Your Questions

Dear Mr.Cornwell, I have been in touch with you before but felt I had to thank you (and Mrs.Cornwell may I add!) for the wonderful book A Crowning Mercy. I have read many of your books and enjoyed them very much. I found this book very refreshing and found it very hard not to sneak off to the loo at work every two hours when the boss wasn't looking to try and finish another chapter. One thing I would like to ask you is how familiar you are with Dorset? I've lived in Wimborne Minster all my life and it seems that Dorset pops up in many of your novels. What about a novel about Jack the Ripper? One of the three main suspects being buried in Wimborne Minster grounds, or the nearby village of Horton where the Duke of Monmouth was caught hiding in a ditch by Militiamen with the seal of England? Or Knowlton Church and earthworks, by far the creepiest place I know. In the meantime many thanks again for so many hours of enjoyment that your books have given me. (Please don't bin Thomas of Hookton!) Regards David A Wimborne, Dorset

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Since my friends live in Wapping, I go there often, and I was surprised (and pleased!) to see that Brewhouse Lane is a real place, as are the other streets mentioned in 'Prey' I think that Sharpe would be somewhat surprised to see Wapping today! My question is, did you simply use an A to Z for the names, or did you visit Wapping as well? There are some really old pubs which existed when Sharpe was meant to have lived there, and for me it gives 'Prey' extra colour and atmosphere. I am glad that there is to be more Sharpe written. Is there any chance of a full-length film? Yours, Robin Armstrong

Thanks for many hours of self indulgence when I should have been engaged in DIY or some other mindless task. I have a question. Is Sir Guillaume's moated castle and Sharpe's idylic French mill/farm one and the same? Gary Waywell

Mr. Cornwell, I am humbled by the fact that you acknowledged my e-mail to you, some months ago, by putting it in your website. I am in the midst of new energy, I have been reading most of your other books besides the Sharpe novels. The Arther trilogy, Stonehenge, Gallows Thief, and my favorite the Grail Quest series. Some years ago, I saw you on the history channel doing a commentative of the Sharpe movies. You struck me as a hell of a nice guy with no heightened ego from his talent and fame. That pleases me. I have spent alot of money on you over the years, I would hate to hear that you were actually an unpleasent person. The gentleman who conducted an interview of you on that show I felt was very disrespectful to you. It was like he didn't know what to say to you so he just started talking out his bum. I hope that experience has not embittered you in any way to doing further televised interviews if such an occasion should arise in the future. With all that said, I have a few questions to ask you if I may. Will you be doing any book tours that might possibly take you to Kentucky or the adjacent states? I would love to meet you personally and have you sign a few hardbacks for me. Is the Grail Quest series going to be long running? I love the adventures of Thomas of Hookton, and I feel a personal connection to him. Will you be writing any books with the vikings, the celts, scottish highlanders or the Roman army in Britain as the main focal point? I believe that's all I've right now, I'm aware that I have written so much already, I will understand if you choose not to put all of it on your site. Until next time, thank you for time sir. Peace and love. Barry W. Harshfield Jr.

Hey Mr. Cornwell I'd like to say how wonderful I think your Sharpe series is. Obviously some books are better then others but all are consistently fantastic. I loved the Sharpe television series when I was a kid too. I was just wondering who your own favourite author is? Also if you got stuck on a desert island with just one book, what book would that be? Did you ever think Sharpe would have so much success? I myself now live in the States and I saw you on a news program a few days back (regarding the QE2) and you was referred to as "one of Britain's best authors", did you ever think you would be thought of so highly when starting out? Steve Jones

Dear Mr Cornwell, Sharpe is an addiction in this family across three generations - my father put me on to them, and my 11 year old son is a big fan of the films, and will graduate to the novels soon. I also liked the Grail quest series a lot, and thought the 18th century thief taker novel especially fine as well. My son wonders whether, as you seek new adventures and horizons for Sharpe and Harper, you had considered sending them to the US to take part in the Battle of New Orleans? The Rifles were there, and if you haven't visited the site at Chamarette (sp?), you certainly should. A particularly interesting action, and it would be interesting to see how Sharpe dealt with a defeat to British arms (which I suppose Copenhagen was in one sense, but not in another). I know authors hate comparisons (I'm an historian), but have you read Allan Mallinson's stuff? I think his first Hervey novel, with Waterloo as the centre piece, was particularly good, not least because the light cavalry in an unusual perspective from which to view the battle. Thanks for your time. (Dr) Jeffrey Grey Professor of History Australian Defence Force Academy

Hello. Thanks for the Sharpe series - they've displaced Hornblower as my favourite "rereading in the loo 'till I get pins and needles" books. I'm looking forward to "Escape", (I prefer paperbacks, so it may be a while). Like many others, I'd love to see a sequel (or even a prequel, perhaps) to Gallows Thief. I've got it on tape, which is excellent - a TV adaptation would be marvellous, as long as Carlton weren't involved. I've only seen positive reaction to the series, but I'm not impressed so far, having just bought the DVD set and watched Sharpe's Eagle. I noticed you don't watch TV (nor do I, on the whole - the DVDs were an excuse to be more sociable, as I tend to hide upstairs when the telly is on!), but have you seen the Carlton stuff, and what do you think (I guess you may have to be circumspect if you didn't like them)? Thanks again. Graham Nicholls

First edition hardback copies of Sharpes Sword are way beyond my budget. The high prices are usually blamed on a low print run (500). I wondered why the run was so small? Yours Andrew McLaren

Hello, Mr. Cornwell, We met a couple of times at the Sharpe convention. I have never joined a fan club in my teens because I thought no one was really worth such adoration. Well things have changed since I was made to read a Sharpe book. I am addicted! I have always written stories starting with children's tales and gone on to older audiences (I wrote for my children) but I have never had the courage or conviction to get them published. However, my question: How do you keep track of all your "players'" characters and idiosynchrasies? Do you keep a journal? (I have tried this and still made mistakes three books later). Do your proof readers pick up any mistakes? And has it happen you had to rewrite parts of your books because of it? Keep writing, PLEASE! Your insights are fantastic. Thank you for your books and your time! Susanne Young-Hotz

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have been a great fan of yours since seeing the Sharpe TV series, which lead me onto the books, although when I read them I can't help but picture Sean Bean, not a dark haired, scarred Londoner. I have read all your books, except the Starbucks, which I hope to read soon. My favourite are the Warlord trilogy. My first question is about the Arthur film that is to be released later this year, which has been billed as a more 'factual' version than previous renditions. Is this based in anyway on your books? My second question is about the grail quest. Hookton is described as south of dorchester, which currently, is the town of weymouth. Although Hookton was destroyed, at the end of Heretic, thomas returns there at the time the black death is in europe. Historically, the black death was first in england 1348, melcombe regis, a borough of weymouth. Are you implying that Thomas was responsable for the black death in england. Am also looking forward to the new sharpe, will there be anymore? Rgds, Paul Childs