Your Questions

I just read Gallow's Thief, and was wondering if you had plans to write any sequels. It read to me like you had that in mind. As a mildly amusing story, I started reading your books (and by now have pretty much read them all) because Sean Bean in Fellowship of Ring said about a sword, "Still sharp", which I read on a trivia site was a reference to shaving commercials he did after the Sharpe movies. I read about them, and ended up reading them all, and my wife and I also watched the videos. So one inside joke got you at least one fan. Bill

Having just finished reading Gallows Thief, which I enjoyed immensly, I was wondering if you had any plans to write another Rider Sandman book? Dave

hello again Mr Cornwell, just thank you for two of your thrillers that I found in a very old book shop in my local town, where I got both for 40p!! The elderly woman behind the counter didn't realise you did historical fiction as they sell more of your sea thrillers! which made me smile. I have to say they have great. I loved the fact that in the two I've read 'Wildtrack' and 'Sealord' which I finished today, you bring the two books together with characters, locations, little things like the artist in okehampton and of course the sailing. I've never really sailed and found it quite confusing at first but I gradually began to understand! I was wondering if you know of any web sites where I could find some pictures of the boats in the novels just to see if my imagination was any where near the real thing! I think if the two I've read are anything to go by I might take a try to the book shop in the near future! I also think if any of your books deserve to be shown on film/tv these are the ones! thanks for all your books and characters they help me and I'm sure others though a lot of the bads in life, when all we have to do is open the pages and be taken to medievil France, the battlefields of Spain, or to 49 degrees 18' north, 41 degrees 36' west. thanks Nathaniel Farrell

Mr. Cornwell, This is the first time I have ever contacted an author after reading one of his books. I just finished "The Heretic" and loved it. I've also read all your other books and enjoyed them all. I hope you have time to write another American Book. A sequel to Redcoat, a French & Indian War book, or perhaps Sharpe will get his Regiment in America? Thanks so much, Kon Gojnycz

2 questions 1) Will you be writing any more Sharpe books? 2) How about Sharpe meeting Horatio Hornblower? Thanks and good luck. Elihu Davison

Dear Sir I would like to know if you have started to write a new Sharpe's book and if so when do you think it will be releasedS? Thank you for your time T.D. Young

Dear Sir I started by watching Sharpe on tv, This made me want to read the books they were based on, (bearing in mind that my reading matter until then usually consisted of aliens and spaceships). Hooked is not to strong a term to use to decribe what has happened to me since then, I have read virtually every book you have written, My particular favourites now are the Arthur chronicles, However I really do love them all. Since then I have even read non fiction mostly about the penninsular war (Mark Urbans' Rifles was a pleasure). I have now started upon the Aubrey Maturin series by Patrick O'brian, actually I'm up to book eight. Have you read Mr O'brian (if yes, how on earth do you find the time)? Now for the boring part, Are there to be any more Sharpe novels? as there are only twelve more Aubrey novels left I only have so much reading left. Thank you for the hours of pleasure you have given to me and my wife, Oh yes I am really really looking forward to the new Uthred book, I am sorry to be selfish but please don't stop writing cos we love em. Yours Steve Hulme

Bernard, This is the umpteenth time I have written to you and can I say thankyou for always taking the time and trouble to answer my questions. I have a couple more on slightly different subjects. First, despite many scrapes and one or two near misses, inparticular in Sharpes Fortress which I have just finished reading, Sharpe lived happily ever after. Did you ever consider killing him off at the end? He could have died a hero, had a fantastic send off and we would still have had the same outcome - no more Sharpes after 'Devil'. Secondly, do you have any say in the book tours. I would like nothing better than to have a book signed by yourself but you never seem to come to Yorkshire. Have a a word with the organisers and please come to Doncaster or Sheffield on your next UK visit. Regards, Barry Evans, Doncaster, UK

Mr. Cornwell, I was wondering if we would ever hear from Sharpe's daughter Antonia, again, in any future books? Once again, thank you for your time. David DeForest

Mr. Cornwell, I have enjoyed your historical novels immensely. I recently read the Brigadier Gerard stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and was struck by the similar situation in one of the stories to the band of deserters in Sharpe's Enemy. I was wondering whether Doyle's Brigadier Gerard inspired any of your French characters? It would be interesting if he made a cameo appearance in one of your Sharpe novels. JNR

Sir, At the tender age of 13, in 1970, I discovered the Napoleonic wars through the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Brigadier Gerard. Churchill was right to say that these stories and not those of the Holmes and Watson may be Doyle's finest. Since that time I have enjoyed the many wonderful books about this period. From Doyle i moved to Forester, Kent, O'Brien and many others as well as enjoying the source works of Napier, Marbot and those who were actually part of that epic time. My degree in and life-long love of history no doubt owes much to the under-recognized historical novels of Doyle and so many others that have followed his trail. When i first discovered your books in the late 1980's (during a trip to Canada), Richard Sharp was immediatly added to the ranks of Etienne Gerard, Horatio Hornblower and all the great characters that bring the Napoleonic warrior to life. I am pleased to say that the complete works of Cornwall (even your early sailing stories), sit as equals in my library with my collections of Doyle, Forester and O'Brien. Please forgive this long-winded preamble but it seemed necessary in order to set the stage for my question. I just finished 'Sharp's Escape' and was delighted to see the name of Matthew Dodd appear. Is this the first time you have included a character from another author in the Sharp series? I cannot recall another example. Can we expect Sharp to encounter any other such characters in future? i can only imagine how Sharp and Gerard might see each other were they to cross paths. I am also curious as to when you first encountered Brigadier Gerard and what influence these stories and Doyle's other historical works have had on your writing. Thank you for the many hours of pleasure you have provided this reader and my very best to you in all your future efforts. Douglas Breithaupt Port Townsend, Washington

I was lucky enough to find your first Sharpe's book after reading "Rifleman Dodd" by CS Forrester in the 80s. I've been an avid fan ever since and have read every book with the exception of Sharpe's Prey. I was wondering if it would be possible to see the use of the Girandoni air rifle in one of your future Sharpe's books. I won't say anymore about how it could be used for fear that it would be construed as a plot suggestion and so ruin any chances of it appearing in a future book. If you would like more information on the Girandoni here is an excellent site http://www.beemans.net/Austrian%20airguns.htm. Larry Harris

Mr. Cornwell, I first started reading your Sharpe's series while in high school. I joined the US Marine Corps as a 0311 Rifleman afterward. I am presently serving in Baghdad, Iraq and enjoying your Arthur series in my "spare" time. Throughout the years your writing has inspired me. As a soldier I have found my calling and I thank you for that. I found the comments in The Winter King regarding the mixed thrill and horror of battle the most eloquent expression of my own personal experiences. Thank you for being the voice of "the poor bloody infantry". I had a question about "warrior rings" dark age history fascinates me but I have not been able to find more information on "warrior rings". Is this something of your own invention or did these rings of melted enemy spears exist? Keep up the great work I look forward to it and I have even gotten a few of my comrades to actually read a book thanks to your writing. T.G. Moore CPL USMC Baghdad, Iraq

Hi Bernard, In some recent posts it was explained why a Major General was a lower rank than a Lieutenatnt General i.e. that Major General was originally Sergeant Major General. That cleared that up. But in one of your answers I've read today you list the ranks of General starting with Brigadier General being the lowest with Major General being next. How is this? Isn't a Brigadier higher in rank than both Major/Sergeant Major and Lieutenant. Regards Ed