Your Questions

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

Heard your story of your extraordinary childhood on Desert Island Discs. Liked the quote "Childhood is a trap and growing up is learning the nature of the trap." I'd like to use it but missed the source. Was it your own or someone else? If so, who? Thanks for your help. Derrick Shelf

I have only just started reading your Sharpe series - a fantastic set of books. Reading them has made me interested in the historical details, do you have any intention of adding a glossary to this web site and instructing us what a sap fork, counter scarp, bricole, etc are? Or could you recommend a book, some kind of Napoleonic encyclopedia? or both? thank you. Gabriel Byng

Do you think you will ever write a series about the Crusades? Peter Mozsi

Dear Bernard, I've just finished reading the Sharp series (in chronological order) and wish to thank you for giving me back the joy of reading. I didn't think that I'd find a series so long so gripping, I had read the excellent Thomas of Hookton Grail series and wasn't really interested in the Napoleonic era. Well you soon changed that perception, so thankyou. I've also read Gallows thief and wish to ask if we shall read anymore of the adventures of Rider Sandman and Co, as that was too good a story for it to have been a one off surely?. Also, will Sharp be returning to India in the 1830's for he will only be in his late forties /early fifties and Harper about the same? (I think there was an incursion into India during that time or it may have been a little later?). The only thing left for me now is to polish off the Starbuck chronicals and the Arthur books and I'll be back in the dulldrums. Or will I.

Hi I love your books particularly the Grail quest and I can't wait for the Last Kingdom, but one small complaint (and I know its very anorakky) but I hate it when the publishers chang the style of the spines on the dust jackets during a series of books, do you have any input? Arthur Hurn

I recently discovered the Sharpe Books and have been consuming them at a rapid pace. I dread the day I finish, however when will Sharpe's Escape be released on paper back? Why the change to hardback? Boris

Sir, I after enjoying your sailing books (will there be any more?) I picked up Rebel and on page 200 of the Harper paperbook you mention doctor from Vermont named Wesselhoeft who Adam Faulconer knew and I wondered where you got the name. My great grandfather was Wiliam Fessenden Wesselhoeft, who married Emily Bradley in 1887 and my wife wears Emily's engagement ring and it may have been worn by grandpa's mother who perhaps may have been married to the Wessesshoeft mentioned in your book. My great grand pa practiced medicine on Commonwealth Drive in Boston and had a farm in Jaffery NH (the farm is still in the family). My grand mother was his daughter. I would love any information you uncovered as Wesselhoeft is an uncommon name here but in Germany not so uncommon. Thanks for any help and it sure woke me up in my reading of Rebel. Thank you. Sincerely, Peter Allen

Are the dvd's of the Sharpe series to be watched in the same order of your books or are they to be watched in the order that comes in the set? Thank you. Zeke Westbrook

Dear Mister Cornwell sir, after reading your entire Sharpe collection including the short stories, and sending an application to the S.A.S, I am thrilled to be writing to you. Like Harper, I am an Irishman and proud to say you are an exquisite writer. I do wonder if a book will come out in years to come describing the life of Sharpe before India when he was a lad of sixteen in Flanders. That would be interesting. Another question I'd like to ask you would be, would Sharpe's Devil be made into film. Sean Bean would be the perfect age and no other actor could fill Sharpe's boots.
Thanks a million
Slan go Foill, god save Ireland
Colum O'Rourke

Throughtout your excellent series of books (please bring back Starbuck) I see a common underlining of religion (I'm maybe wrong). Is this because you believe reilgion is a) one driving force behind the conflicts you write about, b) or do you use it because you believe for the time period you write about religion was integrel to people of that time, C) or is it because in a time of fear (battle) you see people revert back to religion for confort or strength? Finally have you ever thought of writing about contempory military conflicts or do you have no real interest in that area? Thanks for the brillant books and hope this question doesn't interrupt you from your excellent writing. ( hope to see Starbuck soon fingers crossed). Wilfred