Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, this may be a bit cheeky, but I'm trying to find out how authors who use maps feel about them. Are they there for the reader, or is it more perhaps? Do you use them as a planning tool? For any other reason? This is for an article I'm writing for the Society of Cartograhers Bulletin - I'm not a journalist, just a Cartographer who loves books. Yours sincerely, Elanor.

A

I love maps, I collect maps, and one of the frustrations is that I never see the maps that are printed in the books - they get delivered too late and are bound in at the last moment. I certainly use them as a planning tool - heavily - I'm writing about Alfred and Athelney at the moment and, though I've visited Athelney, I have a map board smothered with the OS 1:25000 maps of the Somerset Levels, and overlaid with an old 6" map. I know that the Levels have changed out of recognition in the last 1100 years, but the maps are still hugely useful. Alas, though, the maps in the books are often barely adequate.


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I'm reading, and enjoying, 'The Heretic' and came upon a character by the name of John Faircloth. Having a personal interest in the name I'm curious as to where or how you came upon the name and decided to include such a noble name in your book. Inquisitively, Paul Faircloth

A

I wish I could remember. I think I saw the name in a British high street and liked it. But, as you say, a noble, distinguished name!


Q

Dear Mr.Cornwell I started reading the Sharpe books last year in order starting with Sharpe's Tiger. I am now finished with Sharpe's Company and just wanted to know how did Sergent Hakeswill escape from the snake pit in Sharpe's Fortress? Nick Allen-Stewart

A

The snakes wouldn't touch him! He survived. He couldn't be killed (says so in the scriptures). If you were a snake, would you bite him?


Q

Sir, I have enjoyed reading the first handful of books in the Sharpe series, and especially enjoyed, Sharpe's Fortress. I tried but I cannot easily find any more information on, Sieges in the same era with the same tactics and information about the guns used etc. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks John Hofman

A

The Sharpe Companion, by Mark Adkin, has a very accessible chapter on siege warfare (under 'Sharpe's Company') and that's a very good place to start! And I think Osprey Publishing did a book on Napoleonic siege artillery.


Q

Hello Bernard, I must say I do feel a bit silly contacting you like this as I am not sure if you reply and even if I get one that you will be the one writing it. No offence I mean you must get loads of people writing and so may not be able to reply to all. Just dropping a quick note to say how much I enjoy your Sharpe novels. They are in a league of their own. I am so pleased that they are always available for me to buy whenever I walk in to a book shop. Not many of my friends at school read your novels but I think they are awesome!!!! I love the image of Richard Sharpe and it is even better as there are not many images of him so it leaves his appearance to your own imagination. I sometimes get confused about the ranking system in the British army so I was wondering if you could maybe help me out in your reply. Battalions, regiments, companies and platoons, it all gets very confusing. Harper is the mosty brillaint sidekick ever and would not want to annoy him in the slightest. Overall the characters, plots, desrciption and style of your writing is second to none. As the Napoleonic period is my favourite I am really keen to read all the books I can. My only critiscism is that in many of the Sharpe books the detalils of him are repeated. For example his sword, I know this is for the new readers so they can get an understanding but it can be annoying for "experts" as I like to call myself. Well I have to go now and hope you can find the time to reply, With thanks Richard J Raban- Williams

A

A regiment is the parent organisation and was, usually, divided into two or more battalions. Just to confuse you some regiments were single battalions, but usually there were two or more. Battalions rarely fought together. Thus, a random example, the 1st Battalion of the 88th Regiment (the Connaught Rangers) spent most of the Peninsular War in Portugal and Spain while the 2nd battalion was on home duty and then part of the Gibraltar garrison. On paper a battalion was supposed to have 1000 men, but they were usually in the 500 to 800 range. A battalion was divided into ten companies, one of which was the Light Company which specialised in skirmishing. A company could be divided into two platoons, but that was up to the battalion commander, and the platoon rarely operated on its own - the minimum deployment would be one company. Makes sense now?


Q

Do you regret killing off Sgt Hawkeswill so early in your books ? Might you feel tempted to write another Sharpe with that wonderful anti hero included ? (He says hopefully.) I have enjoyed your books for many years, with particular reference to Sharpe and The Grail quest. But I can`t help wondering what Sgt Hawkeswill might have got up to. Graham Smith

A

I do regret it - perhaps he has an evil twin?


Q

Mr. Cornwell, I've been a longtime fan of Sharpe, Derfel and the rest and, as a result of this site (and quotes on the book jackets), I've been introduced to a number of other authors who keep me constantly entertained. I'd simply like to ask whether the quotes on Conn Iggulden's 'Gates of Rome' and Simon Scarrow's 'Under the Eagle' were really your words? I'd kind of like to think that they were; particularly as they were probably the determining factor in my purchasing these excellent novels and there sequels. I'd also be interested to know what, if anything, you think of Matthew Hervey, Allan Mallinson's officer of Light Dragoons? Dominic Mulholland

A

The words are mine. What do I think of Matthew Hervey? Terrific!


Q

Hi, I was just wondering what book you are working on now? Brendan

A

I'm working on the follow-up to The Last Kingdom. The book may have the title The Shadow Queen - although that could change.


Q

I was wondering if Susanna Clarke's 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' is your type of reading - it has a magical account of the peninsula war. Becki

A

Haven't read it yet . . but will. Thanks!


Q

For want of something to read recently I turned to the Starbuck Chronicles. I've had them for sometime but because of comments from other readers wanting more I had put off starting them. Well they were brilliant, the battle scenes up there with the best you have written. So Mr C get on with some more PLEEEASE. Also I noticed in The Bloody Ground a mention of one General Hooker of whom I once read some trivia. General Hooker used to cart around on campaign a wagonload of shall we call them 'Loose women'. Whenever anyone asked who these women were the troops replied 'They're Hookers' hence the term came to the American language. Not sure how much truth there is in it but it's a good story. Speaking of language I couldn't but notice the American spelling in the Starbuck books. Does the language differ depending about what you have written (Sharpe, Archer Arthur etc were all in UK English) or was the bookstore I got them from ill supplied? Do you write being based in America in US or UK English and you rely on the publishers to supply the correct version to wherever? Congratulations on the award in Canada I agree you are too young for a lifetime award, much too much living and writing to do (Starbuck for instance). A Knighthood at least would be much better and much more merited than some who have had them. Changing the subject completely do you see England reviving under Captain Wilkinson? Now there's a name for a character and he must have a razor edge to his sword. Regards as ever Nigel James

A

General Hooker - It is a great story, and if only it were true! But the first mention of 'hooker' in print dates from 1845 - and in Bartlett's American dictionary (1859) hooker is defined as 'a resident of the Hook, ie a strumpet, a sailor's trull'. The 'Hook' was Corlear's Hook in New York - and alas, our Hooker came later! But still a good story.

You will find that the spelling of words in my books are often Americanised by the US publishers.

Thank you! But Toronto was probably more fun than a knighthood - I recommend the Texas Lone Star bar on Front Street.

As for Captain Wilkinson? I live in hope, but lament Martin Johnson's retirement (for US and other disadvantaged readers, we are talking about England's rugby team).