Your Questions

Q

My best regards Mr. Cornwell. I hope that my English will be suitable enough for this little... maybe to say it... letter. First, I'd like to say that I admire your work very much. I read the Arthurian novels and I was encharmed. Never since "Taiko" and "Musashi" I've read something so beautiful. I'm looking forward to read some Sharpe novels or Grailquest, but not after I finish my Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath". In this context, here comes my second thought and question. Which are the authors that gave you greatest influence? Currently I'm not writing, although I have some artistic attempts. I'm mostly reading. and I'm greatly influenced by authors like Hemmingway, Heller, Steinbeck, Jack Kerouac. They are influence not just on my artistic "lurches", but on my person and cultural knowledge as well. It will be very nice if you point me some authors that have influenced you. I know that this may sound odd, but I was really encharmed by your novels and I said myself that such a historical buff (sorry if this insults you) like you, couldn't exist without being influenced himself by some great authors. I'll really apreciate your advice. The third question is what your opinion on the modern fantasy literature. I'm not speaking about Tolkien, but yet in my opinion there are many authors which deserve some consideration. In the context - what is your opinion of the modern "phenomenon" - Harry Potter books. Have you read them? As a whole question have you read any fantasy novels? Are you influenced by them as well? The fourth question is less standard. I love the Japanese culture. For me Eiji Yoshikawa and his novels - "Taiko", "Musashi" and "Heike" are something incredible. Although in my homeland Bulgaria - the translation was poor - it was something outstanding. If you haven't read him - I certainly propose you to do it as soon as possible. He is outstanding author. In the context, if you like and are interested in the Japanese culture (like me), dare if I ask if you intend to write such novel or series? With your excellent writing and history knowledge, I do not doubt in the quality of such project. Best Regards: Chavdar Likov

Submitted June 20, 2005

A

I'm not aware of any influences, which doesn't mean they're not there, but I'm not a very reflective writer and don't think about such things. I have favourite authors, of course, of which the chief is John Cowper Powys, but I don't think there's any influence from him. At risk of sounding smug I do what I do and try not to introduce too many external influences that would probably only make it harder.

I fear I don't read enough of them to comment! In fact I hardly read any of them, though recently I did read, and was hugely impressed by, Philip Reeve's three books - Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold and Infernal DevicesL. They're written for younger readers and published, in the UK, by Scholastic, and they're hugely inventive, wonderfully told and absolutely riveting. Outside those - don't know really!

I think I can safely say that I won't be writing anything set in Japan - the amount of research I'd need to do would be daunting, and I've so much else I want to write - but perhaps, after I've read Yoshikawa, I'll feel differently.

Q

I've just finished the Warloard Chronicles on Arthur and I have to say it's the best read I've ever had, so thanks for that! I actually have ambitions to maybe take time out and write a book in 3 years or so when I've finished university. However, I feel my weakness maybe being that I might become too repetitive and limited with adjectives and the way I describe a certain event. E.g you have described a good few battles over the trilogy, what did you do to make each one different enough and not repeat your style and structure and choice of lexis of the other battles? Thanks in advance for your help. Owen

Submitted June 17, 2005

A

Mainly by not thinking about it! Every battle is different, not just in terrain and combatants, but also with what is at stake, and I think you just have to rely on those differences to carry you through. It works for me (I hope), but I suspect it would make things much more difficult if I consciously tried to make the battles different. They should grow out of the story, and the story will dictate what happens in them. Hope that helps!

Q

I love A Crowning Mercy and The Fallen Angel and would like to read more stories of the same plot line, maybe another sequel. If you have one published already, could you let me know. Thank you.
Claire Bruman

I recently came across Fallen Angels and Crowning Mercy and enjoyed them. Are there any more books in the series? Kind Regards Tony Sher Cheshire UK

Submitted June 17, 2005

A

Sorry, there are no more books in the series.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I cannot describe the many hours of pleasure your books have given me over the past 12 years or so. I think I have read every book published in your name. As someone with a keen interest in the American Civil War I rate the Starbuck Chronicles as some of the best novels written about that war and look foward to the day that you return to Starbuck. However, the question I would like to ask is whatever happened to the Starbuck novel that was due to be published towards the beginning of 1999? I remember Amazon and a number of other booksellers taking advance orders for Rebel V towards the end of 1998 then the novel did not appear. John Pilkington

Dear Mr Cornwell. I have like many others enjoyed and still wait eagerly for your books. I would like to know if you will be writing any more books in the Starbuck Chronicles series as it seems to me as if there should be more. His life, although fictional, seem unfinished. Many thanks for your time. Thomas Ravensdale

huge fan. reading Sharpe's Escape now. will you ever finish the Starbuck chronicles? Mike Cipolla

Submitted June 17, 2005

A

The book has not (yet) been written.

