Your Questions

I must be the only fan who's disappointed Sharpe didn't murder that stupid lawyer who robbed him of his inheritance after Lady Grace (?) died. Do you think Sharpe would ever do this?

Michael Cockcroft

Dear Bernard,

As with all your other petitioners I am a huge fan and count your Arthur series among my comfort books for when I have nothing better lined up to read. I much prefer your version of events  than other more traditional adaptations.

I am interested as to which other Authors and genres you read and enjoy and do you watch much TV? In particular did you see the most recent series of Game of Thrones and the 'battle of the bastards' which I think is one of the most visceral and thrilling TV battle scenes I've ever seen.

I hope you are well and I look forward to see your answer

Regards

Al

What are your favourite meals?

Eilton Ribeiro

Hello in your researches have you any idea of what distance the Baker rifle was accurate too.  I have seen 100 200 up to 600yards With Thomas Plunkett However there must be somewhere, tests that were conducted through the Rifles 40 years.

The Webmaster of the 95th says only about 100 yards

jack R Tattis

Have just read Grail quest books and 1356, and am now re-reading Azincourt. Obviously Thomas would have passed away by the time Azincourt was fought, but I saw a reference to him dying as the Lord of 199 acres, so obviously he prospered/ Is there any other mention of him after 1356 in any of your books, or do we just leave him there?

Carolyn Devine

Dear Bernard,

I have just finished Flamebearer (I have read all your books) and living in  Australia I love reading about my native Northumbria. as a Northumbrian I wanted to comment on Constantin's claim that the land north of Hadrians wall was Scottish. Uthred would have known that Northumbria's ancient border was the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh (Edwinsburg after Kent Edwin of Northumbria) was its northern outpost.

The Northumbrians originally fought the Picts (who were Christian when Northumbria was Pagan) but later lost their Northern territories to the Scots. When Hadrans wall was erected there were no English or Scots on mainland Britain, they came later and  Finan would also have known that the Scots were Irish raiders, like the Angles and Saxons were Germanic raiders. So Constantin's claim that north of the wall was Scottish is either bogus or he is stretching the facts to suit his ambitions.i am sure as a writer you can claim the latter but no Northumbrian would fall for it. I look forward to your next books and to hopefully revisiting Brunaburg again with Athelstan,

Kind regards

Paul

Like everyone else that posts questions on your site, I am a huge fan!  In fact, I don't think there is any of your work that I haven't read.  I started with the Sharpe novels when I was a young Soldier - instantly hooked - read many of them while I was deployed to Iraq (both times).  I can attest, based on personal experience, that you have done a superb job describing the sights, sounds, and emotions that are experienced in combat; not an easy task without living it first-hand.

 

Anyway, I read the comments and questions section of your site all the time and I know many of the same questions are asked over and over.  However, a recent inquiry motivated me to reiterate and second (maybe third or fourth or hundredth) that notion:  PIRATES!!

 

There is a derth of good pirate novels - aside from the classics.  Moreover, most of them are highly stylized and stereotypical.  The world really needs a more pragmatic approach to historical fiction as it relates to pirates; research, realism, and  authenticity is what's needed.  You are, undoubtedly, the best man for the job!  Plus, there is a wealth of material to call upon - Bartholomew Roberts, Sam Bellamy (who's ship was discovered in your "backyard"), Henry Morgan, Henry Every, Edward Teach, etc.

 

We all know that you can spin a great tale on the high seas.  Combine that with excellent character development, a dose of real history, and the world will have some much needed pirate fiction.  I honestly don't think anyone other than you could pull it off with just the right panache.  So, I humbly beseech you to make it happen. Thanks for giving me your time and thanks for doing what you do.  I am and will remain, a most loyal fan.

Charles

BC- I love all of your books and thank you very much for such great entertainment.  I have read them all and now have listened to most on audio.  How about setting up an audio library on your website and having loyal fans pay to join?  Consumer direct from authors- maybe a new fad?

Finish the Starbuck series one of these days please!

Best Regards,

RJ

Sir,

according to certain historians, Sharpe actually fought in the Greek war of Independence, helped Lord Byron get there.  Could you please investigate?

And kill all lawyers, as your characters in the Sharpe novels like to say.

Thank you for countless hours of joy, reading your novels (in English and in Hungarian) By the way, sadly, the Saxon Tales only made it to Vol. 6 in Hungarian.  Publisher went out of business. So sad.

Gabor Finaczy

Budapest, Hungary.

 

Hello,

Is there a department   at your publisher who investigates suspected cases of plagiarism of your works? Or do you have an employee who does it? Or do you rely on intel from your readers?

In the world of academia, staff use software like Turnitin, to detect and deter plagiarism. I think Kindle books and e-books will make it easier to detect plagiarism. Do you have an opinion, on whether advances in publishing technology is making it harder ( or easier)  for people who borrow from other writers?

Regards and thanks,

Adrian