Your Questions

Q

I would really enjoy reading some more of the life of Nicholas Sandman. Enjoyed Killer's Wake but want to find out what happened to Nicholas. Thanks for the enjoyable hours of reading. Regards, Dave

Submitted December 1, 2004

A

I imagine he lived happily ever after - probably still out there, sailing somewhere.

Q

Mr Cornwell, I am a great fan of your work and last year I started writing my first Novel. It's a medievil epic but I had to stop and make some major changes when I read Harlequin and Vagabond because there were some notable similarities. Then I read Heretic and gave up trying to write the damn thing because many of the changes I made (or things I had not needed to change) then suddenly cropped up in Heretic. If I ever finish it and have it published I thought I'd warn you that similarities are purely coincidental. So please don't sue me. Alisdair McGregor PS Is Captain Sandman ever going to appear again, or is Thomas of Hockton going to return as an archer leader (maybe a litte older fighting at Poitiers)? Alisdair McGregor

Love your books. Any news on a new Grail Quest book coming out..... Thanks again!! Oliver Spencer

Hello Bernard. I have really enjoyed your Grail Quest series and was wandering if there were any more to come after Heretic, I really hope there is. Many Thanks and best wishes Love Jo xxx

hello I just wanted to ask when you're going to come out with a new grail quest book??. and to tell you that I just got done with Winter King and it was great!!!. It was so much better than Once and Future King that I'm going out to buy the next one as soon as I can!. thanks again, James

Submitted December 1, 2004

A

No more Grail Quest books - the story is done. Although there might be another book featuring Thomas of Hookton sometime in the future (no promises!). Another adventure for Captain Sandman is also a possibility.

Q

Will Sharpe ever meet Hornblower and have an adventure together? Luis Lantieri

Submitted December 1, 2004

A

It's not likely - it would prove to be a copyright nightmare.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I would like to say how much I have enjoyed reading The Grail Series. I was educated in the forties and fifties when medieval history was barely touched upon. My interest was awakened when my daughter gained a Masters degree in Medieval History at London University three years ago. As a budding writer I take an interest in the styles of published authors; not to copy their ideas but to teach me the requirements of various publishers and editors. I am a member of several internet writing groups where I am being advised about the subtle changes in writing styles supposedly being put forward by today's editors. One being the overuse of passive verbs such as had and was. This is most disconcerting when I pick up a recently published book off a shelf and find this new style has been ignored to the point where the book has been shortlisted for some prize or other. Do I write the way I want and take these changes with a pinch of salt, or do I heed the bleatings of these apparently learned experts? I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter and whether you have come across this kind of hiccup in your past years of writing. Thanks a lot Dorothy

Submitted December 1, 2004

A

A pinch of salt? How about a mountain of salt!! Ignore all that rubbish!! And it is rubbish. What editors want are good stories, good stories and good stories, Just that, and the incidences of 'had' and 'was' never enters their minds. Write the way you want, write what you want to read, tell it well, have fun and remember that writing is a solitary occupation. You don't do it in groups, you do it by yourself, so ignore everyone and everything and have a good time!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, My husband and I are great fans, have read and re-read all your Sharpe Books. 19th Century British Military history has long been a favorite subject and you truly bring it to life. In several place you refer to the "foot wraps" used. In the uniform lists I've seen (granted they are not extensive) I've only seen stockings listed. Were the wraps standard issue or anemergency item? Also I've been searching for "The Sharpe Companion" and I find it listed as "Volume one, The early years" or just as The Sharpe Companion. Can you clalify for me if it is the same book with a subtitle or was more than one volume written? Thank you for the many hours of great reading. As my husband is an army veteran (of 50 years ago), he has really enjoyed and apreciated your wonderful books. Especially the references to the Riflemen. Roberta Parker

Submitted December 1, 2004

A

I suspect that stockings were issued, but wore out fast, so unless you were rich enough to have sufficient spare pairs you were reduced to foot-cloths or blisters.
The Sharpe Companion - Vol. One, The Early Years is a revised and expanded edition of the original Sharpe Companion. I believe a second volume is planned but I don't know if it's available yet.

Q

Hi, I'm from Brazil and really enjoyed your books about Thomas of Hookton. One thing I always do when I'm reading history books is look over names and places in other literatures to find out more about them. I was looking over the name of Charles of Blois, mentioned in the second book of the trilogy. What I found out about him is that Charles of Blois, son of Guy de Chantillon, count of Blois, was imprisoned by John de Montfort. Am I right? Am I talking about the same person mentioned in your book? Bernard, you describe the battles so well, that I was almost caught by my mom making the sound of arrows hitting the bone of a warrior, as I was reading the books. And, yes, I do compare you to other authors, like Steven Pressfield and Conn Iggulden, your compatriot, but , indeed, in some aspects, like battle descriptions, you can stick the readers to hours of fun and excitement. Thanks. Fabiano

Submitted December 1, 2004

A

Thank you for your message! Charles of Blois was imprisoned in England - along with the King of France and the King of Scotland, but I can't tell you offhand whether John de Montfort was his jailer - sorry.

Q

I am currently reading the warlord trilogy, and I was wondering if you have ever considered writing about Arthur from the Saxons point of view? Kyle

Submitted December 1, 2004

A

Not really!

Q

Hi Bernard, What promted you to base your hero in the "Green Jackets"? Enjoy ALL your books. cheers Ian

Submitted November 27, 2004

A

Because the rifle, being a unique weapon, makes him more interesting (at least to me), and riflemen, being skirmishers, have a bit more freedom of action which is useful to a novelist.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: Can you recommend a good book on the day-to-day life and experiences of French Napoleonic soldiers? I am looking for a French equivalent of Richard Holmes' "Redcoat." Thanks, Alan Kempner

Submitted November 27, 2004

A

Nothing that comes close to Richard Holmes! Nothing I'd recommend - there are plenty of books on Napoleon's army, and you'll find bits and pieces in them. I like the memoirs of Sergeant Bourgogne, but they're hard to find . . . not much help, really.

Q

I have recently read Sharpe's Trafalgar which I though was gripping. As a huge Patrick O'Brian fan, I was interested to see how you would tackle life within the wooden walls and was very impressed indeed. I suspect that you have read some of the Aubrey/Maturin novels, how arduous a task was it going into writing about sea life of the time following the masterly descriptions O'Brian carved into literary history? I also think it's a shame that Sharpe and Aubrey never met - I think they both would have got on very well - both outsiders to a greater or lesser extent, both with a firm sense of duty and both absolutely committed to what they do! Andy Bradshaw

Submitted November 27, 2004

A

Thank you! And, of course, I read all of Aubrey's adventures (and Hornblower's, and Bolitho's and Ramages'). Very hard to write! You can't lose the characters 'over the hills and far away' because you're stuck on a boat, so writing it increased my admiration of the naval novelists.