Your Questions

Q

dear Mr.Cornwell, I loved your arthur books. I have one question though. why were the armies so small? a couple of thousands of soldiers to invade Britain (mynydd baddon).

Submitted September 15, 2005

A

The armies were small because society was much smaller, and because raising large armies takes an immense amount of logistical skill - large armies have to be fed, watered, organised, and that requires a professional bureaucracy and a strong central government. The Romans had that, and could field vast armies, but in Dark Age Britain there's nothing but small kingdoms and chaos.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I live in Hong Kong and love your books, especially your Grail Quest. I have problems finding your books here in Hong Kong, yes they have a few but I am so impressed with your writing that I want to collect them all. I suppose my question is will you be writing another volume for the Grail Quest and if so any time frame ? Please keep up the good work and continue writing, please. Regards Richard Bowsie Hong Kong.

Submitted September 15, 2005

A

No, the quest for the grail is finished - but I am glad to know you enjoyed the books. And I hope you'll find more of my books in Hong Kong soon.

Q

Dear Sir, For all that Sweet William enjoyed a battle etc. and reacted badly to Sharpe's betrayal. He was a man of taste (his love of drawings, buildings and history etc) and I know reason does not come into things concerning the heart + rejection, but surely after reflection time he would have realised Lucille would not have him regardless of her feelings for Sharpe. It was not really betrayal as such as Sharpe took her from no-one He was a man of common sense and reason and a very good friend. Is his and Sharpe's friendship really damaged beyond repair? Lee

Submitted September 15, 2005

A

I don't know. Haven't got there yet! But perhaps you're right.

Q

Are you by any chance related to William Oughtred, the 16th-17th century English mathematician who invented the sliderule? The name is unusual enough that I thought there might be a connection. Michael Newman

Submitted September 15, 2005

A

He's part of the family, though where his mathematical gene went, I have no idea. He died of joy on hearing of the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 - not a bad way to go.

Q

When you started writing Sharpe did you have any idea how big he was going to become? Also, how much of the series had you already planned? Please keep on writing- I love your books. Max

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

I did no forward planning at all, which, in retrospect, was a mistake, but I thought I'd be lucky to have the first book published, let alone twenty. I've been playing catch-up ever since.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I've already read the books the Winter King and Enemy of God ( both great books) and am now halfway through Excalibur (I'm also loving this one). I'm from Portugal (only a few number of your books have been translated to portuguese and I know it's not your fault) and I saw that in the Enemy of God it's said that the Winter King is already being adapted to television. I would like to know if that's alredy done and if I could find a way to wach it here in my country. Could you please give me some help? And I would also like know what you think about the movie King Arthur, with Clive Owen (if you have seen the movie), because in the movie Arthur has a roman father and fights for Rome, the saxons attack from the north and not from the east, the romans only leave britain in the 5th century instead of in the 4th, Derfel isn't even mentioned and there are also woads in the movie (which I think are what remains of britain's habitants from the time before the arrival of the romans, because they have blue tatoo's in their heads like the people of Isc in the book) (most of the film is very different from the books). I would also like to know how the kingdoms of britain which you refer to in the book where formed? I'm sorry I'm asking you so many questions (Although I have even more to ask) and if you do not want to answer all of them you can tell me what books to read in order to know the answers. Congratulations, you are now my favourite writer and try to keep up the good work. Waiting for an answer, João( by the way my name means John in portuguese!)

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

Television adaptation of the Warlord Chronicles? I wish - nothing is happening so far as I know.

I did not see the King Arthur movie so I have no comment there.

They were formed more or less on existing tribal lines - the tribes that were in Britain before the Romans came (the Dumnonians, etc). There really isn't one book I can confidently recommend - the trouble is that post-Roman Britain is the darkest of the dark ages. You could look at John Morris's The Age of Arthur, but much of that is, frankly, speculation.

Q

I understand that there is to be another Sharpe film to be made. Good news. Could you not persuade them to film Sharpe's Devil. It is one of my favourites and it would help explain why the actors that play the key parts are older than when they were last seen in the series of Sharpe films. "Devil" has all the key ingrediemts of the Sharpe stories that have been put on screen. One more question are you doing any more Sharpe books? Thanks for taking the time to read this. Roddy Carter

With the technology avialable today, couldn't the Sharpe books from Tiger forward to Rifles be produced? I know Sean Bean came to be a great Sharpe, but the TV stuff really could not reflect the grittiness and atmosphere painted within the books. I would love to see Tiger produced! Aaron Porter

Hello Mr Cornwell, I have just read in the Radio Times that a new Sharpe Episode is to start filming in India in November, set after Waterloo. Did you write the script? & When will it be released as a Book? David Warren

Hi I just read in the Radio Times that a new Sharpe programme is to be shot in November (in India). They said it was set in the year after Waterloo. Is this something new or did they get it a tad wrong and the new series is based on one of the existing Sharpe novels set in India. If so, which one is it? Maybe it is to be all three, that would be awesome. I was in India last year and drove within 50k of Gawilghur without realising (dammit). Was at Sriringapatnam a few years back (sick as a dog that day). If you are going ( and tell the rest of the no doubt sizeable crew), there is a new cholera vaccine called Dukoral. Its the best for Delhi belly. All the best and looking forward, Phil.

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

So far as I know the story is based on Sharpe's Tiger - but I haven't seen the script (and I'm not involved in writing it), so can't tell you much. It is set after Waterloo, I know, because it was reckoned that Sean Bean would be better playing a slightly older Sharpe - when I know more I'll let you know! Thanks for the tip on Dukoral.

Q

Who do you think would win in a sword duel between Derfel and Uhtred? Matt

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

No idea! A draw.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell. I was in my local bookshop looking at a book which was receiving a promotional push, by Simon Scarrow. I noticed you were quoted on the front jacket, so I assume you would recommend his 'Eagle' series about the Roman invasion of Britain (although the set-up of 2 differing characters becoming great friends smacked of Sharpe and Harper). Secondly, on the same visit I bought my wife the new Sebastian Faulks book (she's a great fan) and I recounted a story to her which I am sure was about you and him, discussing your writing before a rugby international? If I have this wrong please say, but are you a great friend of Mr Faulks. And if so, do you view Birdsong as a truly great book? Nick R

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

Birdsong is a truly great book, and Sebastian is a great writer. Your story is almost right - except that it wasn't an international. A group of us meet every year at the Oxford-Cambridge game where we talk about anything except writing, as bores are not allowed to attend. I shall see him this December . . . and hope Oxford win.

Q

Mr Cornwell, I have finished reading the Sharpe series in order and I must thank you for enlightening me to the savage and bloody battles fought in the peninsula. I could not stop reading about the battles and the army that fought in them. After finishing Sharpe's Devil, I went on to read Gallows Thief and I couldn't stop myself from finding the Sharpe references, especially when Sandman thinks back to Spain and remembers of how him and a party of his men were saved by a Greenjacket officer. Maybe in your next Sharpe novel Sharpe could rescue a captain of the 52nd (Sandman) from the French? Also are you writing anymore Sharpe novels in the future? Michael Barrett

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

Yes, I will be writing more Sharpe books - and anything is possible!