Your Questions

Q

Dear Sir Bernard (surely only a matter of time??), many thanks for your reply regarding the influence of the series by yourself, just another question, were you offered a cameo?? Also, I read before about how the more you wrote Hakeswill, the more you based him upon Pete Postlethwaite's performance in the series, did you find yourself doing the same with Dan Hagman and John Tams? I find them uncannily similar. Don't stop writing. James Trethowan

Submitted April 24, 2004

A

I wasn't offered a cameo, and I'm glad I wasn't. And yes, John Tams was a great influence - great man!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell I love your books! Especially the grail quest series and the Arthur books. In Harlequin I noticed the many descriptions of the coats of arms of various knights. I am a big fan of Heraldry and would therefore like to ask if you "made up" the coats of arms or if there is a list were you got them from? I have been looking for an image of the coat of arms of Sir Guillaume, because I've been trying to draw it, but I just can't get it right. Thanks a lot for creating such splendid books! I can't wait for some new series! Sincerely Matt D.

Submitted April 24, 2004

A

I made them up - sorry - using sources like the Oxford Book of Heraldry.

Q

I hate to seem ignorant, however I would like to know why Wellington is somtimes called "the Peer" in your Sharpe novels. Don Sawyer

Submitted April 22, 2004

A

You're not ignorant, just curious. It was one of his nicknames. Officers tended to call him 'the Peer', while other ranks preferred 'Nosey'. I should have made it clear.

Q

I have for many years harboured the idea of writing a novel (probably a contemporary political thriller). However, if I were to set it in a foreign country I simply don't have time or funds to go to far away places to do research (as I would still have to work full time). Can I ask, when you first started writing, did you manage to get round this problem without actually visiting places or are there any solutions you can suggest. Also, can I ask, how long would you say it takes to actually complete a novel from conception of the idea to finish, and how much of that is actually spent undertaking research? I suppose the internet is now a vital tool for research. By the way, I only came accross this site today so congratulations on a great site. Thank you in advance, Andrew Rose.

Submitted April 22, 2004

A

I did visit the places I wrote about - and think it's fairly essential to do that. But if you really can't afford to do it then read EVERYTHING about that country - especially travel writing - not just guide books, but literary books that give you a feel for the place. Then rip them off!. How long? Depends. I take about 6 months for a novel, others take longer, and I would avoid the internet like the plague as a research tool unless you are very sure of the qualifications of the people who post the web-page. They used to say that if you gave a million monkeys a typewriter each then, eventually, they'd come up with the works of Shakespeare - in truth they'd come up with the internet. Use books.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I just read the 1st chapter of your upcoming book, The Last Kingdom. Wow. I can't wait until it comes out in October. Will this book be a series? And will you put the thing I believe all fiction books should have, a character list in it? Also, I would just like to say that your Warlord Chronicles has got me thinking about whether I should do Dark Age history in college. Keep up the good work. Lewis.

Submitted April 22, 2004

A

It will be a series, yes. How many? Don't know - at least five probably. Maybe more. A character list? A lot of people found that very offputting in the Arthur books, and there aren't as many characters, so at present the answer is no, but I am putting in a list of places - mainly to make clear the Anglo-Saxon names.

Q

Dear Bernard I had wondered what had happened to the Starbuck Chronicles , and am pleased to see on this site that you have not forgotten them . Can you give any idea of when you intend to continue writing these stories. I have read all of the Sharpe books and have started collecting them in hardback from Sharpes Tiger to the latest , Sharpe's Escape . Will the original Sharpe books be re released in hardback ? If you have any influence with the publishers , could you ask that thay keep the same design on the book edge as this looks so much better on the bookcase. The Arthur books are still the best three novels I have ever read. Keep up the good work and please bring Nathaniel Starbuck out of retirement. Regards Colin

