Your Questions

Q

Hello Bernard: I'm reading The Last Kingdom at the present, and am enjoying it very much. Looking forward to reading The Pale Horseman when it's out in paperback. It is available in trader here in Vancouver, but I can wait. In the meantime I've had the bookstore in my neighbourhood order Stonehenge. Just wanted to ask you if you have relatives here in Vancouver. About a year ago a girl who works at the videostore in my neighbourhood told me that you had been searching for your birth relatives, and that you'd traced some of your blood relatives to Vancouver and that she met you. She said she is your niece. Have a Merry Christmas! Kathryn McMullen

Submitted December 16, 2005

A

She did not lie. My real father (as against my adopted one) lives in Victoria, and his progeny have spread across British Columbia. They're a great family.

Q

Hey Mr. Cornwell, are you writing another Sharpe novel? If so when will it be here!? I'm desperate to see him in action again! Thanks, Alex.

Submitted December 14, 2005

A

I am - and with any luck it will be published next autumn.

Q

This morning on the Patrick O'Brian Gunroom forum someone commented that Capt Joel Chase of the Pucelle in your Sharpe series is a dead ringer for Jack Aubrey. I remember being struck by the similarity, especially when he introduces Sharpe to another officer as "my particular friend". Was Capt. Chase an homage to POB? By the way, your books, especially the Sharpe novels, are high on the list of favorites among the members of our Vietnam veterans Monday night group that meets here in Vista, California. We're a bunch of old Marine and Army types and we enjoy your flair for writing about combat. David Clark

Submitted December 14, 2005

A

I don't think Chase was a tribute to O'Brien - not that he doesn't deserve one. He was named for a young man I know and I made him into a nice man because he was modelled on a good guy! Simple as that! Thanks for writing - and please give my best to the members of your group.

Q

I have read a number of your books and I like the way you write. I took a Literature class and I reference you as one of the great Napoleanic war fiction writers. I just finished The Last Kingdom and can't wait to read the Pale Horseman. I have noticed that you are writing more stories of Britain's Medieval era. What inspired you to change and write about the Middle ages? Well good luck on your next book. Aloha, Doug

Submitted December 14, 2005

A

I don't think it's a big change - is it? I've been writing mediaeval stuff since The Winter King and mixing it up with stories from later eras - I've just finished another Saxon novel and now my desk is smothered with research for a new Sharpe. I love both periods, and in the end I suppose we all write about what we love.

Q

I'm curious . . . how come Harper-Collins delays the release of your books in the USA? Seems they're missing a great marketing period with the Christmas buying-selling season. I found and bought a copy of The Pale Horeseman from Amazon.co.uk. Great read. I can't remember a whole lot from the first of the series (I've got a very good forgettery (apologies to Woody Guthrie)), but I had a singular impression of enjoying the story and the writing better in this volume. Thanks for your labor. Jim Davidson Lillington, NC

Submitted December 14, 2005

A

I wish I could answer you. It annoys the heck out of me, but there you go - they make their own decisions and HarperCollins in London is very grateful because they sell a lot of copies through Amazon co uk to the States.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Love your books, but can't understand your beef with the Catholic Church? Sean

Submitted December 14, 2005

A

I don't have one. Some of my characters do, not me.

Q

I have read I think nearly all your books but I have one question, do you have any plans to release any books that link to the Arthur books even in the slightest way? I mean Authur does not even need to be in it. Hope to get a reply, thank you. David Rowand

Submitted December 14, 2005

A

I don't - I think the Arthur stories are finished, alas. To add to them, I think, would only weaken the trilogy, so I shall leave them alone.

Q

Hi there - I've just finished Sharpe's Waterloo (probably my favourite of the Sharpe books) - one question: what happens to d'Alembord and Ford after the battle? Adam Wadsley

Submitted December 14, 2005

A

Dunno. I don't really concern myself with the fate of characters after a book - not unless I go back to tell their further stories, and who knows? Maybe I will.

Q

Dear Bernard, After reading the excellent descriptive quality of Naval battles and time that you had written in Sharpe's Trafalgar I was wondering since the Napoleonic naval wars have been rather well covered by the likes of Forster and O'brien among others if you had ever thought about writing about any of the Dutch Wars in the 1600's or of the period after the Restoration. It seems an important period on what bought in British dommiance of the waves. Your sincerely, Tony. P.S Have you read Barry Gough's work on the Naval war between Britain and the US in the war of 1812 on Lake Huron and Georgia Bay? if not I can recommend it as a great read.

Submitted December 14, 2005

A

It isn't in my plans at the moment! But it would make a good series. Who knows?

I have it and you're right - a good read!

Q

Have been going through your "Sharpe" series and I was having a grand time reading all the books until I came to "Sharpes Regiment" the scene where Button was killed left a bad taste in my mouth and I skipped to the end to see how at least 2 of the villians of this book fared ( going mad what a flat end I would have had him shot in such a way as to be given to the tender mercies of the field surgeons ) they got off easy. Simmerson should come to ruin somehow but I haven't seen that happen yet, does it? Liked the books so much I started getting the DVD series - what's up with "Sharpe's Gold" it didn't have anything to do with the book. Ken Martin

Submitted December 9, 2005

A

Sharpe does tend to leave a bad taste in some peoples' mouths. Sorry about that. I always believed Simmerson became a tax commissioner, which is a gruesome fate, but who knows? Maybe I'll let Sharpe loose on him again.

As far as the film 'Sharpe's Gold' ...the story was changed due to the loss of the original actor slated to play Sharpe and concerns with an insurance company.