Your Questions

Is there any chance of you writing anymore books about King Arthur? I have read almost all of your published works and feel that the Warlord trilogy is by far your greatest work. Ryan Henson

PLEASE tell me in which book Richard Sharpe marries Jane? I know the book in which they met. The next I read, they are already married. Surely, with all the romantic liasons Sharpe has had, you would have at least devoted a chapter of his marriage in some book. I love them all, by the way, and admire your thorough knowledge of the period. I am going crazy, tho, with your filling in periods that happened beforehand while Sharpe has gone on with his career, life, battles, etc. I am not helped by copyright date as a result, nor can I find any summary in such descriptive lists as Novelist. Help! Please.Thanks, P.Oliver

Dear Bernie! (No offence) I have read your books from an early age, I think Sharpes rifles was the first book I ever read apart from Rhoald Dahl, and as a consequence have enjoyed everyone more than once. Utterly dissappointed with the recent Arthur film and that is probably to do with the high expectations I have for such an enterprise after reading your incredible Warlord Series. Sorry to ramble, I have a couple of questions, I apologise for any repetitions but am a newcomer to your website. 1) What is the correct pronunciation of Ceinwyn, it's a name which seems mythically wonderful to me. No kids yet though. 2) Lord Rossendale? Being born in this wonderful valley (where just for another twist Sharpes Regiment was filmed, not in Yorkshire) just wondering where the name came from? Cheers for the books. Who would play your Arthur if your books were ever filmed? I would love to see Guinevere played by Nicole Kidman! Ben Fortune

Hi Bernard I just got done reading an old copy of Wildtrack - and I loved it! I also loved A Crowning Mercy and I am looking forward to the french revolution companion piece. Any chance of rereleasing more sailing mysteries? One theme that I detect throughout your work is that lawyers and priests lurk in the slimey corners of life. I love it when you depict a scheming lawyer or cardinal. I am constantly reminded of Nietzsche when I read your work. I am also fascinated about the way that religion enters into your characters lives. Derfel worships Mithras, a god that understands the ways of warriors. Campion finds a god that understands love and tolerance. Starbuck is haunted by the religion of his father, but he seems to have instinctively replaced religion with the way of the warrior. Sharpe is not haunted, he is an orphan, like most of your characters, and he couldn't give a rat's ass for religion. But I think that he would enjoy the worship of Mithras. Would you say that your work is about trying to find humane ways of being and living that celebrate warrior virtues? If that is close o the mark, what experiences or books inspired you to think this way? I like philosophy so I tend to think that way when I read books that engage me as all of yours have, many times over. James

Dear Mister Cornwell, I just saw the final episode of "Sharpe's War". Very good programme. I see that you will be starting upon another Sharpe novel and possibly more. Will his father's identification be revealed? I just want to ask you this question: In Sharpe's Rifles when Sharpe finally speaks to Harper, Sharpe claims he did not want to be a Sergeant and hated the life and people but in Tiger he asks General Baird for the promotion in return for escorting William Lawford to Seringapatam to save McCandless. Was this an error or possibly a white lie by Sharpe to win Harper over? I also noticed that the French invasion of Ireland on August 22nd 1798 is also an unknown topic in military history. It brought great morale to the broken and scattered pikemen of the rebel forces to hear that the second attempt was successful and that the French had pushed the garrisoned yeomenry from Connaught. The first being the disastrous Bantry Bay mission under Admiral Hoche in December 1796. It is also unknown that a French landing occured in Tory Island off Donegal's rocky coast in September of 98 just as General Humbert and his men had been surrounded by the forces of General Charles Cornwallis at the Battle of Ballanahinch. This invasion didn't even take off and the force returned to Brest port. In October 1798 the famous Irish martyr Theobald Wolfe Tone the founder of modern Irish Republicism which sprouted from the French uprising of 1789 also led an invasion force into Lough Swilly near Derry but was intercepted by the Royal Navy and Tone was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle where he committed suicide. Did you also know that Sir John Moore of the retreat of Corunna (Rifles) was a Brigidier-General for the British Forces during the Wexford Uprising of May-July 1798. He retook the town of Wexford and defeated the rebels at Foulkesmill's only five miles from where Jfk's ancestors came from. Moore was known to the Irish as the soundest man of the lot. He let the rebels split after Vinegar hill and did not believe in strict persecution against the Irish unlike General Gerard Lake. You should look more into 1798. It is an interesting period of Ireland's first civil War and it would be a privelage to read a book about our proud rising with your name on the front. Trust me, that era is in the heart of every Wexford man woman and child still and a project like that has never been done before. You should fulfill our dream and truelly make a masterpiece about the war that cost 35000 casualties in those summer months. Another question is about Girdwood from Regiment. He states that he was ambushed in a bog in Ireland. Would that ambush relate to our 'Glorious but unsuccessful uprising' He states he was a young officer at the time? If you would like to read more about 1798 in Ireland you should read Thomas Packenham's Year of Liberty and Daniel Gahan "1798 in Wexford" It is interesting. It would cause no difficulties especially in Ireland's current peace movement. It seems your books are not entirely biased and that is not harmful. Thanks a million. Colum O'Rourke. Erin go breagh.

