Your Questions

Dear Bernard First off all let me say I have read Fallen Angels and enjoyed it immensly and look foward to the Last Kingdom. In regards to Sharpe in Comapny he recalls the first 2 failed seiges of Badajoz. Will there be a Sharpe book (as well as the legendary batlle of Albuera) about them. Combined with the actions of Sangutum and Valecia at the end of the year 1811 (Could Sharpe get there too??) does seem to be the most bitter and close year of the Peninsular war. Or is that an exaggeration??? Also I was always curious of what the Spanish and Portugese guerillas thought of each other particuarly when it was the Spanish who invited initially the french to fight the Portugese? BTW I can reccomend Adam Zayamoskis new book on the 1812 campaign in Russia as well as David Gemmells books Ghost King and Last Sword of Power as a enjoyable read and take on the Arthur Legend P.S please let me thank Alan for the reccomendation on the flanders campaign. Still no luck on trying to find it though. Geriant

Sir, A second question from here. I recall in "Waterloo" it was told that Sweet William was sent to America. My question is, did he stay with the 60th and go to Canada or was he transfered to the 95th and end up in New Orleans? If the later did he survive? I know that it's irrelivant to the Sharpe stories, maybe, but for my interest it matters. What ever became of Richard's and Teresa's daughter? I know he went to see her after Hakeswell killed her.
Thanks again, M.J.Matusek Weatherford, Ok

Do you know if is it possible in Italy to watch on TV somewhere somehow Sharpes' tv movies? sorry for my poor English, but that's why I'd like to have Italian translated books instead of original ones... ciao Bernard e continua così che sei forte!

Dear Bernard, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm currently writing a bit of a sci-fi story, or at least I was. I'm not expecting it to be published or anything, it's just that I'd really like to finish it. The problem is I've barely started it, and I'm already lacking inspiration to write it. I like my ideas; I'm just finding writing it to be a bit of a bugger. I was wondering if you have any advice on that? I'm still only 18, so maybe I just can't hack it yet. But on a lighter note, I have a few questions. Did you ever receive professional criticism from someone you admired? JK Rowling (my favourite author next to you!) said she had, and it was a big blow. Also did you ever find you needed a specific confidence to write about characters like Wellington who actually existed and may not have done the things they did in your books? All of my Thanks, James Trethowan

Dear Bernard, Recently read two of your 'stand alone' novels in Redcoat and Gallows Thief and have to say they are up there with my favourites. I think I discovered two of your best characters in these books for different reaons. In Redcoat Kit Vane has got be the one of the most loathsome characters you've ever written probably worse than Hakeswill because it seems Hakeswill was just born that way whereas Vane should just know better. In Gallows Thief of course it has to be Rider Sandman a totally top bloke. I'd like to add my name to the list of people clamouring for another Sandman novel but if this is not possible what are the chances of Sandman making a cameo appearance in A Sharpe novel, no matter how brief. Sandman was at Waterloo and I'm guessing in the army a few years before that so is it a possibility? I think it would be a great idea. Many thanks. Paul

Hi. I am a huge fan of your books. They're great! I haven't read them all, as I haven't had the time. I have only read a few of the Sharpe books (Sharpe's Tiger being my favorite) Harlequin, Stonehenge and the Arthur trilogy. I have noticed that in the latter three, that there is a common occurrence. The main character falls in love with a woman, then something happens to that woman, and the main character finds another woman. Do you do this deliberately, or is it a subconscious thing? Thanks. Ben Owen

Mr Cornwell, I am a Philadelphia Police Officer and have been a constant reader of your work since my early teens. I hold your work in the highest regard along with Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexandre Dumas or Rafael Sabatini (great forwards to the new editions of his books by the way!). You have more ways to describe the loading and firing of a musket or rifle than an eskimo has words for "ice"! Thank you so much for all the great stories you have written; hopefully you have many more to share- I just can't wait for The Last Kingdom. As an aspiring (read: unpublished) writer your courage to simply tell entertaining stories without regard for what the Literary Establishment thinks is deeply inspiring to me. The few words you have written about composing novels have been invaluable. Any new thought? You set a very high standard, hopefully, there is a place for me in the genre of historical adventure fiction. Speaking of R.L. Stevenson, have you ever read his book The Black Arrow? I ask because while re-reading it recently; I was slightly reminded of your Thomas of Hookton series. Did RLS inspire you too write at all? Have you ever thought about writing in the period that book covers? Thanks Again, Keep Up The Great Work! -R.Kulb

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I found Harlequin by chance in Finland three years ago and loved it. They are rarely in book stores here in Finland. Then in the Summer of 2003 I found the sequence when vacationing in Dublin and the I just had to go to Amazon to start ordering your books and have read many after that. I'm now reading the Sharpe series, real page-turners and am happy that I have found this series so late, that I have been able to read them in chronological order, even Sharpe's Escape. I have a comment: I'm wondering about the lines of Torres Vedra. How could they be built so they stayed a secret for the French with all their spies. They must have had a lot of sympathizers in Lisbon, who could have let the French now. If 10.000 people worked a year on this project it is very unlikely that news of it would not have reached the other side. Or perhaps the French thought it to be just a couple of towers as Major Ferreira says in Sharpe's Escape. Bad evaluation of incoming information. Keep on writing and I'll keep on reading. Regards, Kimmo Stjärnstedt

I´m the biggest fan of yours here in Brazil. I like your books very much and how you describe that time, the wars and the passions of that time. For me you are a perfect author ... Congratulations for your books because they are perfect and I hope you can write forever, with the same love that you use in your books. I want to know what you think about king Arthur´s movie? Paola

Hi, I'm a big fan of your books, especially the Arthur series. I would like to ask you what do you think about the film just released. Many things are different and I don't know if they have distorted all the story to make the film or if there is something true in it. Thank you for your time. Stefano

Hi, Just wondered if you had ever considered giving permission for a computer game based on the Sharpe series? I would certainly like to follow in Sharpe's footsteps through the Napoleonic wars. Could any of the other people reading this column recommend any PC games based on the Napoleonic wars? Many thanks for the hours of enjoyment, Neil