Your Questions

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

Dear Mr Cornell I was just wandering if you had ever seen or played any of the Total War games. The reason I say this is that the concept of the game may appeal to you and most of your readers, there are 3 games at this time Shogun Total War, Medieval Total War and Rome Total War which was used in the BBC program Time Commanders. The main concept of the game is controlling Armies on battlefields form the eras the name of the game suggests, as there are parts of medieval that remind me so much of Thomas Of Hooktons exploits in France. Anyway I just wanted to know if you had ever seen then and if you had what you thought about them. Thanks, James Russell

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, 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

2 very pointless questions I'm afraid, but I'd still like to know your views.... Do you think Wellington learned as much from the events of how we treated American civillians during the war of independence, as much as how the french treated the spanish? Also, do you think he'd have took on board a lot quicker what ww1 allied commanders didn't seem to, that the same plan being used time and again was pointless and was only wasting lives? On a more personal note, my heart and sympathy goes out to the people of London or all those affected by the tragic events on 7/7. Lee