Your Questions

Dear Mr. Cornwell, First of all, allow me to wish you a very happy (and productive!) new year. You've made my 2003 enjoyable due to my discovery of your books and your terrific web site, and I'm looking forward to more great reads! I took a little detour from Sharpe to read Redcoat. Enjoyed it very much. It's very different from the Sharpe books in that it focuses more on relationships than battle. Sharpe's Revenge does, too, and I think so far that's my favorite Sharpe book. I'm still loving the Image gallery; I wonder when you'll add to it?? Also, in some of your books you've mentioned other texts from which you've gleaned information, and I was wondering if you could put a bibliography of sorts on the website for those of us who want to read more about the history of India, for instance, but don't know where to begin. It seems that whenever I write to you I ask you for something! I hope you don't find me too annoying! Thanks so much for your time. Carol Okano

Thanks a lot for clearing up my confusion in respect to Sharpe returning to Wapping. I have one more question for you, what ever happend to Angel from Sharpe's Honour. or is one of those Situations where I'll be forced to use my imagination? thanks a lot - Chris Horgan

I am a big fan of your Arthur trilogy and the Grail Quest Series. I was wondering if you are planning to write novels about World War II? If not, I was wondering what other story plot ideas you had in mind? Matt

Dear Mr Cornwell First of all I would like to thank you for making my Dad's Christmas. I bought both Sharpe's Skirmish and Sharpe's Christmas via the Sharpe Appreciation Society. He had no idea that these books existed (not having access to the Internet), so it was a wonderful surprise, especially since you had taken the trouble to sign them both. I am now waiting to see him again so that I can read them myself! I am writing to ask whether there are any plans to release Sharpe's War on DVD. Dad did record it for me, but neither of our video recorders were up to the task of watching it! Both are older than Sharpe I think. It would make a wonderful Father's day present for him, not to mention a "to me from me pressie" Looking forward to reading the rest of Sharpe's Escape. Any plans to come back to Lincoln to publicise this? Yours Helen Heywood Friends of Lincoln Castle Longbow Group

read all your non-Sharpe books - now on #9 in Sharpe series - reading in chronological order which raised this question: the first books published dealt with the penisular campaign but in those books there were references to Sharpe's adventures in India and Denmark - had you planned to go back in time with now published stories and planted those details or was this just background material that later developed into those earlier stories? Rob Rose

Mr. Cornwell, I purchased Sharpe's Eagle when it was first published in 1981. I have since collected, and loved, every one of your historical novels as soon as they were available. However, whenever I look at my "Cornwell" shelves I am annoyed by the paperpack edition of Sharpe's Tigers. I think it is one of the best of the Sharpe's novels, but it apparently was never released in a hardbound edition in the US. So it sits among my First Editions looking like a poor relative. Why did this happen? Or am I wrong and a hardbound edition escaped my notice? Gregg Singer

Just got back off my holidays, where I read Vagabond and The Gallows Thief back to back. They are both up to your usual high standards. Only you and David Gemmel seem to be able to acually make my heart race when I read one of your action scenes. I think the Gallows Thief would make a great Sunday night TV period crime drama which could give Poirot, Cadfeal and even Sherlock a run for thier money. Have you plans to write further adventures for the Gallows Thief? Wayne Jones

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I've just started reading your "Sharpe" series and am finding them most enjoyable and informative. Since I never studied any history at school, I've found it extremely enjoyable ever since and the Napoleonic Wars occupied me as a reader and occasional wargamer in my twenties. I enjoy your mixture of education and entertainment. After so many books, details may escape you, but is rifleman Matthew Dodds (Sharpe's Havoc) the same who did so well when separated from his company in C.S.Forester's novel? I hope so, it would be a pretty compliment to Hornblower's creator. Thanks again for your work. John Clark, Dunedin, New Zealand.

"Says So in the Scriptures"!!! I love this line, it make Hawkswill so real. What was your inspiration & more importantly, what are these scriptures he keeps talking about? They seem to contain a whole lot of useful information. Regards Michael

Sir, The Scholars Bookshelf, a mail order bookstore, advertises "Sharpes Charge" "In the fall of 1810 Richard Sharpe finds himself in the thick of the battle of Bussaco, the sack of Coimbra, and on the lines of Torres Vedras in a climactic battle. 2003:320 pages. (HarperCollins)" Now, Sharpe has charged aplenty in your books, but not (so far) in your titles. I can find no trace of this title at Amazon or on your web site. What gives? In regards to your titles, while they are eye catching and as harsh as that machete on steroids you have Sharpe lub around on his sword belt, I often think they could be improved. As a history teacher and retired Marine (Master Sergeant, 1973-95) I occasionally fantasize about some titles for Sharpe books which would truly reflect the grim realities of war: "Sharpe Hurrys Up and Waits" "Sharpe Stands in Line" and one which I think has real possibilities, "Sharpes Murphy - Sharpe in the Campaign Where Nothing Went Right" Feel free to use them, I promise not to sue. Sincerely, Shawn Scanlon