Your Questions

Hi Bernard

What was it about the Peninsular War era that inspired you to write a series of novels? I suppose you had to start somewhere...but why there?

Regards,

Peter

Hi, Mr Cornwell.

First, sorry for the precarious english.

I'm a huge fan of Derfel and Uhtred, but I'm not very familiarized with the Sharpe series. What do you recommend: to read the books in chronological order (starting from Sharpe's Tiger) or in publication order (starting from Sharpe's Eagle)?

I have one more question, hope you don't mind.

You created a lot of good characters. So, if you could make a list with your Top 5 favourite and beloved characters from all of your books, how would that be? Nimue would be on the list? She's my dearest character created by you. So conflicted. I love that.

Thank you.

Eilton Ribeiro

Mr. Cornwell,

I'm a huge fan of the Sharpe series and have the first half dozen in hardback. I've read several of your interviews (and tried to find the answer in the file of existing questions but was unsuccessful) and am trying to find the story of how the Sharpe series caught fire. Most historical fiction has a very small readership and the fact that no other similar series have caught on indicates there was something special.

Best wishes,

Bill Crews

Hello,

Colin "The outsider" Wilson met Anthony Burgess one evening and had a dignified erudite conversation. Burgess would write quite unflatteringly about  Wilson and this one meeting with Wilson in the 1990 autobiography "You've had your time". Wilson would wait until after Burgess's death to give his side of the story in 2005. Wilson in his version, gives a radically different version of their conversation that evening. Has anything like this happened to you? You met a writer, had a good discussion on books, etc and then much later, in the other writer's published letters/diaries or autobiography, they write about you based on one or more meetings, in a way that angers you?

 

Regards

 

Adrian.

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I just wanted to drop you a quick line, thanking you for your work writing the Richard Sharpe Series and the Saxon Tales.  I have enjoyed both for the last 10 or so years and passed on my finished books to others. I have the last three Sharpe books to go through, but the third to last is hard to find.  I want to keep them in order, so it has put a hold on things.  I just finished The Pagan Lord this afternoon. So good.  I really enjoy your writing and you are one of the writers who has made me a fan of historical fiction.  Thank you. I will be on the lookout for The Empty Throne as well as Sharpe's Revenge.

Have you read any of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman Papers?  If not, check them out.  I'm sure you will enjoy.

I appreciate your work. Keep them coming and thanks for your time.

John English

Hi Bernard,

I've just come back from Easter in Berwick and spent a day at Bamburgh Castle. I understand that the Castle would have been very different 1000 years ago, but looking at the topography I can't see how an attack could succeed.

The Vikings did actually manage to capture the Castle according to the guide book but no details of how they did it.

How do you create a plan of attack? Do you have models of the castle? Do you have maps or does it just happen in your head?

Bit cheeky but another clue about Sharpe's dad would come in handy.

Mike

Hello Mr Cornwell,

I'm a fan of your books. I was read the four books of Uthred's story and i'm very disappointed because i don't found "the burning lands" and "death of kings" in french. This books will be, one day, in french? I hope. Thanks for your works. A french fan.

François. C

Hi Bernard,

I've recently finished the Warlord Chronicle books and just couldn't put them down, I think it is a most fascinating and interesting version of the Arthurian legend, especially the character spin on Lancelot. It became more real for me as I used to live in what was Durnovaria and the view from my bedroom was Mai Den. Were the roman buildings mentioned in your books, those whose ruins lay in County Hall's grounds? That together with other familiar locations (Portland and further afield) made a real connection with me and your excellent story telling. I also think the trilogy would make an outstanding modern TV mini-series, with the budgets they have nowadays.

I have now started reading the Grail Quest series, and you again have Dorchester as a location, although I couldn't quite grasp where you were imagining Hookton to be, could you enlighten me please.

Would I be right that you have spent some time in that area of Dorset?

Please keep up the excellent work, I intend to work my way through all of your books, each one is such a pleasure to read. Only having read the Sharpe series (several times!) I feel fortunate that I have so many left to enjoy.

Kind Regards

Paul Sumner

I have just finished your last book The empty throne. I am hoping that there will be another book out soon to follow? Your books have helped me slide through time while deployed in Afghanistan. Thank you.

Jason Mahnesmith

 

I am all caught up and ready for a new book. Can you tell me the Series and Title?

Bud Henry

Bernard,

I am a fan of everything you have written and am currently re-reading the Grail quest in which readers were introduced to the awesome capability of the English Archer. Recently this short video has gone viral and I wondered if, in all of your research, had you realised just how devastating this weapon could be in the hands of skilled protagonists?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BEG-ly9tQGk

Fintan Spode