Your Questions

Hi Mr. Cornwell!

I'm reading your Saxon Chronicles now and loving the Uthred's story. I'm very interested in the middle ages and so I try to read - almost - everything in this matter. But I have a question: you already wrote in the Anglo-Saxon England period as well as in the Hundred Years War, but what about the Norman Conquest? Any plans for that?

But aside from England, do you have plans for anything apart? For example, it would be awesome to see something in your writing style set in the medieval Italian City States. Or, maybe, in the age of Charlegmane...

Good luck, Mr Cornwell... Waiting to see what you've got next.

Vinicius C. Silva

Dear Mr Cornwell

Its my 70th birthday today and what a day to finish reading your magnificent book on Waterloo which I received for Christmas.  Its not the first 'Waterloo' book I have read - I have read several the 1st by David Howarth whom I studied for my GCE in 1961 (The Shetland Bus) I enjoyed the book immensely, but have one query.

In the mention of the wonderful flank attack of Sir John Colborne of the 52nd, I notice he is refered to as Sir John Colville elsewhere - is this a mistake in printing or is there also a Sir John Colville? I can find no trace of him on websites.

I have read all the Sharpe novels, the Warrior Chronicles & some of the Starbuck Chronicles (I have visited all the USA battlefields mentioned) and thank you for giving me so many hours of reading pleasure.

Alan Clarke

Mr. Cornwell,

I have read and reread all your Sharpes books and greatly enjoyed them. I am in hopes there will be more. Is that possible?

If nothing else Sharpe and Harper would no doubt make a couple of very interesting old men given the right villains to fight and that would give you another 30 years or so to play with.

Sincerely,

Wayne Scott

P.S.

What about Sharpe's son Patrick? Worthy of a book of his own?

Hello Mr C,

Yet another guess at Sharpe's father.Was it a trick question from The Riddler?'Take you out,put me in and a horse appears in this happy person.'

Have come up with ancient Gotham City villain...

The Giggler.

gg= horse

giggler =happy person

Not sure where I swopped 'u' for' i' though!

Are we getting any closer? It's been YEARS now! If not giz another clue for Christmas or 2015 pleeeeeaase!!!!!

Cheerio and all the best!

Joy Ramsay

Hi Mr.Cornwell.

Have you hard of the new series of novels that author Robert Brightwell is coming out with.  They chronicle the adventures of Thomas Flashman, the uncle of George MacDonald Fraser's character.  He is just as cowardly and underhanded as his nephew. So far, he has been to India and the Peninsula with General Wellesley, and even encounters Thomas Cochrane!  I guess we can say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!  http://www.amazon.com/Flashman-Peninsular-Robert-Brightwell/dp/1784075590/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

Alan Kempner

 

Hi Bernard,

 

After reading about Marshal Ney's disastrous and wasteful cavalry charges in Waterloo, you mentioned that Napoleon simply observed all this from his HQ. The French artillery and skirmishers didn't support the attacks upon British squares until much later into this stage of the battle. Why didn't Napoleon act much earlier? Is it because (depicted rightly or wrongly in the film of 1971) that he suffered from ill health and returned to command only to find Ney's tragic folly in full swing? Too late to rectify as regards rock-paper-scissors tactics? As you mentioned in the book, between cavalry charges, French artillery began to take a bloody toll on the British squares (who dared not form line due to presence of such enemy cavalry). Had Napoleon and/or Ney underestimated discipline of the British infantry to stand firm under fire?

Robert Douglas

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I'm a recent convert to your novels, along with my 14 year old son, though my step-dad's been reading your books for decades!  I'm intrigued by one particular aspect of your approach to writing, especially on a subject that is over a thousand years old; do you visit all the places mentioned in your novels? I've assumed this would be essential to get a feel, or resonance, for the place and your descriptions are so evocative. Yet many of the places have changed hugely. Does the historical & archaeological research you do then colour your interpretation of the places or are they pretty much formed in your mind from visiting them?

All the best & thank you for getting folk of all ages interested in History (yes I'm a History teacher!)

Geoff Bennett

Dear Bernard,

 

When I first heard you were writing a book on Waterloo I thought not another one I have read them all. I was wrong I liked the fact that there was a Mainwaring spoiling for a fight I was waiting for a Corporal Jones"They don't like it up em!" Seriously I have never understood why Napoleon left his Army in the hands of Ney.  I can only think that when Ney blocked Napoleon's path during the hundred days he was offered a senior command to change sides. My believe is that Napoleon was dying years of campaigning had taken their toll. Yes I know he died 6 years later, but the Napoleon of Austerlitz would have  taken more active part at Waterloo. Wellington was completely dismissed by Napoleon. So he did not listen to the advice his generals were giving him. I know if Napoleon had died mid campaign then the French would have gone home, but if Wellington had been killed during the four days then the Napoleonic wars would have gone on for another 10 years.

Andrew

Having read all the books in the Sharpe series, I was recently given the three novels In the Grail Quest series.   I became so absorbed in this tale that I read the three books over a period of five days.   I am sorry that the series did not continue to portray the later life of Thomas.     I do have one question.    In the notes you make at the end of the third book, you say that the town of Berat does not exist.     With respect I must point out that Berat is a small town in the Midi-Pyrenees, some 35 kms south-east of Toulouse .    Today it has a population of circa 2500 but I am told that in Medieval times the place name did exist albeit the name of only  a very small hamlet.

 

Sincerely

 

David J Pounds

Dear Sir

 

Although listed under the place names I have been unable to find the reference to Sealtwic within the book itself.

 

Can you please help with the page reference(s) as I live near Droitwich and was interested in the part it had to play.

 

Regards

 

 

Peter