Your Questions

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell.

I recently finished the novel "Courage, Marshal Ney" by James Mace and enjoyed it quite a bit.  It deals with the theory that after Waterloo, Wellington faked Ney's execution and allowed him to escape to America, where under the name of Peter Stuart Ney he became a schoolmaster in South Carolina.  I am aware that you are skeptical of this story, but I couldn't help but think that this is just the type of mission that Wellington would call on Sharpe to aid in, accompanying Ney across France, keeping him from harm and seeing him safely aboard ship.  I think it would be a great adventure.  Could you be the least bit tempted to tell this story someday, or is your skepticism so strong that you could not bring yourself to do so, even as a wholly ficticious Sharpe adventure?

Alan Kempner

Submitted July 27, 2016

A

Like you I think it’s a terrific story! Unfortunately I can’t believe in it. The evidence that Ney was shot on that fatal morning is overwhelming, and the rest is romantic sentimentality. If I believed it, if I could discover a shred of supporting evidence, I’d write the book in an eyeblink!

 

Q

Dear sir

I have had many years pleasurable reading concerning the sharpe adventures but I think that you have possibly missed a chapter of Richard sharpe  and would like to know why ? . we read from part one his involvement in the army but I would of loved to of read the stage of his life before being enlisted I'm sure a man of your many talents  that has conjured up 15 ? is it sharpe novels to do the most important  one the prequel I would love to know why you didn't consider this

yours sincerely

an avid fan

Paul

Submitted July 27, 2016

A

I have considered it! And, you may have noticed, I haven’t written it. Perhaps I will? Though it’s not on the ‘short list’. I have left other gaps in Sharpe’s career, most of them deliberate for when I at last write another Sharpe book! Which, I hope, I will do. I’m not saying I’ll never write about his childhood – only that it’s not imminent!

Q

Hello Mr Cromwell,

I was reading the book 'Wellington' by Richard Holmes and came across a passage about when Nelson met Wellington for a very brief encounter. I just wanted to ask (and I know 'what ifs' are not really predictable) what you think the two would have made of each other had Nelson survived the Battle of Trafalgar? Do you think these to great commanders would have worked well together? or do you think the two great personalities would have clashed more often than not?

looking forward to reading the Flame Bearer in October (I hope I find time as my first child is due to be born soon).

many thanks,

Luke Fieldhouse

Submitted July 27, 2016

A

I have no idea! I suspect each would have admired the professionalism of the other, though I cannot see them becoming great friends . . . . the personalities are so different (though again, who knows?). Even if Nelson had lived he would hardly have fought close to Wellington who needed the navy to 1) keep the coasts of Spain clear of French vessels and 2) to protect the supply ships coming from Britain, both tasks that were easily accomplished, while Nelson would have had much wider responsibilities – the suppression of all Britain’s naval enemies, wherever they were on the globe! We do know they admired each other, but it’s hard to see the dutiful, unflamboyant Wellington taking to Nelson’s showmanship – but perhaps, after all, they would have ended up bosom friends!

Q

I cant tell you how much I have enjoyed your novels, especially about Uhtred of Bebbenburg and Thomas of Hookton! Have read all this spring and summer and on my way to the library to start the Arthur series. I had two questions but one has been answered on your site about Uhtred. Guess I will have to wait a while. Second will there be more about Thomas? Haven't gotten to the Sharpe series. Thank you for all your good work.

Richard Brown

Submitted July 21, 2016

A

I'm not planning another book for Thomas now....

Q

Did Uhted ever recapture Bebbanburg? I look forward to your next book in the series

Sara Joan Armour

Submitted July 21, 2016

A

Keep reading!

Q

Hi Bernard,

I'm just about to start an MA in Ancient & Medieval Warfare in September and am currently doing some pre-reading. I know there was a dramatic change in military defence under Alfred in particular and am curious if during your research if you detected any significant developments (other than the long ship) on the Viking side. I believe there is archaelogical evidence pointing to the training of elite professional soldiers having been discovered at fortresses in Denmark from a bit later in the period, but I cannot help wonder if, at least in part, the Saxons evolved a bit more than the Vikings. I'd be interested if you have any thoughts.

