Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard

I have read most of your books including all the Sharpe novels. I think I'm addicted to them!

One thing has me puzzled - in Sharpe's Assassin Sharpe addresses  Major Vincent as  'sir' when Sharpe is a colonel and therefore outranks a major. Why is this?

Best regards and thanks for the terrific stories.

Michael

 

Dear Mr Cornwell

I am of course eagerly awaiting the arrival of 'Sharpe's Command.' Although Sharpe is an invention, he is taken seriously and regarded with affection by his innumerable fans.  I realise this may occasionally be irksome, but this must mean that Sharpe's creator has a responsibility to be consistent and credible in the way our hero is treated. It is, for example, strange that in 'Assassin' Lt Col Sharpe calls an officer junior to him 'Sir', while that officer responds to Sharpe as if he is indeed of superior rank. In 'Waterloo' you have Sharpe saying that as his rank of major is Brevet, his real rank is Lieutenant - despite the guaranteed promotion to Captain following Badajoz. (I might say that these disappointing errors are repeated in the TV series).

In the same spirit, it would be deeply satisfying if the several hints of a return to the Colours that you gave us in 'Assassin,' meant that after 'Command' we might expect to see Sharpe go on to achieve his richly deserved generalship.

Best wishes

David lovibond

Submitted June 17, 2022

A

Sharpe was being snippy, which he can be – and in the Rifles, of course, officers were not addressed as ‘sir’, but as Mister Whatever.

Q

As a huge fan of your books I have often wondered how you write your more complicated and detailed battle scenes. For example, in Arthur’s last battle at Mount Badon did you construct a model or at least draw out the topography and warrior movements on paper. Or perhaps you were there!

Many thanks,

David

 

Submitted June 3, 2022

A

I try to discover where any battle was fought and then visit the site – easy enough for Wellington’s campaigns, but very tricky for the 6th Century AD!  So I decided to place Mount Badon just south of present day Bath on a hill I knew well, and to make the tactics believable I more or less copied Napoleon’s tactics at Austerlitz – which worked well for him and, in the end, for Arthur too!

 

Q

Did the hazel tree or its wood feature in Norse/Viking folklore. I know it does in druid and early Celtic mythology. Love the Last Kingdom and Sharpe books.

Regards

Jerry H

Submitted June 3, 2022

A

Certainly fights between hazel rods laid on the ground were a stylized form of duel – beyond that I don’t know.

 

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell.

In your book Sharpe's Tiger, you describe an order of Indian strongmen.  I believe they were called Jeddi's, although I may have the spelling wrong (I leant my copy of the book to a co-worker who never returned it so I don't have the spelling in front of me).  Can you provide me with a link to some information on this group?  I have repeatedly performed searches to find some information about them but have had no sucess.so far.

Thanks.

Mike

Submitted June 3, 2022

A

I came across the Jetis in accounts of Wellington’s Indian campaigns – none of which include many details of them, though their unique methods of execution are mentioned.

 

Q

Dear Bernard

I wondered if you knew any good books to recommend on the Bristoe Campaign of 1863. It seems to be sadly ignored yet proves that Gettysburg was not just a 1 off for Meade and showed him successful for the second time against Lee . Any recommendations would be helpful

regards

Geraint

 

Submitted June 3, 2022

A

I don’t know of any books on that campaign – though a visit to Bristoe Station might have something in a local bookshop?  I suspect that the credit for the victory belongs to  Gouverneur Kemble Warren who was also the hero of the Little Round Top!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I'm thoroughly enjoying your Saxon stories (I'm starting book 11 now). They are entertaining, fast-paced, informative and thought-provoking. Whilst obviously different, I also enjoyed the tv adaptation. My question is about Uthred and Æthelflaed. In the books, Æthelflaed seems to be Uthred's prophesied 'woman of gold' (according to Iseult) yet when Æthelred dies, Uthred does not even raise the matter of marriage or pursuit of the relationship, rather immediately turning to Eadith. I'm curious as to the reason for this given the prophecy? Was there some prohibitive rule at work that I missed? Or does the narrative follow the fact that historically Æthelflaed did not remarry? In the tv series, their relationship runs into the obstacle of Æthelflaed's chastity vow and ascension to the Mercian throne. This causes questions as to why she could not marry Uthred given that the witan chose him initially (perhaps because his selection was merely as temporary caretaker rather than to form a new dynasty?) I was just curious about your thoughts on this.

Thank you so much for your consideration and for the entertainment!

Best wishes,

Albert

Submitted June 3, 2022

A

My thoughts were simply that as in ‘real’ history Athelflaed never remarried it was impossible or at least impertinent of me to give her another husband.

 

Q

I have a question, and apologies if it's one you've already be asked.

 

I've read that you don't plot your stories in advance. With this in mind, how much of Finan's backstory did you conceive before introducing him in the series? Was his backstory something you created for him over time?

 

I love The Last Kingdom series and the TV show, and you've sparked my new found interest in Saxon and Viking history - so thank you!

Catherine

Submitted June 3, 2022

A

Yes – it was developed as needed.

Q

 

Gidday Bernard.

Just wondering if you`ve seen the Northman yet?  I think you`d love it. Arthouse on steroids.

Love your work.

Wayne

Submitted June 1, 2022

A

I haven’t seen it yet – but I probably will!

 

Q

Hello Bernard.

I hope all is well.  Wanted to get an experienced historian's perspective in this:  if Edward the Black Prince had survived, and had become king, do you believe he would have been one of the greatest kings in English/Medieval history, average, or one of the worst?

Also, Would live to see The Warlord Chronicles adapted to a TV series!!

Steven Criscio

Submitted June 1, 2022

A

To which the only possible answer is that we don’t know!  Let’s suppose he would not have been ‘average’, but other than that? No idea.

I think that may happen!

 

Q

Dear Bernard

Have you ever considered the Great Siege of Gibraltar. If you've not read it I really recommend Roy and Leslie Adkins book on the subject. It's great reading

Regards

Geraint

 

Submitted June 1, 2022

A

I’ve often considered it, which doesn’t mean it will ever happen – and yes the Adkins book is  gripping read!  Thank you!