Dear Mr Cornwell, since the summer I have been a great fan of you and your books, which currently stand at 4 Sharpes (Chronoligcally up to Trafalgar) and am half way through the great story of the Grail Quest. Although recent books of the Sharpe series (Havoc and Escape mainly) have the new cover design, and I would like to know if these books would be coming out with the old book design soon, as I know after Sharpe's Prey and Rifles, Havoc is next, and it would be a shame to have two books different looking from the rest. I look forward to reading the Warlord chronicles, which is highly praised on this site, also to Stonehenge and your other titles. Oliver P.S. after looking in to the matter more, it appears the books Rifles through to Company have been designed in a similar fashion to Havoc and Escape.

Why have HarperCollins published the recent Sharpe books in covers which don't match the last editions of the other books in the series? My tidy matching shelf of Sharpe is ruined!!! Edward Misseldine

Submitted April 22, 2004

A

I don't know if the books will be re-released in hardback - I'd like it if they were, and if they are to be re-released then I think they will all have a similar cover design, though probably a new one - which is irritating, I know, but publishers work in mysterious ways their wonders to perform. I'll lobby on your behalf, though! And I'll see what I can do about Starbuck (no promises!).

Q

Mr. Cornwell I just have a quick query: I am a budding writer still in his shell, but very interested to know if you feel that there is a time of day, or type of place, where you feel that you are best able to write your enthralling books!? Thankyou for your time. CG

Submitted April 22, 2004

A

The place is always my 'office' - because that's where the library is - I can't, or don't, write anywhere else. As for time? I find the morning is best - and very early, too, which is odd because I'm not a 'morning person', being grumpy, sour and unapproachable. Probably not an afternoon person either . . . .

Q

Just coming towards the end of Sharpe's Escape and am really enjoying it - thank you! The middle section is terrific, really tense. I am also looking forward to The Last Kingdom which appears to be written in the first person. Do you prefer writing in first person (as you also did in the Warlord Chronicles) or third person? thank you once again, Berj

Submitted April 22, 2004

A

Probably the first person - though there are difficulties - you're trapped in a single point of view, so can't reveal information unknown to the narrator (which can be awkward from plotting). I did find writing The Last Kingdom (in first person) very enjoyable.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell - Bit of a strange question, but one to which I'd love to know the answer. You are one of my favourite writers, as is Ernest Hemingway, and I'd be fascinated to know what your opinions of him and his work are. Obviously you write in a very different genre from Mr Hemingway, but you do share a passion for military history and the ocean, not to mention a journalistic background. Mr Hemingway was well known for his love of adventure stories and I'm sure were he alive he would be a big fan of ones as well crafted and researched as yours. Do you have a similar respect for 'Papa' and his books? Best wishes Bill Lyne

Submitted April 22, 2004

A

I'm a Hemingway fan - though I doubt he'd like my stuff, but who knows? He's a bit out of fashion at the moment, which is a pity, but there are a few of his books that I re-read constantly - especially Death in the Afternoon which is one of my all time favourites.

Q

Dear Bernard, whilst I think that Daragh O'Malley is great as Pat Harper in the TV series of Sharpe, he doesn't seem to be quite the hulk that Harper is in the books. Ween I first started reading Sharpe (many years ago!), I visualised Victor McLaglen as Harper, as he epitomised the big Irishman to me. When you first start writing a book, do you have actors in mind for the characters? (BTW - I did a search on Victor McLaglen before posting this to ensure I spelled his name correctly, and found out that he was actually born in Tunbridge Wells in Kent, and so wasn't actually Irish! Here endeth today's useless piece of information!) Incidentally, I've just finished 'Sharpe's Havoc', and thought it excellent. Thanks for giving me so much enjoyment. David Coates

Submitted April 22, 2004

A

No! Not my job! That belongs to the Director and Producers. I rarely base characters on real persons - actors or otherwise. Victor McLaglen would have been terrific, you're right, but I thought Darragh O'Malley did a wonderful job.