Your Questions

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.

Q

Congatulations on the Last Kingdom. A very good book and comes a near third to your Warlord Chronicles and Stonehenge. You say in the historical note that you took Uhtred from a later period in history. Is this the same Earl Uhtred of Northumbria who was killed in 1016AD by Cnut? In regards to your Warlord Chronicles, I was researching the period of Arthur and Dark Age Britain and came across a predicted date of Arthur's birth and death, he was said to be about 74 when he died. Is this about the same age he and Derfel are at the end of Excalibur? And finally, I was wondering if you have read an excellent historical novel which is not by your good self called The Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Breem and was wondering if you have ever thought of writing a book based on the collapse of the Roman Empire? Keep up the good work and thanks for hours of great reading, can't wait for the second book to the Last Kingdom, Lewis.

Submitted November 27, 2004

A

My Uhtred is much earlier, but it is the same family.

I would have thought Derfel was in his 60's.

I've read Wallace Breem and think he's wonderful- but I'm not tempted into the Roman period, not at the moment, anyway.

Q

As a follow up to your recent answer, what factors made Stonehenge such a blue murder to write? Stan Oakley, MD

Submitted November 27, 2004

A

It was the necessity to invent a complete theology, which I think I failed to do adequately, at least to the extent that I could believe in it myself. So, though the book is very accurate (as far as I can make it) on the actual building of Stonehenge, I think I never really satisfactorily came up with a reason for building it - and that's a big failure - and it stalked the writing of the book.

Q

Hi Bernard, Having been stimulated by your Sharpe series, I recently acquired a reprint of "Random Shots from a Rifleman" by Captain John Kincaid of the 95th Rifles. It is a book of anecdotes that the author has collected during his time with the 95th! Some of them are quite entertaining and others barely worth the paper. I'm not sure he would have got published today. My question is have you read his original book "Adventures in the Rifle Brigade"? And is it worth my seeking out a copy? Richard

Submitted November 27, 2004

A

I have read it - and I think it's worth it - but not quite as good as Rifleman Harris's memoirs, which are terrific. One way to 'taste' much of this is to read Mark Urban's splendid book Rifles.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am in the process of reading "A Crowning Mercy" right now. I noticed that your wife is listed as co-author of the book. That made me wonder... How much do you depend on your wife in the writing of your books? I really enjoy your books, and have read all the Sharpe books. I also got my father reading them.... He is in the middle of "Sharpe's Regiment." Thanks --Kelly

Submitted November 27, 2004

A

I depend on her for life itself. What more can I say?

Q

Hello Bernard, I dropped you a line a few months ago about R.L.S's The Black Arrow. I just wanted to drop a line again and say that The Last Kingdom series is off to a great start ! The subject of Alfred The Great seems very unique; I was previously aware of him only as a dimly understood, semi-mythical figure that somehow got lumped into the Arthurian Cycle and thus lost his indentity. I was primarily a fan of your Sharpe series, but when the dismal King Arthur film was released a few months back, it spurred me to finally read your highly acclaimed Warlord books- needless to say I was not disappointed. While reading The Last Kingdom I decided to go back to Asser's Life of King Alfred to compare them- this leads me to wonder, from a writer's point of view, how do you slough away all the dusty, archaic, meandering writing styles of these ancient chroniclers to devise a way to tell the story from the pov of an actual character? How do you find a way into the story? Or rather, how do you develop a story with real people around something that seems, at times, about as dry as a census report? I first wondered what your process for this was while reading the Warlord books and thinking that your biggest accomplishment was wading thru all the works written about Arthur; without succumbing to what these works actually would have you believe about him. All of them seem to be skewered to fit ancient political views or imbued with unnecessary, fairy-tale wistfullness. It seems like a very imposing mindfield for a writer to tread thru. Also, I read Face of Battle recently based on your recommendation, since the book is divided into three major battles- Agincourt, Waterloo and the Somme- I was left wondering if you would ever write a book about The Somme since the you seem to have depicted Agincourt and Waterloo so definitely? Thank you again for your time and all the wonderful books you have written! R.Kulb

Submitted November 23, 2004

A

No to the Somme! I've never been tempted by twentieth century tales, and I can't see it happening. As to the rest? I've never really thought about it! And that's a useless answer, so all I can really say is that I read the stuff and it throws up ideas, and the ideas germinate, and it's a long process - years probably - but some of what you read sticks - like Alfred's perpetual sickness - and so you slowly build up an idea of a character. Uhtred, of course, is fictional, so I usually begin by throwing him into a situation and seeing what develops, and there really isn't any more method than that. I'm two chapters off the end of the second Alfred book and I can't tell you what's going to happen - because I don't know. The process is not very rational, or organised, but it seems to work! Asser is dry - but he gives a novelist a lot of material - just the bare bones of the history is exciting enough - and once you realise that he's Alfred's spin-doctor, and take away some of the more obvious exaggerations, you're left with a fairly coherent account - Alfred as a very clever man who thinks his way out of his dilemma rather than (as Uhtred does) going like a bull at a gate. I suppose I ought to dissect the process - but I'm not inclined to.

Q

I read Last kingdom in about 5 days (made me late for work twice!) I loved it. How old is Uhtred when he is telling his story? Derfel was an old man when his story was finished, so it would be difficult to do any more books with this character, but even when Uhtred story is told, will he be young enough for further outings? I wonder if you found out during your research, if did the Danes replaced the Saxons or did they integrate? The British seem to have been pushed west or wiped out by the Saxons. Thanks, Mark Stevens

Submitted November 23, 2004

A

He's in his sixties - that's about all I know - and it's a bit of a stretch that anyone would live that long in those days (though, of course, some did). So there's a long way to go . . .

Q

Hello, Mr. Cornwell! I´m a Brazilian girl who has discovered your books very recently. They are always in the top ten, here in Brazil. I´ve just finished to read "Harlequin" (O Arqueiro, as it´s called here) and I loved it. I´m anxious now to start "Vagabond" (O Andarilho). Have you ever been to Brazil? Maybe it wasn´t good things you´ve heard about our country. Well, there is violence, yes, but many, many other good things to do and visit exist as well. That´s all for now! It was a pleasure to write to you and sorry for any grammar mistake. Adrianna

Submitted November 23, 2004

A

I hope you enjoy O Andarilho! I've been to Brazil very fleetingly - but long enough to know I have to go back. I also have a wonderful Brazilian sister-in-law who gives me hell because I haven't been back - so it will happen, and I look forward to it!

Q

Dear Bernard, just wanted to ask if you ever plan to write a Sharpe that explains what happens to Jane after Waterloo? I know in Sharpe's Devil he's still married to her - but that can't surely be that? Is Lawford ever gonna feature? What happend to his brother in law? I assume disgrace!! and are we ever gonna hear from Sweet William again? Can't wait til the next Sharpe - hope it has Harper in it!! Lee Revell

Submitted November 23, 2004

A

I don't envisage writing any more Sharpes after Waterloo - but I've learned never to say never. I can assure you that Harper will be in the next Sharpe!