Very best regards

Andy

Submitted July 18, 2016

A

My main thought (for what it’s worth) is that the Vikings simply did not have the same level of organization! Take, for instance, the Burghal Hidage of Alfred; a document that shows a great deal of thought. The Saxons, being under threat, took a lot more trouble over how they would fight their wars. A Viking leader, faced with defeat, could simply try somewhere else – Frankia, or east into what would become Russia. It’s also noteworthy that the Saxons, being Christian, had a higher level of literacy which meant that documents like the Burghal Hidage could be copied, distributed and read. They also benefited from their fellow-Christian’s experiences across the channel. The Vikings were fearful fighters, and an undoubted menace, but they appear to have lacked the organization of their enemies.

 

Q

I am currently enjoying Warriors of Storm and already I am extremely pleased to hear another book is soon to come. Within the book Uhtred rides out on his new tall black horse Tintrig (sorry I am guessing at the spelling as it is an audio book).  Uhtred states it means torment. Several times in previous books translations are mentioned and I was wondering what the source is for these words and meanings. In my opinion it is these small tidbits of history which make the series such a great read.  Thank you for writing so many great reads and I would like to know a little more about the languages for the name of the horse.

Kind regards,

Jay

 

Submitted July 18, 2016

A

I use an Anglo-Saxon to modern English dictionary! There are several available!

Q

I have just finished reading the Starbuck books, thus far. One thing that I was a little puzzled about though was I saw no mention of platoon firing or firing by rank. Had those drills fallen into disuse by the time of the American civil war, or where they considered to difficult to be taught to a largely volunteer (and later conscript) army in the short training that they received.

I put off reading the Starbuck books as they are an unfinished work, I'm glad I did read them in the end though and hope you will find the time to complete Nat's story.

 

Bryan

Submitted July 18, 2016

A

They certainly used volley-fire (wait till you see the whites of their eyes), but probably didn’t have a need for platoon fire. Infantry was rarely attacked by cavalry in the Civil War, but it was fairly commonplace in the Napoleonic Wars, and platoon fire guarantees that a cavalry charge will not find a whole battalion with empty muskets. And, as weapons evolved, the necessity for controlled close-range fire diminished.

 

Q

Dear Bernard

You have mentioned that Sharpe became Sean Bean in your mind when writing the character after Sean was cast in the role, as such I was wondering if the same has happened with Uhtred. When writing future books featuring Uhtred do you now picture the actor who portrays Uhtred in the TV series when writing the books? Great books.

Thanks

Phil

Submitted July 18, 2016

A

Not to the same extent!  The factor here being that Alexander (whose portrait of Uhtred is splendid!) is young in the TV series and I’m writing a much older Uhtred.

 

Q

Dear Bernard

You've always been a fan of Robert E Lee and his Generalship but for debates sake could he really be put on the same level as say a Napoleon or Wellington ?. In the 7 Days campaign, he did lose 6 of the 7 battles which seemed down to McClellan deciding to retreat after each one rather than Lee forcing him to. Even after Gettysburg he then lost battles at Bristoe Station and at Rappahonock Station.

JFC Fuller in his book Grant and Lee states that the Lee of Gettysburg was also the same Lee of Cheats Mountain.

Lee could be called a good general but could he really be called a great one ?

Yours sincerely

Geraint

P.s If you've not read it I can recommend Lee's Last Retreat by William Marvel on the Appomattox campaign. Interestingly he puts Lee's Army at 50'000 during the campaign rather than the commonly used 30'000.

 

Submitted July 18, 2016

A

Who knows? They all faced different problems. Would Wellington have been so successful had he been faced with the problems that Lee had to deal with? Lee’s enemies had far greater resources, more men, better weapons (on the whole), yet, until he faced Grant, he ran rings round them. It’s really an impossible question to answer, we’re not comparing like with like. They were all great generals!