Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I would like to thank you for your wonderful job. You are one of the few people who opened English language for me and made me to love it almost as much as my native language. But here is my question: In Starbuck Chronicles both Lassan and Sergeant Case have done Sevastopol campaign. I know more or less the Russian side of that campaign because I am Russian. Could you suggest for me some good book which can tell me the English side of the story? Or, perhaps you yourself are planning the book about Sevastopol campaign? Respectfully, Alexander D. New York

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

I'm not! And I don't know of a good book - though Terry Brighton's new book The Charge of the Light Brigade, does deal fairly comprehensively with the siege (as well as the battle of Balaclava). That might be a good place to start, and I'm sure his bibliography will provide a good suggestion

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

Submitted October 13, 2004

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

Submitted October 13, 2004

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).

Q

I'm currently hooked on the Grail Quest series. Hsve you ever considered including an overall map for each book? a reference glossary for technical or foreign words? a detailed map for each battle? Bernard Bloom

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

I've considered all the above, and perhaps we should think about the map. I'm rather against a glossary, hoping (against hope perhaps) that the context will explain unfamiliar words (like nakerer).

Q

Bernard, I have read many of your books and I have to say that they are amazing. But I'd like to know if you have read any of the Alain Lausard books by Richard Howard and what you think of them if you had. Keep up the good work!!!! Matthew Booker

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

I haven't read them - so no opinion, alas.

Q

Mr Cornwell: Have read all your books, they are very popular among my Marine friends at Camp Lejeune. I recommend them to my students so they can gain the flavor of history such as what life was like in the Napoleanic era English Army and the days of Arthur. Would suggest perhaps, since you use several terms which are common to a particular era, or a technologism, but now are out of date, have a library page. I am reading The Heretic and cannot find a reference for the word "nakerer." Assume it has something to do with drums, but cannot find an English dictionary reference. You keep writing, I'll keep reading. Ron Bower

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

Nakerer, Obsolescent, a performer upon the naker.
Naker, In English the word seems to have real currency only in the 14th Century. A kettle drum.
Both definitions are from the Oxford English Dictionary. And you got it right without a glossary, well done!

Q

Dear Bernard, I have recently started to buy your books to make myself a collection. Inside your books I am able to see what books comes next. The ones I have so far are the same material and kind of design. I went to buy Sharpe's Rifles (The book after Prey) I found that the front cover was a totally different design and material to how the other books are. I was just wondering why this is? Because my collection looks abit odd with this one odd front cover. If you could answer me it would be great, Many Thanks. Annie

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

The book covers are different based on decisions made by the publishers. Not a helpful reply I know, but there it is!

Q

Hi Bernard, I'm a big fan of your work and also Manchester Utd football club , and as such I've heard that Roy Keane is Alex Ferguson's version of himself on the football pitch. Would you describe Sharpe as Wellington's version of himself on the battlefield? Regards Mark Tate

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

Anything but! Wellington disliked soldiers like Sharpe - first he was up from the ranks ('they all take to drink') and second because he preferred men who quietly did their duty in a steady, unflashy way. Sharpe is not unflashy, but that's what makes him (to me) an interesting foil to Wellington.

Q

Hello Bernard, Thank you for many years of riveting reading and also for being so approachable through this forum. As an Englishman now living in California your stories bring me both enormous pleasure and a few pangs of homesickness! I'm very much looking forward to your latest work. My annual tradition is to read your latest book and then listen to the audio book version. The narrator, Tim Piggot-Smith, has to be the most talented (and multi-accented!) audio performer I have ever heard. If anyone else reading this has not heard his versions of Bernard's books I highly recommend them. It is the perfect combination of great prose and superb performance. They go together like fish and chips! Anyway, as I was perusing Amazon to order your latest I was shocked to see a different narrator for the Last Kingdom. Was Tim unavailable? Will he be back for future books? I do hope so as he has the most extraordinay vocal skills. Other than that, keep up the great work Bernard and I hope you can make it out to the West Coast one of these days. Adam

Submitted October 6, 2004

A

I don't know - the decisions regarding readers for the audio books are up to the publisher!

Q

If filmakers can make a fine movie trilogy from the "Lord of the Rings" books, why not make a better movie trilogy from the Arthur books? Would you approve of this idea if it was proposed to you? Mike Hodge

Submitted October 6, 2004

A

I would - but I suspect it would be too expensive to make.