Your Questions

Thank you for being so generous in responding to your readers. I'll keep this short. Long time fan. Read a ton of your books. You are undoubtedly my all time favorite author. I don't know how you can be so prolific.

My question is about your sea stories. I saw the picture of your boat. The stories feel so absolutely authentic I find it hard to believe that you yourself have not traveled some rough seas yourself. Please tell me that the stories are not just based on your fantastic research and imagination but also some real life experiences and adventures.

I did search for this answer on your website but could not find the answer. Thanks for considering responding.

Best,

Don McCunn

Dear Bernard

The last Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars was not Waterloo but the Invasion of Guadeloupe. It's a fascinating Campaign and I wondered if you were tempted by it at all ?

Regards

Geraint

Hi Bernard,

thoroughly enjoying Sharpe's Assassin. I read some others a little while ago - Eagle, Company, Sword, Regiment. It struck me that a lot of these books were published out of chronological order. I was wondering how you're able to keep track of all the events in Sharpe's life while inserting new stories into the canon. Do you keep a timeline chart or something similar?

Thanks,

Aidan

Enjoying Stonehenge. Curious about whatever research or conjecture is behind the personal names of the characters. Thank you.

Charles Pyle

Hello Mr. Cornwell!

I can't tell you how elated I am to hear that we'll get to see Teresa again in your newest book. She's my absolute favorite character in the series- so much so that Teresa inspired me to get a degree in Spanish and visit Spain to see the places she was once at!

While I know you can't give too much away, can I dare hope that she'll have more than a handful of pages, showing up only at the end or for a brief time? It's a shame that Gold is the only one she's featured prominently in, and that we really don't see her being a partisan leader of her own and working with Sharpe in the others- just popping in and out. Company is a close second but again, she's mostly stuck in Badajoz for that. It would be wonderful to see her relationship fleshed out more with her husband as well for what little time they get together! :) Seeing her be the partisan leader she was meant to be and fighting alongside Sharpe...now that would be wonderful.

I hope it's not too much to ask, but a girl can dream, right?

Kiran

What happened to Sharpe's Daughter,  nothing was mentioned of her , after her mother was Murdered.

Mr Andrew Durden

I’d pretty much given up on the prospect of ever again going into a local book shop and seeing a new Sharpe novel for sale, so I was delighted to come across Sharpe’s Assassin. I waited an almost interminable time to see a paperback edition to buy, the way I’ve experienced every new novel since Sharpe’s Prey. (Prior to that, I borrowed them all from the library, having cut my teeth on the Sean Bean-starring ITV series.) But I finally got it and thoroughly enjoyed it and for the most part was impressed at how seamlessly it picked up from a novel written thirty years previous. One thing stuck out though. At the end of Sharpe’s Waterloo, Sharpe promoted Price to major. But seemingly less than a day later, he’s back to being a captain! Did Sharpe quickly think better of it?! (I know you needed a reason to bring Charlie Morris back into Sharpe’s orbit after a lengthy absence, but it was a bit hard on poor Harry!) The whole thing had a swansong feeling to it so I was happy to accept it as an end to the series…so I was delighted when I checked out your site for the first time in ages (I wanted to avoid spoilers!) and found another new Sharpe novel being advertised! Given I’d heard you didn’t want to go further back into Sharpe’s chronology again, I was anticipating having to fill in the remaining gaps in Sharpe’s Peninsular War career himself (some dark corner of the internet contains my thoughts about what he was up to in 1808) but I’m very happy to see the master himself guiding Sharpe’s journey again. Looking forward to it!

Michael Billinghurst

I hope you won't be embarrassed by having an octogenarian fan, who incidentally was a fan of the real Richard Sharp 60 years ago! I have just read “Sharpe’s Assassin” – delighted he’s back!

I have also finished "War Lord" but the Epilogue was a bit previous (the appropriate northern expression). Æthelstan died in 939 just two or three years after the Battle of Brunanburgh. Olaf Guthfrithson returned to Eoferwic (York) as King of Northumbria and then conquered 5 boroughs of Mercia. After Olaf’s death in 941 Æthelstan’s brother and successor Edmund took back the 5 boroughs, then in 944 Northumbia, thus becoming the second King of Englaland.

And how did Olaf die? At the hand of Uhtred? And how did Edmund succeed? Impossible without the active assistance of Uhtred, but which Uhtred? Is Uhtred Ragnorson either too old or dead? Or is his son Uhtred Uhtredson the new Lord of Bebbanburgh? He was the “I” in the Prologue of “The Empty Throne” and been prominent in subsequent events?

I am sure that you already have these idea so I am not suggesting but requesting you make them your next priority. I was always disappointed that George Macdonald Fraser died before he had completed The Flashman Papers. You are younger than and I’m sure will outlive me, but I would be equally disappointed you had not completed the Saxon series before I die.

Richard Faber

 

I am a huge fan of your work and have been for decades (wow) i know you have mentioned previously that Starbuck may never make a return (sigh) but can i hope that Thomas Hookton will? I feel like Thomas and Nathanial have more of a story to come...

Nick Holloway

Dear Bernard

there was recent debate about the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse (we had a Heatwave over here which given 80 to 90 Soldiers died in this battle from Heatstroke it seems relevant)  and in regards to was it a Win and Loss or a Draw for either Washington or Clinton. I was curious on your thoughts on the battle ?  Otoh Clinton got away with his whole Waggon Train and his main Army avoided engagement of Washington forces could now fight toe to toe with the British. I'd love to know your thoughts on that fight ?

Regards

Geraint

P.S I don't know if you read Historical Fiction given you write it but if you do can I recommend Washington and Caeser by Christian Cameron. Tells the story of Caeser an escaped Slave from Washington plantation and he joins the British to fight Washington. Like Sharpe and Wellington there's a parallel though in this case the Protagonist is fighting Washington not with him. Anyway I think you'll like it. He's meant to be based on the real life  Colonel Tye a Black Loyalist Guerrilla leader

 

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