Your Questions

Must say I really enjoy your Sharps books! But I really hope you will consider to let Starbuck march again! I am a big fan of historical novel. And have to admit compare to the european battlefield the american military NP from the civil war is better preserved, easy to understand and more enjoyable. I have visit a lot of them, and when I visit Antietam, it was very helpful to have «The Bloody Ground» fresh in mind. In the same book on the last sentence you wrote: «Lee had been rebuffed at Antietam, but he was far from beaten. Starbuck will march again» This is in 1862, and the war ended in 1865. There is a gap of 3 years to fill. With your magnificent talent to historical novel I hope you will let those final word be materialize!….So will there be more Starbucks?…if not why?

Best regards

Odd Magnar Tjensvoll - Norway

Just finished Sharpe's Assassin and was as pleased by the experience as I've always been by all of your books!

I've read that you have declared the Saxon Chronicles complete and this one seems like  a wrap-up as well.  If indeed you are aiming at retirement, I can only say "Well done and happy travels!"  If you aren't, I'll always be ready to read anything you produce.  I can honestly say that seeing a new book with your name on it has always felt a good bit like Christmas to me.

Best wishes!

Jim Peale

 

Does it ever get old when people write or tell you in person just how much they enjoy your writing? The character development and plot twists are just amazing to me that one person's imagination can coming up with new ideas for so many stories in so many books. Finally, have you ever thought about doing a book just on Finan? I'd like to know more about him.

Rick M

Just saying Hi ,

I wonder if you ever considered writing a novel about the Alamo ?

Maybe a strange question from someone originally from N. Ireland but it’s something I wanted to ask you for a long time and so today plucked up the courage to send this email

Thanks ,

David

 

Sir, (it certainly should be)

Strange question for you.....

Have you ever considered Sharpe's Death ?

Rgds

Frank Cavanagh

Hi! I am a TV enthusiast and consider Last Kingdom to be 2nd only to Game of Thrones, so naturally I had to start reading the books. However, unlike the GoT books, I enjoyed and finished the 1st 8 (until after the final Netflix season). When I caught up in TLK, I discovered Richard Sharpe and am flying through them. But I have 2 questions that, after 15 Sharpe books, still perplex me. And I only ask because, given that you do such an excellent, thorough job of explaining that era's battle tactics, I suspect you enjoy this subject, and because I can't find reliable answers online.

 

Why did armies rely on 3-4 shots/min with muskets when a bow could fire around 15 (12-20ish) shots/min, with accuracy, and with a longer effective range? The online answers are about noise being terrifying to the enemy, muskets requiring less skill to operate, and arrows being too expensive. I don't buy those excuses.

 

Two sides of 100 men within musket range of each other in a field, one side fires 350 balls/min, the other fires 1500 arrows/min (and can start firing sooner given the increased range) - it seems so obvious which would be superior. Even centuries earlier, when guns were even less effective, they still [inexplicably] replaced bows.

 

And second, when artillery ripped a hole in the ranks as they marched towards the enemy, why did they so quickly close the gaps? Why not spread the soldiers out to minimize the artillery and opposing muskets' effectiveness, and wait until the last necessary moment to consolidate the troops?

 

Btw, you don't sound unfriendly, it's unfortunate you have to say those things in the first place. I resisted sending this for months because I feel bad asking for your time; you don't owe me or anyone anything :). Now, my manuscript, on the other hand, is the exception to the - kidding!

 

And, of course, thank you for creating such amazing stories! I am a huge fan of historical fiction; the knowledge that these events actually happened -- regular old fiction just can't compete. I'd love to see Sharpe re-made into a modern series (with a bigger production budget), where they don't cut so much of the story in order to fit it into 100 minutes. And so Sharpe's lady friends can be in HD. It was a shame seeing a 28-year-old Elizabeth Hurley in standard resolution...

Nick Plagman

Mr. Cornwell,

I am currently reading Lt-col Burne's account of the hundred years war.  This is one of my favorite periods in history.  After reading your grail series I picked up Hoskin's book as you recommend and I came across one he wrote on siege warfare during the hundred years war. Is there somewhere, a source book, hopefully more then one, with contemporary sources translated into English?  Something for the lay person is what I'm after but well into the weeds.

Keep up the good work and thank you for finally giving Lancelot the literary treatment he so richly deserves.

Best regards,

John Crawford

Lynchburg, Va.

Mr. Cornwell,

 

Thank you for your wonderful books.  The Grail Quest series inspired both my wife and I to take up archery so that we might one day answer the call and fight for the King!  The Last Kingdom series has sparked an interest in history and historical fiction.  All of this had led to a more meaningful relationship with my 96 year old grandfather, who has always been a fountain of knowledge.

 

Your fantastic writing has inspired me to complete a novel of my own.  Thank you again for the countless hours of work you have done.  How long a hiatus do you take between books?  Do you ever work on more than one project at once?

 

Scott

I much enjoyed Sharpe's Assassin (and all your other books), but please forgive me for being so tedious as to point out what I believe to be an anachronism on p.113 of the hardback edition, where Fox says: "He likes our money, Sharpe. The horsemen of St George!" You add: "He meant guineas, the golden coin which showed St George mounted on a horse."

British golden guineas did not bear a St George design, but a depiction of the royal arms. (The simplicity of the arms on the most recent issue led to them being commonly called "Spade Guineas".) The problem cannot be corrected by changing "guineas" to "sovereigns", because the gold sovereign bearing Pistrucci's famous George and Dragon design was not introduced until the currency rearrangements of 1816-7.

Alastair Wilson

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I have just started reading "Sharpe's Assassin" and am thoroughly enjoying this very welcome return of your best creation. I am, however, a little confused with the rank of the officer, Vincent, whom the Duke of Wellington sends off with Sharpe in the opening chapter. The Duke refers to him as "Major Vincent" on page 18 but it is quickly evident in the ensuing pages that Vincent outranks Sharpe. Is Vincent in fact a major general?

Best regards

Keith Edwards