pen never stops unlocking the past. With respect and Gratitude, Cary Kaplan

I just love the Starbuck Chronicles! They are my favorite Civil War novels! I am just dying to find out what happens to Starbuck later on in the war! When are you going to write more books? I'm just hanging here waiting to see if Starbuck lives through the war or not!!! Thank you so much for your time! Laura

Hello Bernard, just a quick question, I know you're planning another book on the American War of Independence and that you've already stated you have no intention of revealing the plot, but could you tell us from which perspective you will be telling the story from? I would imagine the British as you seem to share my love of our historic glory and fame(and infamy). But the fact you're living in America gave me pause for thought, I sincerely hope the book is from a British perspective as it's high time people got to learn more about this time in history, I have a few American friends and they get taught an EXTREMELY one sided tale during history lessons and in the UK we rarely get taught about it at all, luckily I'm a complete history nerd and enjoy rooting out facts for myself. When we Have Hollywood and Mel Gibson crusading to destroy or steal our history, thank god we have authors like you Bernard to restore the balance, best wishes, David :)

Sir I truly loved your books I've nearly half of them. And I was just wondering if you would ever do a redcoat-style book on the Jacobite rebellion? Alex

I have enjoyed books from the Grail series, Sharpe series, Arthurian, etc. Likewise, I loved The Last Kingdom and am very excited about the release of The Pale Horseman. I am wondering however, if the latter will be released in eBook format any time soon. I have come to prefer reading books electronically because of its convenience. I hope you (or your publishers) continue to release books this way. If you have an answer, I would very much appreciate a response. Many Thanks.
John Larkin

I really enjoyed the Arthur books and thought I would start on the Sharpe books. I sometimes read books on my handheld PDA. It's convenient when travelling because I can get a bunch of books on it and not have to worry about being trapped without something to read. The format I read in is called Mobipocket and I buy them from eBooks. There are some Sharpe books available on eBooks, but not in the Mobipocket format. If you get a chance would you please lean on Harper Collins to make your books available in this format. I tried to contact them directly, but they don't make it easy. By the way, I enjoyed hearing you on WCAI the other day. Tom Ford

I discovered Sharpe at ereader.com and appreciate the opportunity to read the series on my Palm. I would like to obtain the rest of the series in electronic format. Are there plans to add the remaining Sharpe books? Thanks. Don Vine

Hello Mr Cornwell, I would like to ask a few questions if I may? After reading Sharpe's Tiger & Triumpth & really enjoying them! Where on earth did you get the inspiration for the wounderfully nasty Obadiah Hakeswill? An old school teacher perhaps? Or a school bully? I started reading your books after watcing the films & I thought the actor Pete Postlethwaite played Hakeswill brilliantly what do you think?

Also have you ever thought of writing about the II World War? So your younger readers can learn what sacrifices people made so we can live as we do today? May be a 4th generation Sharpe? I would like to thank you for getting me interested in Napoleonic history. I am now a member of the Sharpe Appreciation Society and hopefully me & my wife are going on the Waterloo tour in September. We are also going to the 10th birthday bash of SAS so I hope I will have the pleasure of meeting you there? Thanks again, Gary Beadle P.S My wife calls herself the Sharpe widow, because I can't put your books down!!!!!!

I was first introduced to your (I believe) favorite character through the history television series "Sharpe's Rifles". My last name will suggest why. I was impressed with how well done the movies were and, in most cases remained close to the book. The best villian I have ever encountered in the many books I have read was the bald headed sergeant with the biblical name. He was an "excellent bad guy". His name was ironic. Since those films I have read all of your Sharpe series, Stonehenge, the Warlord Chronicles and have just finished your second book "The Pale Horseman". I have not read the Starbuck Chronicles as I am from Canada and have received an "overdose" of Americian Civil War movies through television and movie houses. It is too bad you didn't move to Canada instead of the US. It would have been great to see your talent applied to Canadian History as our senses and appreciation of early Canadian history has been dulled by early school curriculum material. Anyway, enough; Will any more of your books be turned into movies? (I hope by BBC productions. Americian movie makers often change the story and characters to suit their fancy in wild variance from the orginal tale). Second: when can we expect a sequel to the Pale Horseman?
David Sharp