Your Questions

Q

just a quick note to say nice one Bernard. I've just read Sharpe's Trafalgar and you really captured what life at sea was about during that period. A smashing book. My sister has bought me Sharpe's Havoc for kChristmas, so I am looking forward to reading that very soon. I really appreciate the amount of research you put into your books. Your pieces at the back of the book are as enjoyable to read as the story themselves. Do you take many photos of the battlegrounds and places you visit? If so maybe you should put a few at the back of the book. Thanks once again mate. Andy "The Woollster" Woolley.

Submitted January 7, 2005

A

I do take photos - and you can see a few of them by clicking on the 'Image Gallery' button on the homepage of this website.

Q

Didn't find on your site the answer to a question that's surely been asked 1000x: when is US release date for "The Last Kingdom"? Love your work / thanks. Bob Rice

Submitted January 7, 2005

A

The Last Kingdom is scheduled to be released in the US on 1 February 2005.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Thanks again for quality writing and excellent novels. I have just finished the enitire Sharpe series -- all 23 stories , short and long, up to date, and chronologically -- and I must say, I need to take a deep breath! It's been four months of constant Sharpe exposure. It will take quite a while to get accustomed to the more mundane stuff I was reading. Sharpe provided a nice blend of history, truth, and adventure. I will miss him. I was wondering, since Arabic wasn't an option, are the Sharpe books available in French? If they are, how would I be able to get my hands on one? Thanks again for a wonderful four months. Best of luck in everything! Dina

Submitted January 7, 2005

A

A number of my other books have been translated to French, but never any Sharpe books. I wonder why?

Q

I LOVE YOUR BOOKS they're the best! I watched half of Sharpe's Rifles and never stopped watching them. I just got Waterloo on dvd - it's the best movie ever. I was wondering what happened to Sharpe's uniform, did Sean Bean get to keep it? thanks from Reece

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

I honestly don't know. Would he want it? Maybe. I suspect it went back to the costume company who supplied it.

Q

hi, in Sharpe's Havoc, Captain Hogan tells Sharpe that Lord Pumphrey is a 'molly'. Can you explain this term to me? Is it used in the u.k. or something? Why can he be hung for it? thanks. Reid Ennis

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

Gay. They were not very gay-friendly back then.

Q

Dear Bernard First of all a late merry chirstmas and happy new year. Second After reading Sun Tzu's the Art of War which had a foward by the late great James Clavell he specualted on whether Napoleon himself had read the book since it had been published in France since 1784. I just wondered if you might know if that happened and how likely that might off been???

Also after recently seeing Sharpes war repeated on Tv and you mention about Sir John Moore in the American Revolution have you ever considered writing about more of the battles like Lexington/Bunker Hill Guilford Courthouse and of course Yorktown from the British persepctive??? Even if Mel Gibson and his kids managed to kill all the English (Scots/Irish and Welsh did not exist in the Patriot) . Anyway good luck on the next Alfred book, Regards Geraint

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

I don't know, but I suspect it's likely. He read very widely on military matters, but I fear I don't know about Sun Tzu.

I'm thinking of writing one book set in the revolution - telling the story of the action in which Lieutenant John Moore (19 then) fought. But after that? Probably just the one.

Q

The Sharpe novels vividly portray the British army's use of floggings to impose discipline. In a novel about the Crimean War I also noticed reference to the practice and was suprised to learn flogging was still in use in the 1850s. I was curious if you know how long this practice lasted in the British military? Looking forward to the next novel whether it be Sharpe or your new saga. Keep up the great work. Howard

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

Flogging was abolished in peacetime in 1868, but it was allowable as a wartime punishment until 1881, and was permitted in military prisons until 1907. There were other restrictions. Some soldiers had been sentenced to 2000 lashes (or even more), but in 1807 the maximum was restricted to 1000, and in 1812 regimental court martials couldn't sentence a man to more than 300. You can find more details in Richard Holmes's wonderful book Redcoat.

Q

I've only just started reading your novels (just finishing the final Grail Quest book and about to start the Arthur ones) but I'm already hooked. Two quick questions: will the Last Kingdom series go all the way through to Athelstan's victory at Brunanburgh (surely one of the most important and least well known battles in English history) and, secondly, have you got any plans to do a series on King Harold? Gregory Spawton

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

Nothing planned on Harold, but Brunanburgh is in my sights.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, It has been just over a year since I discovered your books last November. Since then I have read The Grail Quest, The Warlord Chronicles, Stonehenge, and the Sharpe series (just finished Sharpe's Devil last week). You are one of my very favorite authors and I can't wait to read more of your books! I've got a few questions for you regarding pronunciation of names in the Warlord series that aren't in the pronunciation guide in the FAQ section of this site and also names in Stonehenge. How is Nimue pronounced? (I've been saying it Nim-yoo which is probably wrong). How is the Britons' word for the Saxons "sais"(not sure if I spelled it right) pronounced? Also I had some trouble with a lot of the names in Stonehenge could you possibly write a pronunciation guide like the one for the Warlord series that's on this site? Sorry if this is a lot to ask but I want to be sure I'm pronouncing the names correctly. Another question I have is are you planning on writing any books set in Scotland or Ireland? Thank you for all the hours of great reading. I hope you had a good Christmas and have a happy New Year. James

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

Nim-you-ay, and sice. And I'll think about the Stonehenge list for you! No plans for Scotland or Ireland at the moment - but who knows?

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwall, I have read and enjoyed very much your Sharpe series. I am scanning them again to find if there is a number allocated to the South Essex regiment? I would like to know if there was, as I am unable to locate such. Thank you, David Gentry

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

There isn't. I decided against it - I obviously couldn't use one of the existing mumbers, which would have meant calling them the 105th, which is horribly cumbersome (and also sounds like a French unit!), so I just decided to ignore it. But, for your information, that's what they are - the 105th Regiment of Foot.