Dear Sir, I just read somewhere else on your site that you are planning on writing more Sharpe books. I was just wondering if any of these books will slot between "Eagle" and "Gold"? I enjoy all of your work and look forward to each new addition. I am also interested to know if there are any ideas for stories about the British and French in North America (War of 1812, Plains of Abraham etc.). Thank you so much for your time and your writing. Lindsay Parry Ontario, Canada

Hello Again Mr C I was recently reading an article on the BBC website about Sir James McGrigor, Wellington's surgeon General. As he served so long with the great man, and you include so many historical figures I was wondering why I'd never seen him mentioned in any of your books? (Especially as Sharpe gets mashed up so much) and he seems such a colourful character. The web page I saw quotes Wellington as saying "He couldn't have won Vitoria without him." because he set up hospitals that allowed troops to be brought back to their regiments. Do you know of this great man and his efforts and will he appear in any future stories? Nigel James

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have greatly enjoyed you novels. I began with the Arthur books, then moved on to Starbuck and am now about halfway through the Sharpe series. All of them first rate! I have two questions regarding the Starbuck chronicles. 1) why did you decide to have your main character fight for the confederacy? 2) Do you have plans for Starbuck to leave the Confederate army and join the Union? Steven L. Hall

Just finished Enemy of God. Great yarn! Thanks. Did you ever read Norma Goodrich's history of King Arthur? She proposed that Camelot was a contraction of Caer Mallot (meaning something like Castle of the Hammer, the Hammer being Arthur) and put Arthur in Carlisle. I rather liked how she declared Lancelot a Scottish prince whose name was actually Angus (there was even a complicated lingustic proof showing how the one became the other). I still have Excalibur left to read but then I must wait months for the Last Kingdom. David Neill

Dear Bernard In response to the query about Fitzgibbon and the bloody boys I can recommend the book Veteran of 1812 the Life of James Fitzgibbon by Mary Fitzgibbon. His is slightly similar to a mix of Sharpe and Harper. Self taught Irishman who wanted to be an officer and like Shapre with Wellington he had Brock as his patron.######## In regards to your mention of Shapre and that he might get to the east coast. Do you know of any good recommendations about those campaigns since sadly most British historys merely concentrate on Wellingtons battles. btw does that mean Sharpe might be at the actions of Sangutum and Valencay and Castalla against Suchet. It was always a great what if for me on whether he would have done as good against Wellington as opposed to Blake. And can you give a clue on what the next Sharpe book will be set around (Albuera????) #################### In regards to Starbuck like others I got excited at the thought of Stabuck going west and to tempt you even further Six Armies in Tennesse The Chickamauga and Chattanooga campaigns by Steven E Woodworth and Decsision in the West Campaign of 1864 by Albert Castel. There have been (in both fact and fiction) so many volumes about the Eastern fighting I was wondering if will we see Starbuck instead not with Grant and Lee but with Sherman/Johnston dance of death in Georgia. Geraint