Your Questions

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/04/17/scans-viking-swords-reveal-slice-norse-culture.html

 

Bernard:

I thought you'd be interested in this article and was not sure if you'd seen it.   Although I can certainly believe these swords may have been more ornamental than battle-worthy, I believe there were also fighting swords in use.  Perhaps, the ornamental swords are the ones that were kept over these many years while the rest were turned into plough-shears and such.  Please keep writing well into your 90s -- so much yet to cover!

As always,

Scott

 

Mr. Cornwell,

 

I’m wondering if you have any combat veterans (specifically any who’ve served in the last few decades) among your friends, family, or acquaintances with whom you discuss battle, war, or fighting in combat?

 

I’ve read dozens of your books (all of the Sharpes, Starbuck, Hookton, & Saxon series). Over the years I’ve often noticed that your writing on being in the heat of battle - the madness, chaos & unbridled violence - effectively transcends historic and cultural barriers. I think that’s quite normal, as the act of fighting in military combat has become about as global and human as partying, sex, music and religion. However, I’ve found that your writing can actually be used to help people today who’re struggling with the process of transitioning from the soldier (or marine) mentality back into civilian life. More specifically, I find that glancing through history at warriors’ accounts (even if fictional) of the violence of battle could provide a feeling of grim but comforting normality to some who, today, I think feel very separated, distant, and misunderstood by a modern, Western culture that’s become (thankfully) so far removed from war.

 

I think exposure to anecdotes from people who’ve felt the terror of combat (regardless of the time in history) can provide a strange comfort base I can only describe as a "warrior ghost support group.” Since WWII or perhaps Vietnam, in the developed world, the population of combat vets walking and working among us has shrunk significantly (which is perhaps a good thing). Although, that’s a cultural shift that may actually make falling back into post-service life quite difficult for those who’ve been exposed to, or acted with, the savagery of battle.

 

So, I’m just curious whether you talk with combat veterans who’ve served in the last few decades, because your writing suggests that you have, even though you’re writing about Agincourt or Badajoz (instead of Ramadi or Marjah). Additionally, have you considered writing a more contemporary war novel, or even a nonfiction piece (perhaps like your excellent accounting of Waterloo) that connects some war / battle-related themes present in all time periods of your writing?

 

I sincerely appreciate your time & consideration in answering these questions, and also for providing some people with a source of empathy, even if unknowingly or unintentionally.

 

Cheers,

 

Q.

 

Post Script: Sorry for being a bit winded, but I thought a little explanation might help make my questions more clear, I’m not much of a writer!.

Hi, Mr. Cornwell,

Did you ever received any complains from Aethelred's descendants for having turned their ancestor into a motherf****ng bastard?

Did you also received same complains coming from the french or from any one of Lancelot's fans, for having turned him into a motherf****ng bastard too?

How did you respond?

I love to hate your bastards, sir! Hakeswill too!

 

Greetings from Brazil

Eilton Ribeiro

I really enjoy reading and re-reading all of you books.  I just finished reading the Starbuck Chronicles series again and noticed that the last line noted that "Starbuck would march again".  I was wondering if you had plans in the near future to add another book to the series?

Tim Maclure

 

When are you going to complete the series?

Jen Walsh

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I cannot describe how much fun your books have brought to me these few years that I've been reading them, and I simply cannot thank my friend enough for introducing me to you. Being on Sharpe book no.14 out of 22, I thought I'd try one of your other series, namely the Starbuck Chronicles.

I was really gripped by the story and the characters, which, if I may be absolutely frank, trump Sharpe in every aspect. However I was quite saddened to hear that 'The Bloody Ground' is in fact the last of the Starbuck books.

I know you probably get this question very often, but are there actually any plans to get back to writing Starbuck? And if there are, do you have any date in mind?

With much love from Croatia,

Kristijan

I often wonder if there is a favorite character you like to write. Do you like Uthred better than Richard? Is Derfel your favorite?

 

Is this different from a character you would like to "be". I mean if you were zapped into some sci-Fi craziness in which you would have to choose one of your characters to be, whom would you choose? What appeals to you most about them?

Steve Fontaine

Sir,

In your notes to the Stonehenge book you say that 4000 years from now archaeologists might falsely conclude that Christianity worshipped a sun god because of the alignment of cathedrals. I'd like to respond that such archaeologists might well be right. I refer you to Mircea Eliade's book 'Patterns in Comparative Religion" which, ironically I think, carries the Pope's imprimature. The argument is that religions evolved along with the Indo-European languages that expressed them. Religious ideas were carried from place to place where old ideas were changed to fit circumstances, just as Abraham brought tales if the Flood from Babylonia.

Best Wishes,

Robbie Collins

Dear Bernard,

 

Thank you for your many books, I've enjoyed them all.  Is there any possibility of a story of Sharpe and the 95th at New Orleans?

 

Thanks again,

Logan Delp

I don't Suppose we might all be lucky enough to have you include the figure of Harold Hardrada in any future books? Have you ever thought of Writing the Battle of Stamford Bridge?

What a Battle!!!!

Steve

Dear Bernard,

 

I am a great fan of Sharpe, Uthred, Arthur and all the others, most of which I have read more than once.

I found Waterloo  really helped with my understanding of the battle, after having read various other books on the subject, and wonder if you had thought of treating Trafalgar in a similar way ?

All the best, keep going!

Chris

Hello There,

 

I will start in a (I suspect) very unoriginal way, and say - "Big Fan" (I love your books), my favourite series being the Warlord Chronicles, and favourite character being Derfel Cadarn.

 

Which leads me to my question...(although for the life of me I don't see how you would do this, which I suspect answers my own question!) but.....any plan to revisit this series/character in a future book? (simply put, having read and reread this series many times I'm jonesing for more!).

 

Thanks

 

Joby