Your Questions

Hello Mr. Cornwell. Sorry to pester you about something so trivial, but I was wondering whether you envisioned the sword Excaliber as being an ancient celtic kind of sword or something more like the Charlemagne-esque sword of the cover (which must date from around the 13th century!). I realise that you use a lot of anachronisms in the warlord chronicles for the sake of the story and characters and wondered if this was one of them. I also noticed that it is described very little, something which I thought was quite out of the ordinary from your usual rich descriptions, was this intentional, in order to perhaps create an air of mystique? Thanks.
Daren Parrwood

From Sevilla. Wanna get mad about these editors? Did you know that your Grail Quest books were retitled in Spain, published by Edhasa: Harlequin -> Los arqueros del Rey (Archers of the King) Vagabond -> La batalla del Grial (The battle of The Grail) Heretic -> El sitio de Calais (The siege of Calais) Nice books, is there going to be a fourth one? Joaquín

Dear Sir, I come from Greece and I have read your books with Thomas of the Hookton. I can say it was really amazing that it even influenced me in buying a bow. I would like to ask if there is going to be another one? Jim Kapetanakis

I have become infatuated with Thomas of Hookton. And would love read more in the trilogy, which of course would make it no longer a trilogy. But, maybe the after math of his quest and finding a new life. I am left hanging with anticipation. Do you have plans to add to his short life?? Thanks so much. Misha

Hello Mr Cornwell. I hope you are well. I have read almost all of your works, just started 'The last kingdom' and wholeheartedly love them all. My question is this. In my copy of Sharpe's Eagle you state in the foreword that it is the only book of yours that you have never dared to go back and re-read and I just wondered if you have ever done so? I would also like to thank your wife Judy for putting you in the position of having to write books to support her and thus giving the world a most enjoyable character in the form of Sharpe. Lastly, I'm sure you are aware that the Sean Bean played the role of 'Boromir' in Peter Jacksons 'Lord of the Rings' films. In one scene Sean thumbs the edge of an ancient historic broken sword which cuts his thumb, and prompts the response "still sharp". I just wondered if he had a wry smile in his mind's eye when delivering these lines. I know I did. Thank you for your continuing efforts in producing such wonderful novels, long may you continue. Kind regards James Olsen

Hi Bernard, I am a 21 year old uni student who lives in Australia and absolutely loves everything you put out. This is just a short note to say thank you very much for the fiction you write, whether it be Sharpe, Starbuck, the Arthur books or the Grail quest. As you are only humanly able to put out one or two books a year I was just wondering what books you read and what other historical fiction authors you enjoy? Also, I won't ask (as I see you get the question ALL the time!) but I hope you do put out another couple of Starbuck books. I know with all the Sharpe's you have been putting out, writing a Starbuck as well would be difficult in one year. I do hope however that all the requests eventually show you that there is something about the Starbuck character that makes reading those books both enjoyable and intriguing in a very different way to the sharpe character. Anyway, thank you very much again for all your work and please, please keep those books coming. Is there any chance you will be visiting Australia for a book signing at some stage? James Watson Melbourne Australia

Dear Mr Cornwell, I've just finished reading Excalibur and I know that the name of Lancelot's son, Peredur is replaced by Parsifal in the lengends of the 15th century. I was wondering if this Parsifal is the same who is referred to in the legends of the grail's quest? João,Lisbon.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm having a great time working my way through the Sharpe series and have a couple of quck questions (not necessarily about Sharpe. First, I found the Mark Adkin's Sharpe Companion very helpful and informative (except for the fact he gives away the whole story on the first page of each chapter). Is the second volume in the works and if so, when is it expected to be published? Second, I keep seeing announcements that the White Rider will be released in the UK in October. When will it be released in the US? Third, I've heard rumors you might be coming to Atlanta, Georgia. If that's true, when and where will you be? Thanks again for all the fun. Sincerely, NJG

is there such a thing as a real Cornwell coat of arms or is this a bunch of poppycock? Who better to know than a famous author bearing my surname. Could you help out this American with the real deal? Thanx, John Cornwell

I'm reading Sharpe's Siege (loved reading about Harps and his sore tooth) and love the character of Sweet William. I was wondering - have you ever considered writing about his and the 60th Rifles adventures in America? Tom Stewart

Dear Mr. Bernard Cornwell, I'm a former officer in the Royal Welch Fusiliers (RWF) and the USMC, and a huge fan of Sharpe. However, I've noticed a distinct lack of Welsh glory in all the books and films I've seen so far, especially in comparison with the Scottish regiments you often mention and of course Harper and Hogan! I've recently found out that there is going to be another Sharpe film made. I know there is only so much control you'll have over the film, but it would be great if you could make sure that the RWF or another Welsh regiment get some sort of good exposure in the film. Did you know that the RWF are the only regiment in the British Army that have the distinction of not having to drink the Loyal Toast?* I know that living in the States and having an interest in military history you are very aware of how seriously the Americans take their military heritage. One of the favourite regiments of the Revolutionary re-enectors is the RWF. There are probably more re-enactors in the RWF than there are real Fusiliers in the Army! Maybe if the whole Army had been Welsh history would have been different and I wouldn't have been able to join the USMC! Now I won't be selfish here. If it is within your power to give some credit to Wales's military history don't forget that one of the British Army's most 'glamorous' battles (and the one for the single most VCs awarded for one action) was Rorke's Drift; South Wales Borderers. Of course Sharpe might have been an old general by then or maybe had a son that was fighting, but I feel that all too often Wales gets ignored when it comes to it's role in the British Army, hence in the new cutbacks the Welsh regiments are really going to suffer. So, if you do have any say, and of course if you don't hate Wales, please give some credit to some aspect of Wales's military history in your new film, even if you make it completely fictitious! Looking forward to more Sharpe adventures (hopefully with a Welsh ally), Chris Arvon-Jones * 'His Majesty King George, as Prince of Wales, as Prince Regent, and also as Monarch would from time to time dine with the regiment. On one of these occasions, no doubt mindful of the Regiment's declaration of loyalty during the mutiny, he is said to have expressed the wish that the Loyal Toast should be dispensed with as 'The loyalty of the Royal Welch is never in doubt'. ' (The RWF do drink the Loyal Toast on St.David's Day that being the equivalent to the USMC's birthday)

I have always been curious about the origin of the name "Hakeswill." It sounds extremely unpleasant, but does it mean anything? PS: to your Jacobite fans on the Bulletin Board, they really should take a trip to the Culloden battle site outside of Inverness - a very strange and bleak place (and the reason I live in New Jersey instead of Skye!) John MacDonald