Your Questions

Q

Mr. Cornwell, 1. I don't know whether you have seen any of the 'Lord of the Rings' films (though someone probably told you about Sean Bean's sneaky reference to Sharpe in the first film :-) Both the second ('The Two Towers') and third ('The Return of the King') feature a scene in which a cavalry charge breaks through tightly-packed infantry with lances something which the Sharpe books have emphasized is impossible. The movies offer some limited explanation: the bad guys fail to hold their lances steady when the sun shines in their eyes, or simply out of nervousness. Is this plausible? Under what circumstances, if any, can cavalry overrun prepared infantry, aside from: a) troops being in line; b) troops panicking and fleeing, as the Spanish did in 'Sharpe's Eagle'; or c) a freak incident like the one at Garcia Alba described in 'Sharpe's Sword'? 2. It is established that Sgt. Deron (aka Marshall Pot-Au-Feu) was a historical figure, who led the army of deserters. But was he really Marshall Soult's cook at Oporto, or is that an invention? Michael Lee

Submitted April 16, 2004

A

I should think it's pretty well impossible for cavalry to break into properly prepared infantry. It happened at Garcia Hernandez when a horse was killed and slid along the ground and its weight broke open the French square. Horses (I'm told) are reluctant to charge home into formed infantry (they're not idiots), but of course squares did break. If you fill the square with ranks then a horse plainly can't keep going inside - it will eventually be brought to a halt by sheer compression of bodies. When the first Eagles were taken at Waterloo the French were in column, but they must have been breaking apart under the impact of the horses - and a marching column obviously had spaces between the ranks which gave the horses room. Deron was an historical figure, but I assigned him to Marshal Soult - pure invention.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a huge fan of your Sharpe books and have read many of them. I am amazed that the books were not created sequentially. My question: How much of his story did you know or had you fashioned before you began writing the first book? And how important is it to know the whole story if you're writing about merely one year or one period in a character's life? Incidentally I really enjoyed your discourse on that perilous voyage of writing a first novel. I too am interested in writing historical novels. If you could get back to me I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks, Bob

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

It was extremely irritating that the books were not written in sequence - but that's because I wrote the first series, thought it was finished, then along came Sean Bean and the TV programmes, so along came a second series. Sorry about that. I've never had his whole careeer in my head - not till it's written. I don't know what's going to happen in the next chapter, let alone the rest of a book, or the next book. I think you do have to possess an idea of a character's past as you write, but his/her future is what you discover as you go along. At least it is for me.

Q

Dear Bernard, I notice most of your protaganists are misfits in some way, the common officer, the yankee confederate, the saxon briton and now the norse saxon. I think they make great characters and obviously allow for certain social commentary and split loyalties but was wondering if there was any particular reason you have written about so many such characters? Just read Sharpes Escape, another great story, looking forward to the Viking/Saxon novel. Will it be more like Grail or Warlord or completely different? Many Thanks Jeremy

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

I don't know why so many are misfits - but of course they are. Probably because such creatures appeal to me? The next novel (The Last Kingdom) - a bit more like Warlord than anything else, but in truth, to me, it seems unlike either.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, another question from me, so don't worry if you don't have time to answer! I know that you didn't want Harlequin to have a different title in the States, but who came up with the alternative title? Were you asked or did the publisher just make it up? I think I would have been very annoyed if it were the latter! Still, it's the content that counts. Thanks for your time! Rachel

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

If I remember rightly the publisher suggested 'Flight of Arrows' and I baulked at that and, unable to change their mind about changing the title, suggested 'An Archer's Tale' instead. It was, still is, VERY annoying.

Q

Hello! I've just been browsing your reader letters section, so I just wanted to throw my two cents in, begging your pardon. I've been devouring Harlequin every few months since I stumbled across it last year. It's brilliant! Although I regret the fact that you're putting Thomas off the hook, as it were, for some time, it's better than a straight-up abandonment of the story. So you've researched Agincourt already? My pulse quickens, Mr. Cornwell! Just a few questions: did you really find evidence that disreputes the old "blue-faced-celts" story? Were the heretics of Astarac/Cathar actually real? Please excuse my presump-tuousness, I hope you can clear these things up for me. Please never quit Thomas, Mr. Cornwell, because it's the best stuff I've read in years! Now, I'm waiting for softcover Heretic, but I've already read the first chapter. Good to see Bohun again. Too bad about Will Skeat, though... Best regards from BC, Canada- Stuart

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Agincourt is researched - but it's still in the queue - don't know when it will be written. 'Blue-faced Celts' - yes, of course they existed - they dyed themselves with woad, but this is VERY early stuff, and I doubt the habit survived into the first millennium. The Cathar heretics? Very real indeed. I'd recommend The Perfect Heresy by Stephen O'Shea as a good introduction to their sad story - but there are many other books on Catharism.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, "A Crowning Mercy" and "The Fallen Angels" are wonderful books. I've read them so repeatedly that they are literally falling apart. Do you have any plans to writer other novels with female protagonists? Much thanks, Karen

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

After your message, yes! So thank you - I'll think about it.

Q

Dear Bernard, I just want to say I absolutely love your Sharpe series and I have just started reading the new Sharpe's Skirmish, it is just brilliant. I must admit I fell in love with the series through Sean Bean, but on reading the books I fell in love with your writing. But I wanted to ask you if you did a degree at The College of St Marks and St Johns? in Plymouth, Devon (England) as I have seen pictures of you in the college allumni, I am a student there and I could not believe my eyes when I saw it! Because of my love for history and the peninsular war (Sharpe etc) I am now in my second year of a degree in English (language) and history! I hope you keep writing more Sharpe books and maybe persuade Sean to turn some more books in to tv adaptions! :-) Thank you for your time and I can't wait for your next Sharpe book! Kirsty :-)

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Thanks for your message Kirsty. I did, yes, though not in Plymouth - I was at the college when it was on the Kings Road in Chelsea, in the 60's, which to readers of a certain age will only prompt jealousy. Good luck with your studies!

Q

Sir, I was 12 years happy within in "The Housold Cavalry, that was until I was first met "Richard Sharpe". I had never before even contemplated that say the Guards (Foot) could have a better history. But I am now a devoted "Sharpe Man" I have not even looked at the hounours of the 95th in case it does not measure up to what I have seen on screen. I do however have a question. Could you plese tell us how "Sharpe" and "Major Lennox" of the 78th met and how "Sharpe" got his stripes. I do believe that the "India oddessy" would be a great boost to the books in general. Thanks for allowing me to write. Respectfully Yours. Philip Carr

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Thanks for the message! I seem to remember that Sharpe and Lennox don't exactly meet at Assaye, but that Sharpe is aware of the other man. Does that help? And Sharpe gets his stripes as a result of his activities in Sharpe's Tiger.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, thank you for your reply. Where did you think of the name Richard Sharpe and was there a South Essex regiment. Also why did you want to have the 95th rifles in your stories? Joe Barber

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Richard Sharpe was named for one of the greatest of England's rugby players, Richard Sharp, a Cornishman and a god. There was no South Essex regiment - I needed a fictional regiment so I wouldn't be constrained by the real history of a genuine regiment. And the 95th have always appealed to me - they carried a unique weapon which opens up all sorts of narrative possibilities.

Q

Has writing the Warlord series changed your views on the Welsh (celtic) - English relationships?
Robin Trenbath

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Not really - I mean it's all there in the books, and I hope you detect a great sympathy for the Welsh who had the misfortune to lose their land to a much larger aggressor - and it's odd how those tensions still exist over 1500 years later, but a tension best worked out on the rugby pitch.