Q

Dear Sir, sorry its me again... please forgive my ignorance and probably my stupidity, but did/does a captain-general out-rank a major-general? Because that's how it has appeared to me (through reading your wonderful creation) and thus confused me as a major out-ranks a captain!! Sorry if I've wasted your time Sir!! Lee

Submitted June 17, 2005

A

Don't remember a captain-general (there wasn't such a rank), but perversely a lieutenant-general outranked a major-general. Weird but true.

Q

I began with reading The Archer's Tale and while waiting for Heretic to be published I started the Sharpe books. You indeed have a way of writing historical fiction that makes it more interesting than the history itself. My question concerns the Sharpe books, Why the two publishers? This happened to Hemingway as well, and others I suspect. You have probably fielded this question many times in the past but I'm just curious. Have purchased the Arthur books and the Starbuck books, but am trying to complete Sharpe (on Gold now). I've enjoyed them all. Am doing the same thing with Alexander Kent and his Bolitho series. Continued good ideas. Tom Shaffner

You live on Cape Cod. Why do you publish first in the UK. I hate waiting. That asked, I hope there is a contest somewhere because I'd like to vote for the Warlord series as the best historical fiction of modern times. Starbuck and Sharpe close behind, of course, but they share with my favorite Naval characters. Who said the difference between Britons and Americans is that Britons think 100 miles is a long way, and Americans think 100 years is a long time? David Williams

Submitted June 17, 2005

A

Why do I publish in the UK first? That's a decision the publishers make, not me. And why two publishers? Because that's the way the publishing industry is set up - one part of HarperCollins operates in the UK and a separate part in the US.

I haven't a clue! Fairly neat, though. Not as true as the remark that life is like toilet paper, the nearer you get to the end the faster it unrolls.

Q

Hello again Mr Cornwell, I may be wrong, but having read the 'Your Questions' section over the last few months, I have not come across anyone asking you the following. You have stressed several times that Sharpe will continue for several more years, and possibly go on for as long as you do! However, when asked about your favourite characters and favourite self-penned novels, you never nominate Sharpe or the Sharpe series. Indeed, I think you said once that Sharpe does not appeal to your emotions like other characters you have written about. As a result I wondered what drove you on with the series. Is it purely because he remains your most popular character and you continue for the sake of the fans? As a huge Sharpe fan, I hope you never rest him of course, but I was interested in understanding why you personally want to push on with Sharpe's adventures. Thanks. Nick

Submitted June 17, 2005

A

I hope I never said Sharpe doesn't appeal to me. I adore the man and love the series, but I've always reckoned the Arthur trilogy are my favourite books - maybe because they were such a pleasure to write. But don't worry - I still take huge pleasure from Sharpe.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell. I recently finished Sharpe's Escape. Who would you bet in in a hand-to-hand-anything goes fight: Ferragus or Harper, and why? (a pity we never got to see that one). Alan Kempner

Submitted June 17, 2005

A

Never bet against the Irish. I'd back Harper.

Q

Just finished the Arthur books and I have to confess to getting a bit choked up at the end. How attached do you get to your characters? What was it like to finish off the last few pages of Excalibur? Was it just satisfying to bring the work to the right conclusion or do you get caught up with the characters in the same way that your readers do? Kind regards Gregory Spawton

Submitted June 17, 2005

A

I don't think the books would work unless I was caught up in the characters - so yes, I get totally caught up in them and they dominate my thoughts and even, sometimes, dreams. I constantly hear their conversations in my head - and finishing Excalibur was not a pleasant experience because I wanted those characters to go on and on and on. But once a book is done then I confess, like ghosts, they vanish fairly quickly.

Q

I would just like to say thankyou for all your books. They get me in a vice like grip that sometimes threatens my marriage (actually she likes it when I have a new Cornwell as she can go off doing girly things). My first Cornwell was Stonehenge and the historical detail was mesmerising.I have now read all the Sharpe, Arthur and Grail books and found them superb. Now I am eagerly looking forward to the new series about vikings and saxons I believe. I particularly like your sensitivity and understanding in depicting Welsh (and Scots and Irish) characters, giving a more balanced view of history rather than the anglo-centric concoction we are taught. Are there any plans for more television programmes like the real Shape? It was great having you visit the places and explain the history. Nathan Price-Saleh

Submitted June 15, 2005

A

No plans at the moment Nathan, but if any come up we'll be sure to post the information to the website. Thanks for your message!