Your Questions

I very much enjoyed reading 'Sharpe's Escape' especially as I had only recently read an article about Bussaco. Will Sir Henry reappear at any time? I find him a brilliant character and hope that he will have more downfalls caused by Sharpe. Looking forward to the next Sharpe adventure. Please keep up the good work. It is nice that History can come alive. Regards Raymond Oswin

I was given Sharpes Thriumph as a gift about 6 years ago ( I think). I read it 3 years ago and haven't stopped reading Sharpes since. I have read them all and viewed all the DVDs. Damn entertaining to read and watch. I appreciate your work. I would get lost from my troubles when I read your series, (you write that well)...thank you. I was in England last summer and I tried to find a baker rifle at the Imperial War museum and the Coldstream Guards Museum but I didn't find one to look at. Any ideas on where I might see one? Meanwhile, I am feeling better...fewer troubles really. Write more! P.S. my girlfriend wants me say that she is also amazed at your story telling with the Sharpe series, the historical aspects are very informative and interesting. (I agree). Garry W. Clements, SFC USA (Ret)

Mr. Cornwell, If you had to pick a single one-volume biography of Wellington to recommend to a reader for background, whose would it be? Glenn F. Rodgers

Dear Bernard, thanks for the Viking reccomendation I'll be sure to look for it in the Library. Also you do you think one day you might do more books from the British perspective like say the Siege of Quebec which involved some of the top commanders like Carleton (Some believe him to be the best on the British, side would you agree????) for the British and Arnold and Morgan for the US. btw Another 2 arguments to persuade you to get Sharpe to Lundy's Lane. Sharpe is meant to be a Rifleman best of the best. But he has never fought another Rifleman, stupidly the French decided not to use them but the US did. Surely not having him fight one would, to use sports parallel, be like Lewies claiming to be the best but refusing to fight Tyson. Surely Shapre could get there If only to prove he was the best of the best. Also O'Brien managed to get Aubery over there several times surely Sharpe could do it just once even if he decides never to go back!! Thanks and good luck with the new book. Geraint

Dear Sir, Thank you for writing such entertaining books. I love the Sharpe series. I'm watching it on DVD and am now reading the first of the series as well. I do have one question. Please forgive me if you've answered this already, but I cannot find the question on your site: We are watching the series in order, supposedly. We watched Sharpe's Sword last week where Sir Henry Simmerson was killed by the Catholic priest/spy. But yesterday I watched Sharpe's Regiment and there was Simmerson again, big as life. I looked it up on a couple of sites and this seems to be the correct order, but they didn't explain why Sir Henry is suddenly alive again. Did I miss something? Thanks again for sharing your talent with the world. Most Sincerely, Dawn DeSelms

Sharpe's Father? No one your readers know, but you will one day. WHO??!!! WHEN???!!!! WHICH BOOK????!!!!! Christopher

Between Vagabond and Heretic you left out a very beguiling lady accompaning Thomas. She a key player at the end of Vagabond and disappeared in Heretic. What happened? What were you thinking? Winston L. Duke, Esq.

In Sharpe's Tiger, Triumph And Fortress they often use different ranks in the Indian army. I don´t remember all the words but maybe you do. What do the ranks equal in european form i.e. Jemadar (the rank of Dodd's man GOPAL)=? Hope you will find time for me seeing as you have alredy answered a ton of questions of mine, which leads me onto another question: Does it ever become tiring to answer questions? Last question, Do you ever find it boring to write a book and how do you get the ideas? I am trying to write a book but every time I think of something my head goes " That is a great Idea!!!!! that's probably why it has been used". Last time I wrote a story for school it ended up very much like the movie MASTER AND COMMANDER and of course HORNBLOWER. Sincerely Christopher

Dear Mr. Cornwell, last Saturday I finished 'Sharpe's Triumph' and I must say that it's one of the best books I've ever read. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read the previous book as well as the next ones. My parents, relatives and friends thank you: they won't have any trouble finding the perfect Christmas/birthday gift for me for at least three or four years. I was wondering, have you ever heard of fanfictions? In case you have not, I'll explain what they are: as their name suggest, they're stories written by the fans of a book/movie/videogame/comic/TV show/whatever using the characters and settings of said book/movie/etc. They are tolerated since no one is getting paid, but writes for fun, and obviously everybody knows that the fanfiction writer does not own anything except the plot and occasionally one or more original characters that cover various roles from co-protagonist to simple extra. Anyway, I was wondering what do you think of them, since some authors are openly against them. Sometimes, when I run into some horrible fiction where the characters are badly mistreated, I can almost see their point, but then I remember that there are also wonderful stories that are only waiting to be found and read. I wish to know your opinion and, if you had never heard of fanfiction before, I hope that now you won't ask to your reader not to write them (some authors did). I'm sorry if I've made some mistakes here and there, but English is not my native tongue: in fact, I am Italian and I live in Turin. Best wishes Laura

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for answering my last inquiry. I have another quick question about The Warlord Chronicles. I was reading up on the "history" of each of the Knights of the Round Table and noticed a similarity between Derfel and Bedivere. Bedivere only had one hand and, so they say, threw Excalibur back to the Lady of the Lake after Arthur's "death". Derfel, in the end, only has one hand and throws Excalibur into the water so Nimue can't get it. Was this done on purpose or purely coincidental? Thanks again. Regards, Elizabeth