Your Questions

Q

First Mr. Cornwell I must thank you for the many enjoyable hours I have spent with your books, you have made many a tedious business flight bearable. I am amazed at the breadth of historical periods you cover and do such a great job. Have you ever considered doing a series set in the English Civil War? The conflicts between conflicting political and religious philosophies would seem to be fertile ground for plots. Neil Cosgrove

Submitted April 26, 2005

A

I've considered it, have done some research, think about it, but lord knows where I'll find the time to do it. One day, maybe?

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I was reading recently in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles and elsewhere about an Aeldorman Uhtred of Northumbria who abandoned the cause of Aethelred the Unready, but was repaid by being dispossessed and executed by order of the Danish conqueror, King Canute in around 1016 to 1020. Was this your relative that you refer to in the afterword of The Last Kingdom (which I LOVED, by the way)? If so, did your family ever recover their standing as nobility, and if not, what did they become (obviously, they did not go extinct)? I'm just curious, as your family history is an interesting glance into those turbulent times. Mike

Submitted April 26, 2005

A

That was one of my ancestors - on the losing side! There's a very good recent book about the whole affair - called Bloodfeud, by Richard Fletcher. The family became north Yorkshire gentry, and are still there. They were mostly knights (one fought at Crecy) and several were High Sheriffs of Yorkshire. A branch went off to Canada in the 19th century and, via the wrong side of the blanket, that's my lot.

Q

Dear Bernard, I've just finished Sharpe's Tiger and it's a wonderful story ! I read it with passion. I'm French and I have a question about an English word you use often in this book : "glacis" : what does it mean exactly ? I asked to my English colleague who even doesn't know it ! Thank you Cathy

Submitted April 23, 2005

A

Glacis? It's a French word! From the old French glacier, meaning to slip or slide. Originally it meant a place made slippery - a slope, usually - and it came to mean the long low sloping bank placed in front of a fortress wall. It was no longer slippery, but what it did was offer an inclined surface off which the besieger's cannon balls would ricochet - or else bury themselves in the bank. It was very easy to climb, but once at the top, you were faced with a wide ditch and the walls proper. The great Vauban was an expert! Nowadays the front armour of battle-tanks is sometimes called a glacis - it slopes and is meant to deflect shots up and over the turret.

Q

Mr Cornwell. I've been an avid reader since picking up Sharpe's Sword in the early eighties (paperback only unfortunately!) and have since purchased everything you have written that I can find. So, apologies for asking what may be a very personal question, but please could you let me know where has Sharpe 21 gone - due Spring 2005? Yours - very frustrated.

Submitted April 23, 2005

A

I am writing the next Sharpe now - due Spring 2006.

Q

Hello Mr. Corwell, First, thanks for all the many wonderful hours of reading and rereading your many books have provided me. They are wonderful plots, and I have learned an immense amount from them. Second, I am curious about the name "Braithwaite." You used it in Sharpe's Trafalgar (Malachi Braitwaite, Lord William's secretary, who Sharpe murders) and in Escape (Midshipman Braitwaite on the gunboat in the Tagus). I assume there is no connection, but was curious about the same, as I had never heard it before and was intrigued that you had used it twice. Is/Was it a common name in the UK? Was there any reason beyond coincidence that you used it twice? Third, another name: In one or more of the Sharpe (or Starbuck, perhaps?) books there is a character with the last name of Horrell (Jedediah, maybe?) Can you tell me anything about the name Horrell? Is it Welsh? Do you know anything about its origin? Thanks for any insight you can provide with the names and many thanks for all your wonderful books -they have been a delight to me! Cathy Helgeland

Submitted April 23, 2005

A

Sorry - haven't a clue! I usually get names from book indexes, or phone directories, or snatch them out of the ether, and I have no idea where I got either Braithwaite (a northern name, I suspect) or Horrell. Horrell does sound Welsh, but who knows? See if your library has a dictionary of surnames - that might help. And thanks for your very nice comments!

Q

Hi Bernard. I'm an Aussie fan who loves your books. Your's is the best Arthur story that I've ever read. If I ever need a name in a computer game, it is always Derfel's! I hope to read all the Sharpe books. I've read about 12-13 but I keep forgetting which ones! Loved Starbucks, and the Grail Quest. I'm nearly done TLK. But I was wondering moe about you though. What kind of novels do you enjoy reading? I would stab a guess, Tolkein when you were younger. How about now? (Besides reference books for your stories. I know you're well read!). Pete Dewell

Submitted April 23, 2005

A

A list that could go on forever! I'm particularly fond of George MacDonald Fraser and, joy of joys, a new Flashman is soon to be published. I read a vast amount of history. I like good mysteries and detective novels - Ian Rankin, John Sandford, PD James. I could go on and on and on, but I won't.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell - I have written before but do so again after just finishing the whole Sharpe series - including short stories. It was wonderful and transported me into another world over the past 4 months. My husband is relieved as he may now get fed on time!!! One question that springs to mind. What happened to Jane Sharpe? Will we ever find out? Some people may not like her but I believe she was very young and easily led and I feel sorry for her for allowing Richard Sharpe to slip through her fingers. Alison Williams

Submitted April 23, 2005

A

I don't know what happens to Jane, perhaps one day we'll find out? I suspect it will not be good...

Q

BC: I thoroughly enjoy the SHARPE series and this website answers my question since I have begun "re-reading" the novels as I drive by using BOOKS on TAPE and I want to listen to them in a Historical sequence... thanks for the thoughtful index. Also, I am curious. Tom Clancy wrote about the modern US military in his novels, but he lived in Maryland and found resources and personnae in abundance out there. WHERE is the source of your incredible and accurate data? Thanks again! Regards, Brian J. Mulcrone Wheeling, IL

Dear Mr.Cornwell. As a long time reader Of yours,(I started with your early thrillers when I grew up in Cardiff-Wales -now living in Ft.Myers FL) I should like to thank you for all the enjoyment you have given me over the years. I realize that a lot of research goes into your books (especially the historical novels). And was wondering if you did all this yourself. I know that Dick Francis and his wife wrote and researched his books between them. I wondered if you and Susannah had a similar arrangement. Please keep up the good work, I enjoy your books tremendously. P.S. are you coming down to Ft.Myers at any time? Peter Court

Submitted April 23, 2005

A

No plans for a visit to Ft. Myers right now, but maybe someday? I do my own research using books and documents, as well as visits to the places in my books.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, Congratulations on all your fantastic novels, I have read them all. I have just finished Sharpe's Regiment for the second time. In the book it discusses the way of recuitment in the British army and tells you of conscription in the French, do you know the way in which the other allied armies recuited soldiers? And was it different when countries were under French control? Keep writing. I look forward to reading the Pale Horseman. regards, Simon

Submitted April 23, 2005

A

I don't know, sorry - but I have an idea that the French were the first (and only at this time) conscript army, so I'm fairly sure the rest were all 'volunteer' - which covers a host of sins - some men were offered army service as an alternative to judicial punishment. I'm re-reading Adam Zamoyski's brilliant 1812 and his picture of the Russian army is an eye-opener.

Q

At the end of the seige of Gawilghur Hakeswill gets thrown into a snakepit. In "Sharpe's Company he reappears, with no explanation how he survived the snakes. Is there an explanation in one of your later books? Apart from the fact that he cannot die!! I love your books, I am only sorry I did not discover them sooner. John Niessen

Submitted April 23, 2005

A

If you were a snake, would you bite him?