Your Questions

Q

I have read your books set in the American civil war, found them enjoyable. I read Harlequin, enjoyed whilst at the same time learning things I had missed in my history lessons. Then I stumbled on the Sharpe series! Whilst I describe my addiction to Sharpe novels to my friends, "as an unsuspected addiction to Boys Own type books" I can't put them down and have to ration myself! Not only entertaining but brilliantly informative. For instance I never fully ubderstood the strategy of the British infantry 'square' as an effective ploy against cavalry. Whilst in training as a St John paramedic years ago, a Dr talked of the introduction by the french in the Napoleonic wars of the 'ambulance'. In Sharpe's Enemy you introduce it to remove the casualties. Again I had never considered the impact of killing the horses, or the massed french regiments until reading 'Sharpe's Waterloo'. All this and I specialised in the Peninsula War at Uni! Brilliant stuff, definitely formula, but I'm starting them all again. One thing, I thought you killed Hakeswell off in Sharpe's Fortress but he turns upa again before lurking off into the spanish hills after , was it Badajoz? Again many thanks and you can take as long as you like to answer or even not at all if you're busy (I hope with more material for me to gobble up) cheersJjeremy

Submitted March 11, 2005

A

But Hakeswill doesn't die in Sharpe's Fortress...

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell I was just curious, which countries comprise your largest readership base? Would it be a fair assumption to say that it would be the British Commonwealth? Regards, Jason Chagnon. P.S. Thank you so much for taking the time from what must be an incredibly busy scheduele to acknowledge my recent purchase of Sharpe's Eagle.

Submitted March 11, 2005

A

I think that's a fair assumption!

Q

Hi, I'm 14 years old and live in Kent, I have read every single one of your books and I hope to be writer as well some day thanks to you. I was wondering whether you are planning on writing any more Sharpe books set somewhere other than the Peninsular or if you are writing any more of the Starbuck Chronicles, thanks a lot, bye! Alex Paton

Submitted March 11, 2005

A

Sharpe books - Not that I know of, but who knows? Never say never . . . it might happen. Starbuck will be back, but I don't know when.

Q

To the poster who asked about a book set during the siege of Malta I can highly recommend The Sword and the Scimitar by David Ball a truly excellent book worth a read.

To Bernard, you mentioned in a previous post about the possibility of getting Sharpe to Barrossa - will he be with the attack that nabs the Eagle or with Brownes attack up the hill??? And have you ever thought of puttting Sharpe with Murrays eastern campaign at Castalla and Tarragona against Suchet??? Also have you ever considered writing about Edward 1st campaigns like the Evesham campaign/conquest of Wales or against William Wallace at Falkirk (The statue of him in Scotland is Mel Gibson and I do not make that up). And a final question in Sharpes Devil Cochrane is a man portrayed as looking for a Napoleon type figure. The question is did he ever meet Simon Bolivar???? Geraint

Submitted March 11, 2005

A

I'll know when he gets there - and that's not an evasion, it's how I write - and I really will not know until we get to that chapter and see how it unfolds. Safe to say, though, that it will be one or the other.

Sharpe with Murray's campaign? Yes, but will it happen? Honestly don't know.

Cochrane and Bolivar? Not that I know of - he must have known of him, but I can find no mention of a meeting.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I love all your books - the Arthurian trilogy are the finest historical fiction I have ever read and so convincing as to appear factual. I have a question: as a literary character, what do you think of Flashman? I ask, because if your heroes / central characters have a fault (in my humble opinion) it is that they are a little too moral in their motivation and behaviour - even when being bad they are good. I have always wanted to talk to GMF and find out what he really thought of Flashman - my own view is that he is literatures greatest hero, but as the world's best writer I would value your considered opinion. Cheers, and please keep writing - you could do a great Robin Hood! Cheers Jerry

Dear Sir, I really enjoy re-reading your books and I remember your mentioning the Hornblower Series. What do you think of the Flashman Series by author G. M. Fraser? Sincerely yours. NS.

Submitted March 11, 2005

A

I think they're brilliant, wonderful, witty and unputdownable. There's a new one coming in April, which is terrific news.

