Your Questions

Dear Sir. In Sharpe's Waterloo, Sharpe is finally officially given command of the South Essex (or Prince of Wales' Own Volunteers). Does this mean his rank as Lieutenant Colonel, is now his Regimental rank? I only ask because both his promotions after Captain are both brevets. Lee

I've seen you state it and other authors state it that sometimes their characters will say or do something in the process of writing a book, that changes the outcome of the book. Is there a book or instance in a book where a character did something that made the book come out different than what you envisioned? Do you try to make the book go back to your original vision or just go with the flow? Thanks, Jonathan Mullins

I'm sure you have a lot of mail to read, so I will make this as short as possible. I recently read your Warlord trilogy for the third time. I think it is the greatest Arthur tale ever told. I would just like to know if you have ever considered writing a novel or series set during the Wars of the Roses? I have long been a fan of that time period in England's history and believe it would be extremely entertaining to read. Well, thank you once again for the great work you do. I am currently awaiting the US release of The Pale Horseman. Best wishes, Lonnie Colson

Sharpe has valuable gems after his "tiger" but seems to be in poverty in "Rifles." Is there a story which explains what happened to the loot? I did see the order of creation of the series so if it is just a fluke, I'll live with it. Jerry Lester

hello Bernard, I am currently reading 'Heretic' and enjoying it thoroughly. I must ask you a question though. I am having an on-going argument with my friend Alan about which side of the bow the arrow would be. I say that an archer holding the bow in the left hand and the chord in the right would line the arrow on the right side of the bow (as in the illustration in the book). Alan says the opposite, please could you clear this matter up as we have 6 pints of Guinness riding on it. many thanks, Glen

Dear Mr Cornwell, I just finished reading "The Pale Horseman", yet another excellent read. I feel that the first person view you decided to use in the Saxon stories works very well and just wondered what factors made you decide to let "Uthred" tell his story in first person? Looking forward to many more of your books in future or maybe I just have to read them all again... Chris Reichmann

Dear Mr Cornwell, As you always seem to be answering questions about your books, I thought I would ask as to whom you think would have been capable of holding Napoleon at Waterloo if (God forbid) anything had happened to Wellington during or prior to the battle? Though the Earl of Uxbridge was the officer 2IC his speaciality was as calvary officer and did not have a great knowledge of the Infantry and Artillery arms. My own suggestion would be 'Daddy Hill' who had remmarkable success in an independent command in the Penninsular? Also at what battle would you of liked to have observed (at a safe distance of course) in the Napoleonic era? Thank you for all your informative novels. John Hart

Honestly, I wish I had the writing talent to express how thoroughly I enjoyed your books. I'd never read a historical fiction novel before I picked up "An Archer's Tale" (aka Harlequin), and I was amazed at how easily a well-constructed story can make any period of history fascinating. Thank you for dispelling the awful (and perhaps all-too American) notion that Medieval warfare consisted solely of bands of knights galloping gallantly at each other with lances couched...and that the Napoleanic/American Civil War battles consisted of lines of men standing within spitting distance of each other, firing blindly at their enemies over smoke-filled grass field. Now, I must confess that I have only read the exploits of Richard Sharpe and Thomas of Hookton, so forgive my ignorance if this has been already been addressed, but I was wondering (whether intentional or not) if you meant for each of the protagonists in your series to be direct descendants of each other? Something along the lines of Saban begat Derfel begat Uhtred begat Thomas begat Dorcas begat Sharpe begat Starbuck (I've omitted the "Thrillers" and solo books, because they seem to disrupt the timeline a bit). Of course, it'd be any geneologist's fantasy to be able to trace his ancestry back to the australopithicines...and part of what I now love about this genre of fiction is imagining what my ancestor was doing during each of these epochs. I was wondering if perhaps your work was intended to be interrelated, or if the historical timeline is just a randomly picked retelling. Thanks! Tyler Rhoades

Dear Mr Cornwell, Although I suspect you will decline, I would like to add my voice to the weight of others on this site who have pleaded with you to write another Warlord novel. Perhaps centered on Arthur during his time in France? Would you consider? I'm on my knees here... Anyway, the series is my favourite and I have just bought all three paperbacks for my brother-in-law's birthday. Regards, Lawrence, somewhere to the north of Isca.

The Warlord Chronicles are my favourite books as well, is there any chance you could squeeze in another story? You did it with Sharpe! I can honestly say you have never written a bad book,I have enjoyed them all. Keep writing, a little bit faster if you could - it's agony waiting for another of your books. thanks Dave Edgell

I have read the Warlord, Sharpe, Grail series and also STONEHENGE and GALLOWS THIEF with the greatest enthusiasm. Few authors are rereadable for me. You are one of them. (In case you are curious, the others include Jane Austen, Alison Lurie and Kate Wilhelm.) I was surprised to read in your answers to questions that the two finger gesture that I thought of as "V for Victory" during World War II, was originally (and apparently persists as) a defiant and hostile gesture. Winston Churchill seems to me to be enjoying himself in World War II newsreels as he walks among his fellow citizens persistently prolonging and repeating the V gesture. I was far too innocent until this night to know all the details of what he was enjoying. World War II started when I was 8 years old (Nazi attack on Poland) and came to a formal conclusion when I was 13. (Signing ceremony on board the USS MISSOURI). Everything I knew about world affairs was received wisdom from my biased grown-up neighbors. Most of them were first or second generation Polish immigrants who all thought that the V for victory sign was entirely a good thing. Was it entirely? Finally I greatly enjoyed Rifleman Dodd's appearance in the South Essex light company. Your reply to a question about him included a better title for his story than the title I read it under. I remember reading some complaints by C.S. Forester about American publishers putting meddlesome and inferior titles on his books. I read a novel about Corporal Dodd called RIFLEMAN DODD. I hope that present and future publishers and film makers treat your work better. What happened to Forester's THE GUN when it was made into a film is unspeakable. They did not do THE AFRICAN QUEEN much harm, though. May your work fare at least as well. And, selfishly, I hope to live to enjoy much more of it. Albert Macek