Your Questions

Dear Bernard, With reference to one of my lectures about biography, do you think it would be fair to argue that the Sharpe novels are a fictional biography of Wellington? Also, for my Final Year Project I am doing a creative writing piece set in England in the Nineteenth century. Are there any good websites/critical texts that would point me in the right direction? Thankyou - and keep writing Sharpe! They're undeniably brilliant! Sarah

Hello there. This question was firstly going to be about the next book in the series of Last Kingdom, but you answered that a few questions ago, thankfully. I wanted to know if you had ever considered writing anything about Hereward the Wake, who I consider a character as great as the legend of Robin Hood, and we know this one existed. I'm not entirely sure how long after the resistance on Ely crumbled Hereward still fought on as a rebel, but that's more your area I guess. Also let me take another opportunity to thank you for the great books. Due to the lack of anything to my tastes to read around the late BC/ early AD era to write anymore, having read everything I can get from Simon Scarrow too now. I've rediscovered my love for the Sharpe books, and I'm reading rifles again at the moment. P.s.Just out of interest, for all the people who wanted to know Derfel's final fate, have you ever mentioned the legend of Derfel Cadarn? The one where he founded the monastry house in Wales, became a saint for it, and finally the town was named Llanderfel. There's a very interesting story about a wooden carving of him in the town, but I've wasted enough time, so thanks! :)

Andy S.

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have first discovered your books by a mistake from the EBC who sent me one Sharpe episode since then I have read a lot. Because even for a frog your stories are great. I am now reading the Sharpe's Triumph and in this one the lieutnant Joubert family is living apparently in a city in France called Lyons and I simply would like to know if it has anything do to with Lyons la Foret in Normandy ? Simple curiosity because I am coming from this area. And then of course if it is really Lyons la foret why ? Best regards Stephane Bailleul

Mr Cornwell, Apologies, and I'm sure someone will have already mentioned it, but in 'Stonehenge' you mention nettles twice, I was under the belief that the nettle was brought to the British Isles by the Romans... As I say apologies - but I would like to thank you for all the Sharpe books, of which I've read most if not all and thoroughly enjoyed them. Kind regards Ed Alcock

I recently purchased Sharpe's Justice on DVD. I have looked through my collection and on line and I find no book "Sharpe's Justice" Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Charles Andersen

Hi Mr. Cornwell. When you finally complete the Sharpe saga are you going to tell us "This is all, I'm not going to write any more Sharpe", or will we be left wondering if he'll march yet again some day? Alan Kempner

Mr. Cornwell, Hello again. I just wanted to say that the construction of my book is going along well. I've managed to pull it back on track. I have another technical question for you this time- why did you chose to write the Last Kingdom in the first person? Don't you feel that it somewhat saps the drama or danger out of a situation? I mean, the character must survive or how would he narrate his story? The first time I noticed this contradiction as a reader I called it "The Harker Syndrome" after the character from Dracula who narrates his breathless escape from Dracula's Castle- however, it is made less breathless by the fact that he must have escaped to write down his story in the first place. Do you think this is a common corner writers paint themselves into? I know not all stories hinge on the main character's survival, but you are writing epic battles not Madame Bovary- you know what I mean? One of the attractions to your Sharpe and Thomas of Hookton books was the third person perspective which allowed you to paint in such vivid detail and explain the workings, implements of war and the large scale movements of armies. Do you find that the first person slows down the narrative in any way? and if so, is that intentional with some stories where there isn't much research or facts to go along with what your writing about? Either way, you know a lot more about writing than I do- so don't take this as a critique in any way and thanks for being such a good example for me. R. Kulb

Dear Mr. Cornwell: First, thank you so much for many hours of very enjoyable reading. I especially like Sharpe, but have had a lot of fun with many of your other books as well. I just finished 'The Last Kingdom', which was excellent, and I have a little question, but one which is important to me. Where did you get the name Mildrith for Uhtred's wife? Is it a common Saxon name? As you see, my name is Medrith, which my parents got from my aunt, whose parents named her after a Welsh friend. I was always told that it is a variant spelling of Meredith. I have no reason for asking except curiosity; having such an unusual name has made me very interested in names. I look forward to the next Uhtred book, the next Sharpe, and the next whatever-you-choose-to-write. Thank you! Medrith

Just finished Sharpe's Devil (enjoy the series very much) and have been fascinated by your historical note that Cochrane actually sent a ship to fetch Napoleon from St Helena. I've been unsuccessfully searching for reference. Can you cite some reliable sources I may find that support this? Thank you. Jean Reese-Gibson

New reader but don't worry I bought them all. I read that there was a miniseries of the Sharpe series.IS there a way to purchase the DVDS/tapes?? Thanks.RP