Your Questions

Dear Bernard, While delighted to hear that Sharpe is not dead and you will continue writing about him, please do not forget us Long suffering Starbuck fans who have had to wait at least 10 years for the next instalment. Suerly a short story chronicling Starbuck at Appomatox for some closure at least. Bloody Ground was a great book but left so much open ended?? btw Have you read Peter Cozzens new book The Darkest Days on to rather unexplored Western battles Iuka and Cornith??? It is quite good. And have you ever given any thought to sending Starbuck with Longstreet's Corps to Chickamauga/Chattanooga and Knoxville??? All the best Tony

I wanted to thank you for your tremendous books. No idea how I could have past my summer nights without the lovely reading material you have provided me. I've got every Sharpe and Starbuck book and there isnt a bad one in the bunch.(Which is really rare because in a multi-volume same author series, there are usually weak links). I've also read Redcoat,(though I need to reread, forget the details). I've decided to reread the Starbuck series (5th time) and I'm wondering will you ever offer us another segment?? It's been almost ten years since Nate left us and I'm starting to go crazy! Also, I'm truly getting tired of your New England Patriots beating my Steelers, but I think we've finally got you this year. Thanks for your work and best wishes, Mark.

Dear Sir, After reading the Arthur books I wondered how it was, you where able to break away from the conservative idea of Arthur and his knights? For example Lancelot appears as being cowardly and is the character Derfel of your creation or does he exist in legened?

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am just re-reading the Warlord series - certainly the best books I've ever read - and would love to read more of olde Britain - any chance of writing about another ancient hero, Robin Hood? Lawrence Williams

hi, I am a Brazilian guy and I am a great fan of Bernard Cornwell. I read the Arthur books. It's a masterpiece. I have a question. Can you answer please? My question is: in a duel, who win? Sagramor or Liofa? thanks for attention. Luiz Mariano

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just finished The Last Kingdom today and all I can say is you have hooked me again. I have read almost all of your books I really loved your Arthur books. The Grail Quest was also quite good. I do have a question for you, have you ever thought about writing a non fiction book? I really love the historical notes at the back of your books. Something along the lines of the Steel Bonnets By George MacDonald Fraser. I know that you do a lot of research before writing your books. I think I would love to read some of the true stories you have found while writing a Sharpe book or even your new book. You told some of those types of stories during the Movies In Time interviews you did for the History Channel some time ago. I am sure you have enough to fill a book or two. Best Jeff Cupernell

Mr Cornwell, I can't tell you how much my father and I have enjoyed the Sharpe's series ( as well as the Warlord Trilogy ). Given that I grew up in a small town in Montana, my school experience with the Napoleonic Wars basically consisted of a guy named Napoleon and a battle called Waterloo that happened somewhere. It's been a tremendous joy to learn about the war in India and the peninsula campaign, albeit slightly modified, through the Sharpe's books. I do have a couple of questions for you, though. Given that the books were not written in chronological order, how much of Sharpe's life/exploits/history did you determine before writing the first book? These books are wonderfully internally consistant. Sharpe and others refer to battles and things they did in those battles long before the books containing those events were ever written. For example, I was reading through Sharpe's Company yesterday and found a reference to Gawilghur which is in Sharpe's Fortress ( As if I have to tell you that! ), which wasn't written until 17 years later. The other books are rich with little references like that, that's one of the things that make them such a pleasure to read. Second, when are you going to write the book where Sharpe JOINS the army? Sharpe has refered to Boxtel as his first battle several times. Are you planning to write that story at some point? And, if not, will you reconsider? Finally, I should mention that, since I saw a few of the movies before I started reading the books, in my mind Sharpe looks like Sean Bean. No matter how how often you describe Sharpe looks and his having dark hair, at the end of the paragraph, Sharpe looks like Sean Bean again. Oh well. Thank you for these wonderful books, and I look forward to reading more of your stuff in the future. Sincerely, Phil DeKoning Bozeman, Montana

Mr. Cornwell, First of all, please, forgive my poor english. My name is Guilherme Valente and I am Brazillian who is absolutely fascinated by your triology about Arthur. Stories about that mysterious hero of Britain have always interested me, however, I didn't have a strong idea about Arthur before reading your books. They changed my mind. Though, I just can't understand why until today your books about Arthour haven't became movies. Mr. Cornwell, I'd also like to ask you if you have already read any book by a Brazillian writer or if you know something about the history of my country. Thank you, Guilherme Valente

I have just finished reading Sharpe's Tiger and in view of what Hakeskill did in betraying Lawford and Sharpe why on earth is he allowed to return to the ranks afterwards? As a former military officer, I would have brought charges against him had I been Lawford. This is especially pertinent given what happens later....all of it could have been prevented. Rosalee Adams

I've noticed that in all your books you refer quite specifically to how equipment, clothes etc. feel and behave in various weathers and conditions. Is this a case of informed conjecture/imagination, or have you spoken to re-enactors? I ask because as a food historian (and re-enactor; Celt,Roman and AngloSaxon) I have been asked many, many questions of that kind, "What does it taste like? How does that feel to wear?" and so on, and I know at least two of my questioners later used the information in books. By the way, I think your work is superb! Mari Hannigan

Hi, can you tell me if the music and/or lyrics to Over the Hills and Far Away as used in the movies of your Sharpe novels is based on the actual 19th century score? Darned good tune either way and as such is fitting to a darned good series of books sir! Andy Piggford