Your Questions

I recently read through a non-fiction memoir by a legend in the United States military, David Hackworth. After reading every Sharpe novel at least twice in the past few years, I can't help but notice many similarities between the career of Mr. Sharpe and Hackworth. Both joined them military at a very young age and earned battlefield commissions. They both had strikingly similar personality traits and both held a strong disdain for the career officers who valued pomp and titles over efficiency and discipline. He even retired (like Sharpe) as a colonel. I was wondering if you've read about face and what you thought of it and if it had any bearing on your inspiration for Richard Sharpe?

Alex Thomas

Greetings Mr. Cornwell,

I liked the character of Captain John Murray, and his kindness toward Richard Sharpe. His sense of humor showed even as he was dying, he seems a merry person. Having a sentimental nature I like to think that Johnny and Dick share a common paternal lineage and the sword bequeathed to Lt. Sharpe had come to John from John's father.

Thank you for your books.

Patricia

Please, a book called 1066. Williams background, his Uncle as his protector the  landings prior to his which could have had sinister motives. So much to work with and I would enjoy learning how an army of 6000 could have defeated the Saxons on their own turf.

Ken

Hi Bernard,

I remember reading once that one of your biggest regrets of the Sharpe series was killing Hakeswill off. He made a brilliant villain! My question: I've often wondered, reading your brilliant Last Kingdom series (renamed recently to tie in with the excellent TV series?) if you imagined Haesten to be sort of Uhtred's Hakeswill? The traitorous villain who always slipped away... Warriors of the Storm was such a good read - you seemed to tie up lots of loose ends / story threads with the deaths of long standing characters and finally learning Finan's story. Lucious to read - but I did worry you were beginning to draw it all to an end by giving us so much in one book...! I mean, he's getting on a bit, though I'm glad to read book 10 won't be the last! Bebbanburg surely soon?

One last thing - great to finally have my home, Lincoln, featured in the series! I actually live at the top of the hill, my street (the old Ermine Street) has four circles of brickwork laid into the road to mark where the entrance to the old roman forum used to stand. You can even still drive under a Roman gate a stones throw from our house. So much history here!

Thanks and looking forward to the next,

Simon

Mr. Cornwell,

I was just wondering if it was a coincidence that you portray twins in a sort of bad light? In both the Arthur trilogy and now the Saxon stories, you have twins who are sort of against the protagonist, and they always end up being devious fellows.

Thanks for all of your work, a 10+ year fan.

Randy

Dear Mr Cornwell

Hello, firstly I just want to say that I am a huge fan of your books and I think they are the creme de la creme of their genre. (Depending if you would refer to them as Historical fiction)

Now I have just finished all of your books, (so far) and under their influence have decided to write my own book, however this is not my question. I just wanted to ask when or if you are going to return to the 100 years war period with Thomas of Hookton for the 1356 novel in essence caused me to fall in love with historical fiction. Thank you for that!

Once again you have my gratitude.

Mikhail

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell

I have recently become a fan of your books after seeing the BBC series The Last Kingdom. I live across the pond in Oregon and so I am not very familiar with this period in European history. I have read the Grail trilogy plus 1356 and am wondering if you will reintroduce the character of Thomas of Hookton in any of your future novels. I have greatly enjoyed the series and it has prompted me to explore the Saxon stories, as well as the Arthurian legend which is probably the most captivating myth/story that I have ever heard. I do so hope that you do return to the character of Thomas. Any comments? I greatly appreciate you taking this time with me.Many thanks for your contribution to my leisure and studies.

David

I absolutely love Waterloo!  Thank you for accepting the challenge of composing this seminal work on the subject. I hope you write more books of military history.  You did an absolutely masterfull job.  I love all of your Sharp books, also Starbuck and Agincourt series (sorry I did not like the Saxson series).  Your Historical fiction is the best of that genre; but Waterloo is even better than your other great works.  You are able to capture the great sweep of pivotal historic events, as well as include details that make the narrative come to life.  I hope you accept the discipline of writing further military histories. It would be wonderful if your many years of detailed research,  that makes your books so great, can be brought to inform further descriptions of great streams of history and clashes of civilization.

Jim Hughes

Dear Mr Cornwall,

Have you ever heard of or visited Burghead in Moray.  Fascinating place.

Love all your books

Tony Gray

I found that riddle you placed for solving who the father of Richard Sharpe is.

I, to start with, could not figure anything out, but last night something came to me in the depths of the night.

The race horse you said would be found turned out easy - Cardigan Bay , raised in New Zealand, but raced by Australia.  Now there is a town of Cardigan, on a bay on the border of Cornwall and Wales.  Something made me think then - one of the titles of the Prince of Wales is Duke of Cornwall.  That would make Prinny, the future King George IV and a notorious womanizer, even of those in the slums of London, the father of our Richard Sharpe.  I checked the dates too, just to be sure.

Now, how close was I to the answer ?.

Alison Durry

a 75 year old addict of the Sharpe novels and films.  I have all the DVD's but only a few of the books. not now on sale in NZ, so I have to get them from the Library which does not matter a jot.

 

Hello,

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your King Arthur books. In fact my first copy of The Winter King was read so often I had to get a new copy. I figured you would like to know that I think your version of King Arthur is the one I enjoy reading the most. I was curious though, in your own mind at the end of the series. Do you think Arthur in fact survives? I am ever the optimist but deep down I feel that he doesn't. Thank you for writing such wonderful books!

-Peter