Your Questions

Dear Sir,

I have read all your Sharpe series as well as 8 others. You have an amazing talent for historical fiction, and I thank you. It appears in Sharpe's Assassin that this is the end of your Sharpe series, but you tantalizingly say in the "historical note" that you will leave Sharpe "for the moment" in Normandy. Long live Sharpe and Harper.  By the way, if Col. Lanier is the monster in Napoleon's army, then surely Sharpe is the monster in the Duke's army.  And yet for some reason Lucille loves him. A bit more information on her feelings and perspective toward him would be very nice. Will Sharpe's Command address this?  Thanks so much.

With great respect,

Roger Nye

I have loved The Last Kingdom series (I wish there was one more book honestly to wrap it up).  Are there plans or have you thought of writing a book about Uhtred's ancestor that first came to Bebbanburg (as Uhtred mentions in the series)?

Craig Johnston

Hello Bernard.

I’m sorry if this is a duplicate question - my first attempt seems to have been flagged as spam.

Nicholas Hook is a great character who hasn’t been heard from in a few years. Shouldn’t he have a date with Verneuil?

Shawn

Mr. Cornwell,

I hope this email finds you well. I have been reading Jason Salkey's book and was wondering whether you had heard anything about prospective future TV episodes of Sharpe? Either reboot or with original cast?

Best,

Tom Rogan

 

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I am wondering if you might have an interest in bringing the splendid naval career of Sir Alan Lewry to a proper conclusion.  Dewey Lambdin passed away about a year ago, leaving his twenty-sixth Lewry novel unfinished.  I can think of no one better than yourself to tie this bow together.  I do not know if you are interested or how you would proceed if you are.  But it just seems so right.

Charles Cottrell

Sharpe's Baltimore cousin

Sorry if my subject lines sounds a bit like a bad play title! First, thank you for the hours of reading enjoyment, I read my first book about the formidable Richard Sharpe during my college years and still turn to your books when a much needed respite from today’s brutal world can only be satisfied by a grounded tale of duty, honor and determination.  Thank you for all the amazing journeys I’ve been on across the face of Europe and India and elsewhere and else-when.

I’m finally reading Sharpe’s Assassin - it’s been well worth the wait - currently about a third through when Sharpe mentions to Alan Fox that he has a cousin living in Baltimore. That struck me as more than just an interesting aside, is there more to come involving this mysterious American relative of Lt Col Sharpe?

John Bryan

Mr. Cornwell,

I just want to thank you for the characters you bring to life, your recreations of our world’s past and the moments of escapism that inevitably end will my wife demanding “are you listening to me?!”

I truly hope you enjoy writing your stories as I hope they will continue for many years to come but I am curious about the chicken and egg of your storytelling; do you envision a character first then find a place in history for him or are you inspired by a setting and create a character that is a likely product of the demands and environment of the time?

I wish you continued success and happiness!

Sincerely,

Colin McEwen

Dear Bernard,

I was overjoyed about having two new Sharpe books, however I would like to bend your ears again about the missing period of Sharpe's career, and that is the time between giving up his red coat and musket as an ensign in India and obtaining his Green Jacket uniform as a Second Lieutenant carrying a Baker rifle in the UK, both of which feature throughout his entire career, there could indeed be some intrigue at this point of this young new officer, how did he get to Portugal? I call this the 'Missing Link'. even a short story would suffice.

Kenneth Blackman

Dear Bernard

Most people are aware of the Peninsular War with Wellington. What they might not be aware of is the Peninsular War in the Seven Year's War and this victory by John Burgoyne of Saratoga Fame.  I wondered of you were ever tempted on a Prequel of this First Peninsular War or of the 7 years War in General?

Regards

Geraint

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I first wanted to say thank you for you amazing books. I loved the Saxon Tales and Uhtred is a great character, but Sharpe is one of my all time favorite characters and the Napoleonic era is one that fascinates me. After finishing Sharpe’s Assassins, I listened to your interview with Dan Snow on HistoryHit podcast and you said you’d like to do more on Sharpe. I was wondering if you’d ever go back to Sharpe’s first campaign in Flanders in 1793 under the Duke of York. I know this campaign was a disaster in many ways for the British, but I’d love to read about Sharpe’s first days in the army. I also must say Id love to see  the Duke of York as a main character, I found your portrayal of his brother the Prince Regent to be one of the best moments in the whole series. I was laughing out loud reading his sections. Julian Fellowes was amazing in the series too. Did you have as much fun writing those parts as I did reading them?

Last question is if you’d ever think of delving into Marlborough’s time and his campaigns against Louis XIV? I could see you having a lot of fun writing Queen Anne as you did the Prince Regent.

Thank you again for your books I have the Grail Series on my shelf I just purchased and will read as soon as I finish a biography of Edward III I’m reading.

Thank you

Jack Tilghman