Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard

After reading the Fort which I loved btw, I wondered if you have ever considered another 1 more 1 off book on the American Revolution, on the Siege of Quebec, since it had Maclean from the Fort at that Action. It also  had some of the Top commanders on both sides such as Arnold and Morgan on the American side and Guy Carleton on the British and that victory arguably changed history in that it kept Canada separate rather than part of the US.

You also might find this article interesting to read on some of the Loyalist Regiments that served in the war.

https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/bitstream/1893/2514/4/The-Loyalist-Regiments-of-the-American-Revolution-Final.pdf

Yours sincerely

Geraint

Submitted April 20, 2016

A

Thank you for that! I have been tempted, because it was an extraordinary episode. Maybe? I don’t know! One day? Possibly?

Q

I know you've said that you've sent Starbuck on an extended vacation and that it is too similar to Sharpe but still, it has been a long time for a vacation! I have found the Civil War series one of the most compelling things you have written and I really want to know if Starbuck and Truslow survive. Will you be tackling this lacunae now that someone is producing a TV show based on the novels? Please, please, please complete the series! Thank you.

Anne Grant

 

 

Like all of your other readers I much enjoy your work. So I won't expound on everything.   Get right to my question  will there be any more Starbuck books?

Fred Beshears

 

Submitted April 20, 2016

A

Maybe?   Hope so....

Q

I am a huge fan of this series and have got my husband, sons, and daughter-in laws all hooked on them as well.  My heritage is Danish so love the connection and the history.  We are planning a trip to England next year and looking forward to seeing some sites, castles, and ruins that relate to your books.

One question re the naming of the Royal Family of Wessex:  what does the prefix Aethel mean?  Confusing at times to separate Aethelred from Aethelwold, etc.

Thanks!

Suzanne Veh

Submitted April 20, 2016

A

It means 'Noble' and was used by royalty and the aristocracy to denote status.  Enjoy your trip!

 

 

 

 

Q

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell.

Okay, so The story of Thomas of Hookton is over.  But at one time, you spoke of a possible sequel to Agincourt, possibly focusing on the battle of Verneuil.  Is this something we can still look forward to in the future?  Thomas had four book, Nick Hook deserves at least two!

Alan Kempner

 

--

Submitted April 15, 2016

A

I haven’t forgotten it, I just haven’t found the time to write it . . . . so yes, do look forward to it! As do I!

 

Q

Hi! First read a Sharpe book back in the early '80'. Now reading them all again on the Kindle...in chronological order this time. Yesterday it struck me that I listened to the 1812 Overture and Wellington's Victory (Beethoven) many, many years ago. The Opus 91 was part of a stereo demonstration record. (I was born in 1945...like you, old as dirt.) Then I wondered if the pas de marche that you describe was the one playing on the record. What do you think? If not, can you point me in a direction so I can hear the rhythm? As a former Army Infantry/Intelligence Officer, I'm fascinated by the little details you include. My war in Vietnam was different from the Napoleonic era! Thanks for a great series and a great career. You've given me hours of reading enjoyment!

Chip Noon

Wait...or is it pas de charge?

Submitted April 15, 2016

A

I confess I don’t know the answer, and I don’t know if anyone has recorded the pas-de-charge. I’m sure they have. The best I can do is quote Ensign Leeke of the 52nd, who heard it, and said ‘The drummers were beating the pas de charge, which sounded, as well as I recollect, very much like this, ‘the rum dum, the rum dum, the rummadum dummadum, dum, dum’, then ‘Vive l’Empereur’. This was repeated again and again.’

Q

Having found these books and for some reason as a woman find Uhtred just fascinating.

Can you say why you think so many ladies have fallen for this particular warrior?

I see that you say new book due in October. Thank you.

But will it be the last or maybe one or two more to come.?

Amazing series.

Enjoyed Waterloo as well.

Thanks for making books  and reading enjoyable again

Gwyneth Penny

Submitted April 15, 2016

A

I like to think it’s because he, in turn, likes women! He likes them strong, decisive and a few other things too! Plainly it was a period of alpha-male dominance, and there probably wasn’t a huge amount of chivalry around. I find the idea of chivalry fascinating . . . I suspect that the troubadors (who are, of course, much later than Uhtred) sang and wrote for a female audience who encouraged them because their songs (think of Chretien de Troyes and all his poems of Arthur) offered men a new role model – that of the courteous, as against the unthinking brute, warrior. Uhtred is a brute, of course, but a good woman can make him go weak at the knees!

