Your Questions

Dear Bernard

I was just curious what you (and Sharpe) made of Sir John Murray and the Siege of Tarragona which seems crazy looking at it https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Murray,_8th_Baronet

Geraint

Greetings Mr. Cornwell,

 

Firsthand, congratulations on your books, and recently the movie; Seven Kings Must Die. I just completed binge watching the series; The Last Kingdom. I will be collecting your books. My son (studying Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M), is an avid reader, it is what we both most have in common. His passion is philosophy, science and mathematics. I mention this because I consider myself a Christian, raised to trust in God. I realize that religion is ultimately the choice to the individual, and we should respect that. In viewing The Last Kingdom, really touched my heart, even though it seemed Christians fought against paganism, the loss of life, and the pain to lose those we love is the same.  I am not catholic, but I respect those who are. My question to you, what is your view on USA, a country with the freedom to choose religion or atheism, do you see this as a blessing or a curse? If united we stand, divided we fall, religion vs political views would affect future generations.

Thank you.

Grace De Los Santos

hello Bernard

Hope you are well.

i loved hearing you and the other Sharpe fellas (and lady!) on Radio 4 the other day! i knew about Paul McGann breaking his leg, but didn't realise how much filming he actually managed  complete. i've seen pictures of him in Rifle Green , with Mutton Chop! i've never seen any footage though. it would be intriguing to see how he did it! Maybe less SHOUTY! than Sean!

listening though, did make me wonder about a few things...

in the Films Simmerson seems to turn GOOD! he goes bonkers , and becomes a sweet old gentleman, but at the end he's back in uniform. i love the bit where he wishes "Richard", "A safe journey home" and a handshake!  i understand that the TV versions are a different continuity to your novels, (iand those heartless TV scumbags, couldn't just leave Lucille alive!), but they are still YOUR creations, so how do you feel about one of your greatest rotters being redeemed, and do you think that that version of Sir Henry will have changed or go back top being...well, Simmerson again?

i also got thinking about Jane.

i thought that Sharpe's Assassin was going to  be about her , sending some Assassins after Sharpie so she wouldn't have to give him his money back!

do you have any thought about what happened to Jane after Waterloo though? i always wonder at her fate...

Speaking of Simmerson, i was wondering about the Colonels of the South Essex. i know that it goes, Simmerson, Lawford, Windham, Leroy, Girdwood, Ford, Sharpe,, D'alabord,, but....i was rereading Honour recently and you imply in that that Leroy has just returned from England, after he took that nasty would at Badajoz, and thats when he becomes Colonel, . Thats about a year since Windham died though, so.....is there another Colonel of the South Essex we've not met yet, between Windham and Leroy?

i'm aware that we might be finding out in Sharpe's Command , so please don't tell me if its a Big Secret!

looking forward to Command and reading about Sharpe (as you put it on Radio 4)  "duffing up the French" pity our footballers can't duff the French up quite so effectively...

Regards as ever

Matt Copley

Kendall

I'm currently reading Cat Jansen's River Kings  which I know you enjoyed, "An astonishing and compelling triumph" according to you! i cant argue with that!  i''m loving it too! in your review, though you say the book taught you more than a dozen others.

the only thing is you've finished Uhtred, so its too late to use River Kings!

so, i was  curious about whether you've read any non-fiction books AFTER you've written a novel, that would have changed something, in Sharpe or Uhtred of Thomas of Hookton, in either a minor or major way, had you read first and wrote second?

Kind Regards

Matt in Kendall

Hi there!

Quick question--how much of the dialogue by say an Arthur Wellesley is plucked from letters/texts and how much is made up by you?

Best,

Kwame

Hello Mr. Cornwell.

As much as I have enjoyed your Saxon Chronicles, it was really a joy to return to the hero that I grew up on, Richard Sharpe.  I am throughly enjoying Sharpe's Assassin, and I expect to equally enjoy Sharpe's Challenge later this year.  I have a few questions:

1. Are you finally going to tell the story of Sharpe at Albuera?
2. How about Rolica and Vimeiro? And Moore's march into Spain just before Sharpe's Rifles?
3. You once said that you would never, never, never write the story of Sharpe's baptism of fire in Flanders. Are you holding to this, or is there a chance that we will read this story?  If you can write a successful Sharpe adventure in the aftermath of Waterloo, Flanders should be easy for you.

Regards,

Alan Kempner

Dear Mr Cornwell

I have hugely enjoyed reading your novels, particularly the Sharpe series, and while on holiday in South America, have read Sharpe’s Assassin – another brilliant read.

In Colombia, we were taken to the site of the Battle of Boyaca in 1819, which was decisive in the independence of Colombia and other countries in northern South America from Spain.

It appears that there was a ‘British Legion’ (consisting of British and Irish volunteers) fighting for the rebels at this battle and generally throughout the independence campaign.

So I wonder (though I’m sure you get plenty of ‘good suggestions’ for novels) whether you’d considered writing a novel – maybe a series – around the struggle for independence of Spain’s South American colonies?

It sort of fits with the ending of the Napoleonic Wars, though I’m not sure that Sharpe could be persuaded to leave his Normandy idyll! But given the involvement of Irish volunteers, maybe Patrick Harper could move centre-stage?

After all, Bernardo O’Higgins, of obvious Irish ancestry, is considered one of the founding ‘fathers’ of Chile.

Best wishes, and thanks for many hours of reading pleasure.

Richard Lawes

Dear Bernard

just curious but are you more likely to write about Najara or Verneuil as the next book on The Hundred Years War and would consider writing about the Siege of Orleans from the English Perspective  ?

Regards

Geraint

I have recently read Sharp's Devils with pleasure but am perplexed about one point. Puerto Crucero is an important place in the book but I find no Puerto on the maps of Chile.  I do find an inland Crucero. Is Puerto Crucero a stand in for what is now Puerto Montt?

Thanks.

jwl

Out of curiosity, why was "Sea Lord" retitled "Killer's Wake" here in the US. I enjoyed the book (and the title), and noted you referred to 'idiotic reasons' for the retitling.  What were they? (Another book already had a similar title?)

Donald Kieffer