Your Questions

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.

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

Dear Mr. Bernard I think I've read about 90% of your books and enjoyed them all. Thank you. I know Starbuck was written some time ago, but I just finished the forth book recently, and I fear so much time has gone by that you might have forgotten Billy Blythe? Surely Nate will have to exact his revenge on him. I won't die happy until I know you've taken care of Billy. I thought perhaps you were reluctant to kill Billy off too soon, as I have read your comments which lead me to believe that you regretted ending Obidiah Hakeswell's career so early. P.S. I enjoyed you putting Sharpe's son Patrick Lassan in the Starbuck books. You said that his father WAS British and his mother is French. I guess by 1862 Sharpe is dead, but please don't tell us how it happens. I want him to enjoy France after the wars live long.
Rob Goodhand

Hi Bernard I would just like to say you are an exellent author. I have read the first 4 Sharpe books, and after finishing Trafalgar I was just wondering why was there 2 different UK editions of Sharpe's Prey published so soon after each other. Is there a problem with one of them? Are they different in any way? Thanks for the great books; and keep the coming! Sam

Hello again, I remember reading once that you had considered writing about Robin Hood. The character fascinates me and I would love to read your take on him - any chance? Regards, Lindsey

I'm from Brazil, and I loved your books that were published here (and others that I had bought at Amazon). I have a suggestion, and since it has nothing to do with lawyers, I hope you will at least consider it a bit: is it possible for you to, someday, write a story about Robin Hood, the same way you wrote one about (king) Arthur? I also like his tales a lot, and it would be a great pleasure to read them (re)written by you. Best regards, and sorry about any english mistakes. Gustavo

Hello: I have just finished reading the Sharpe and Grail series and am about to start on the Starbuck series. I am wondering if the Sharpe films will run on TV anytime in the future? I enjoyed the ones I can find at the library but would like to see all of them. I have been absolutely fascinated with your books and plan to read every one of them. Thanks for great entertainment and story telling. Anna Wilson

Bernard, I am a huge fan and I have read and re-read all of your books many times. I am currently on my 3rd go round with the Starbuck Chronicles. I know that in the past you have said that you will finish the series off at some stage - any idea when that may be? Perhaps in the next year or two? James

Dear Mr. Cornwell, you may (or more likely may not!) remember an e-mail I sent you a year ago, asking as to the number of eagles captured in Sharpe's Regiment. I've solved the mystery now anyway! I did have a couple of questions though; firstly that old chestnut - when are you going to bring out the next book in the Starbuck chronicles? Are you working on it or is it on the back burner for a while? And secondly, I noticed your review in George Macdonald Fraser's 'A Quick Flashman' and thought I'd ask your opinion. Is Flashman fictional, do you know? Certainly he existed in Tom Brown's Schooldays, certainly there is evidence that he did exist, from what I've seen, and I believe he even wrote a book 'Dawns and Departures of a Soldier's Life'. Is GMF's work as we are meant to believe it, that he found the papers and simply edited them, or is he just a very clever writer? I'd love to know your thoughts on it. Also, what do you think Sharpe would make of Flashman? Ricky Phillips

I strongly suspect that this message is a huge waste of your time but it seemed worth a try!! I hope you don't mind?! I am interested in where the name 'Starbuck' came from for your character. It may be as simple as a love of modern coffee varieties - although I suspect not ... For some years I have sporadically been exploring the history of the house I now live in. Exploring censuses and local records we have put together what is a highly speculative theory about the house. In brief; we don't know when the house (originally 4 farm cottages) was built but it seems to be in the 1850s. Later documents state that they were built by Joseph Starbuck although he never seems to have lived in them. He appears in local censuses of the period and his extended family tend to appear as labourers or paupers. There is no evidence to support his ability to build 4 cottages except that he appears in 1851 listed as a sailor. It gets complicated but there appears to be evidence that he went to sea, made his money (as was possible in those days!) returned home, built the cottages as a kind of pension. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to have worked because he ended up as cottager and then later a labourer. The ages on the census are consistent with this being the same man and although the village is on a canal there is a clear distinction made between a boatman & a sailor. It is extremely (!!!!!) unlikely, but maybe you came across a sailor/adventurer in the mid-1800s that may have prompted your characterisation? Just a hopeful thought, I'm sure, but worth a try! My apologies if I have wasted your time, Jane Fraser. (Mill Lane Cottages, Hickling, nr Melton Mowbray, Leics.)

Mr. Cornwell, Can you recommend a good self-study course for learning Old English? You have inspired me to try to read the old Anglo-Saxon masterpieces. Mike