There will be more to Uhtred's story.

Q

I am currently re-reading Sharpe’s Siege right now and it occurs to me that I will be coming to the end once again.

Sharpe’s Devil is an amazing book.  As in WOW!!

But what inspired you to write it?

Was it the challenge of writing a post Peninsular/Waterloo Sharpe?  Was it that you wanted to write about Cochrane out of admiration?  Was it that wanted Sharpe to meet Napoleon?

On the subject of Chile becoming a republic, was there ever part of you when writing this book that thought it was ironic that Spain objected to their own country being ruled by a foreign king, but had no qualms with occupying another country or 2?  Something we the British can also relate to as well.  I think it definitely crossed your mind in earlier books because I am sure you pointed it out via Helene?

Also what was your own personal opinion (If you can give it) on Our Government/Army/Wellington having to pay tax on gun powder we took into/through Spain after liberating their country?  It does sound a bit cheeky.  I really like the analogy you make in reference to it via Major General Nairn in Sharpe’s Regiment………Genius!!

Lee

Submitted April 15, 2016

A

In truth I wanted to write a book about a genuine attempt that was staged to rescue Napoleon from St Helena . . . the plan was to sail him to South America and let him loose to lead an army that would create a new country: The United States of South America. I did a lot of research on the scheme . . . which got as far as sending ships to rescue the Emperor, but failed because he inconveniently died before the ships reached the island! Somehow that plot never worked, and Sharpe’s Devil is what is left of it. Cochrane, of course, was an amazing man and deserves a much better novel . . . there’s a photograph of him in his extreme old age and he still looks formidable! https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Admiral_COCHRANE_(Lord_Dundonald)_cropped.jpg And yes, the decision to levy import tax on the gunpowder to liberate their country was a disgusting act! But politicians and tax? What changes?

Q

First and foremost, your books are amazing! Your archery scenes are amazing! Sir, it is near sacrilege that you have not at least written a short story of Robin Hood! If there is one author qualified to do so, it is you. However, that's not my question. Thomas would place a branch/stick in the ground vertically and attempt to hit it. This seems to have been a very common practice at the time, and made me wonder if the stories of Robin Hood splitting arrows actually referred to him splitting an arrow as it was placed in the ground vertically. The would seem to make more sense.  I have a question concerning the archery scenes in your books. In Agincourt it describes Nicholas holding his arrow in place with his thumb, implying that the arrow is resting on the knuckle of his thumb instead of the knuckle of his index finger. Most of the archers i know rest the arrow on the knuckle of their index finger. Was it more common in that time period to rest the arrow on the thumb?

Jacob

Submitted April 15, 2016

A

I truly don’t remember. I do know they used a two, instead of the modern three finger pull. I took most of the details from a man who was an avid archer and could draw a yew bow with a draw weight in excess of 120 lbs.

Q

Dear Bernard Cornwell,

My name is John Kynaston and as much as I like to say I'm your biggest fan I'm sure there are people out there that have the privilege of owning all your publications, but never the less I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Sharpe series and the Rebel series. I have read most of them 6-7 times over and still adore them. Any way ill get to the point, I'm writing to you to thank you very very much for providing me with some fantastic stories that I cherish and have entertained me and will continue to do so. Your stories have influenced my love of storytelling and history that I have started writing after work as much as I can. I'm still hopeful of some more adventures from Sharpe. Just one thing I must ask and I'm not questioning your writing but merely a reason is all I ask. In the book sharpes enemy hakeswill shoots Theresa and prior to that he shot captain Knowles, how did Sharpe not see him as threat? That was the saddest part out of the whole series for me personally.

Thank you very much from Australia.

 

Yours faithfully,

John kynaston

Submitted April 15, 2016

A

I wrote the book so long ago that I don’t remember! I’m sure Sharpe did see him as a threat, but . . . . honestly, can’t remember!

 

Q

I'm deeply fascinated by your effort to give us some view of Roman structures still in existence - York, London, and Chester in the last kingdom series. I'm curious to know how much research you did on that topic. Also in your trilogy of King Arthur you presented aspects of what was left of Roman structures.

John Kelley

Submitted April 15, 2016

A

I’m not sure how deeply I researched it. I visited all those places, but had to bear in mind that far more remained of Roman Britain in the 9th and 10th centuries than in the 20th and 21st! The old city of Lundene would have been almost entirely Roman (much patched), as would a lot of other places. Truthfully I had to use a lot of imagination (guesswork!)