Q

Dear Mr Bernard Cornwell. I have read one of your grail quests- Heretic and it's a great book. I have here several questions about your novel. 1. How do you know that's how a knight put on a suit of armour, or something else like that? If you find the information, then can you tell me what's title and the author and th publisher? 2. When I write a story, I actually wanted to make it quite long. Can you give me some hints about how I could lenghthen my story? 3. how many words do you normally have in the grail quests? Thank you! William

Submitted March 9, 2005

A

1. How do I know? By reading lots of books by experts and by talking to re-enactors. There are several good books on mediaeval warfare, and I probably got a great deal out of all of them - and I keep having to apologise for this - I'm a storyteller, not an historian, and I don't need footnotes, so I don't note down my sources, but just pluck what's useful and turn the page. The problem then is that when folk ask me where I learned something, I don't know. But learn it I did, and that, I fear, is about as much help as I can be.

2. & 3. You might like to take a look at some writing advice that is posted to this website. To find it, click on the FAQ page, scroll down to the 10th listing and click on the link for 'writing advice'. Good luck!

Q

Bernard hello, a question for you regarding what you enjoy reading? I have heard you mention Wallace Bream, who I have read and enjoyed but as for contemporay writers, especially those who write in a similar vain, who do you enjoy reading? I have seen your name ascribed to quotes for both Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden, are these your words and who else appeals to you? Anyway keep writing, you're still the general in your field. Peter Murphy

Submitted March 9, 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 to be published next month. 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, The Sharpe novels are a wonderful read - congratulations. I have always admired the covers (military oils versions) and wondered how/who chooses them and how closely are they linked to the book's content - if at all! Regards and well done! Carlow Peres

Submitted March 9, 2005

A

Not much (linked, that is). They're chosen by the publishers, and I think they do a very good job.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a fan of your excellent historical novels, and have just read your latest, "The Last Kingdom." Your treatments of various times in British history is enlightening, often sending me on a binge of reading the actual history of these eras. One point I was wondering about. I am not an expert, but was under the impression that the shilling was worth five pence during Anglo-Saxon times, and was not valued at the traditional twelve pence until William. I hope that you are able, at some point, to infill your Arturian stories, if for no other reason than for me to delight in more scenes with Merlin. Your characterization of him is delicious. Take care. Sincerely, Fredric M. London

Submitted March 9, 2005

A

I doubt either figure is correct - I'm under the impression that there wasn't really a formal hierarchy of money as we would understand it, but the value of a coin would depend on its silver (or, much more rarely, gold) content. For most of the AS period there really only was the penny, but that varied in fineness enormously (some were worth six times more than others) - and all this was confused by frequent recoinages, and by the prevalence of mints all across England - maybe as many as thirty - each producing its own coins! Some halfpennies were struck, but it seems more common for pennies to be halved or quartered to get halfpennies or farthings. Shillings (more properly scillingas) were small gold coins, and probably very rare, and so the number of pennies to a scilling would depend on the price of gold, the price of silver, the fineness of the metal in each coin and the weight of the coin (which also varied from issue to issue and mint to mint). Is it any clearer now?

Q

This is my third or fourth time writing. I just finished "Heretic," and I thought it was excellent, second only to the Warlord Chronicles. It could have been as good except that I knew right away what the Grail was as soon as it was briefly described in "Vagabond." As usual I must ask something. I found it intriguing in the historical notes that you suggested the Black Death was not Bubonic plague at all, but rather Anthrax. I have been told by public health professionals that people with a rural upbringing, who have been around farm animals enough, are immune to Anthrax, even the powerful strains used as biological weapons. I noticed that the noble characters tended to catch the plague (Robbie and Sir Guillaume & cet.) while the less noble (Thomas and his girl) did not. The poor would certainly have been around sheep more often. Has this anything to do with your anthrax hypothesis? Please write more books with medieval themes. They are your best ones. I know most of your fans like Richard Sharpe best, but there are already so many, and I think the movies were badly made and thus detract from the overall experience. How about Fionn Mac Cuhal or Cormac Mac Airt for a protagonist... or the Clan Mac Dougal...
Dan Pulju

Submitted March 9, 2005

A

I think the anthrax suggestion came from a news story . . . I don't remember now. Nor do I know enough about it to have an opinion, but I do know there's a certain amount of evidence to confuse the generally accepted idea that the plague was always bubonic. And I'll do more mediaeval, I promise.