Your Questions

Q

Bernard, you've told questioners there will be seven or eight books about Uthred - Is he going to become a Saxon-era Sharpe or is your tale a long one with a lot of ground to cover? CP

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

It is a long tale - and it will take Uhtred well into his 60's - which is a very long life for someone in the 9th and 10th centuries, but not impossibly long. I don't really see him as a Saxon Sharpe, but rather someone whose life shadows the reconquest of England and so tells that much larger story. Still, like Sharpe, he is a warrior, but in time he is bound to get muuch more involved in politics than Sharpe ever would.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, When I wrote you last I forgot to ask a question that has been eating away at me, will Sharpe ever get even with Captain Murray? If you know I would be grateful to know. Many thanks Patrick.

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

Sharpe hopes so (and so do I!).

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I was just reading the messages of others and must know this new Sharpe's that's coming out - what is it going to be called? where does it fit in the timeline ex between Rifle and Havoc? and most importantly when will it be avalible in the US? Damn I hate living on the other side of the Atlantic. PLZ I must know thank you. Ian Stratton

I got into your books watching the series of Sharpe, but then I started reading the books and got even more addicted.I love reading of Sharpe in India, but will you be writing any more books with him and the rifles? I drive for a living and love reading about Richard Sharpe & Patrick Harper. What I really enjoy about your stories also is the way you give the enemies of Sharpe a strong character especially people like Major Dodd in India. I love your books and cannot wait for more - it is a shame we were not able to see more of Sharpe's life with Lucille. Duncan Blackwood

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

The next Sharpe will follow on from Sharpe's Escape, and I don't have a title yet, and I'm pretty sure it won't be published until 2007 - which is a long wait, I know, and I wish I could do it sooner, but there's some research that has to be done first and the next Uhtred (after The Pale Horseman) to finish . . .

Q

Hi, just finished The Last Kingdom today and CANNOT wait until The Pale Horseman comes out...just how does one get an advanced reader's copy?? I've looked on ebay and no luck...again, I beg you to never retire!! --Darlene Campbell

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

You don't as far as I know. The advance copies are sent to the trade.

Q

Dear sir, I am very fond of tattoos and have a reasonable collection of dried ones, what I was wondering is, what kind of tatoos did the men of Sharpe's time have? did they tattoo each other while on campaign? If so what kind of ink did they use? Thanks John P.S. They are very old dried tattoos!

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

You have a collection of tattoos? I mean, real ones? Ripped from corpses? Wow. Tattoos were much more common in the navy and all the usual motifs were used - fouled anchors, lovers' names, names of ships, pictures of ships, mermaids, encouraging words like 'Death to the French', and so on. Soldiers, I suspect, would have lovers' names, regimental badges, crossed muskets or the royal crown. The ink? I don't know, but probably a fairly awful mixture of gunpowder and water would have been the basis (and probably blurry) first choice of amateurs.

Q

My wife and I have been devouring your books for years. Our many thanks. Your Sharpe work has caused me to read more widely in the years following the start of the French Revolution and I was struck by the fact that so many historians have theorized about the poisoning of Napolean at St. Helena, but no such hypothesis that theYounger Pitt was similarly finished off. Do you have any views about his demise? I have trouble believing that the news of Austerlitz could kill anyone. Donald Gaffney

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

I'm not an expert on this at all - I haven't even read the new biography on Pitt which is said to be very good - and I recently read that there's new evidence that Napoleon died of a stomach cancer. I suppose that news of Austerlitz is unlikely to kill someone, though doubtless bad news can help the death of someone who's already on the exit road.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Most likely someone has asked you this but. I was wondering if you were thinking of making a Crusaders book series? your fan David Dorsey

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

For some reason I can never get very excited about the Crusades, though perhaps that will change?

Q

Mr Cornwell, I would really love to get my hands on a hardcover series of the Sharpe books, I have read all but the last couple. I have bought 8 paperback copies in the series, but I would really love to get to get a set. Every time I see a Sharpe book it's from another edition. I know you have not finished with the series, which is great because I find them to be the most enjoyable books I have read. Do you have plans to release a hardcopy set once you have finished with the series? Thanks for your time I think I must be one of the biggest Aussie Sharpe fans out there and I would absolutley love a complete set. Thank again, Alex Harris

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

It would be up to the publishers, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Q

I'm a big fan of the Arthur and Sharpe books and wanted to know if you will ever write a book about Sharpe's son Lassan? I think it would be a great story to hear about the wars that he got his scars from and the amzing adventures he had. thanks for the great reads! Matthew

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

No plans for it at the moment...

Q

Good evening, Mr Cornwell I'm a Monsewer, Froggie or any other name, and a compatriot of Lucille, as you may guess, and I have read all Sharpe's books, but Sharpe's Escape. Busaco is not an inspiring event, not yet! I congratulate you for such a well drawn character, and so pleasant to read. Now I have some questions: a)Sharpe enlisted in 1794. First book starts when the 33rd is in India. Do you plan a book on the first years of Richard Sharpe in yhe Army? These years are quite often neglected... b) Have your book been translated in another language? Surely not in French! c) At the end of Sharpe's Devil, you say that Sharpe and Harper will never march any more. Still true? d) Any descent from Richard still living in Normandy? e) In the series , Sharpe seems to be always in full dress. Have you seen "Uniforms of the Peninsular War" by P. Hawthornthwaite, plate 12? May be it is a bit less spectacular! And now, two critics on details: Facings of French dragoons are not PINK only. You had the choice with yellow, orange, carmine and scarlet... Then in Sharpe's Siege (for me, one of the three bests), page 125, Frederickson says "frigates aren't Post". Horror! Frigates, being 5th or 6th rate, are under a Post Captain!!! See Hornblower in the Atropos and Lydia, Jack Aubrey in the Surprise, after their promotion to Post Captain. Please, see it as only the pleasure I had to read Sharpe's adventures to the last detail Thank you for the happy hours I spent with your heroes Christian COMPAGNION

Submitted May 18, 2005

A

a) No plans at the moment, but you never know...

b) My books have been translated to many other languages, but there are no Sharpe books available in French translation

c)I suspect it's still true that they won't march any more after 1821, but I've changed my mind before, so who knows?

d)I would imagine so!

e)Sharpe is usually incredibly scruffy and very like the Haythornthwaite illustration!

Do I only use pink? I wasn't aware of that and see from my notebook that Dragoons could wear scarlet, crimson, rose, yellow or orange, so obviously I know that, but perhpas I don't consult the notebook often enough.

So Frederickson gets it wrong? I am surprised! You're quite right, Merci.