Your Questions

Q

Hi Bernard -

I am Chris, a 32 year old aspiring writer from Canberra, Australia. I found your work a couple of years ago when TLK first made it onto Netflix and immediately started to tear through the written series (loved the last one by the way, Fantastic!). I am currently writing a fantasy series, that started out as a Historical Fiction and evolved from there. I have been re-reading your TLK series again for inspiration, I'm taking more time this read through to focus on arcs, particularly the friendships of Uhtred with Leofric and also Brida. But mainly I find it difficult to write fight scenes. I find you are able to describe them so effectively, and your work has helped me to improve in this area so much! I was wondering, when you write a fight scene, do you have a process for planning the fight out before you start to write? Do you play it out physically with somebody else, or some other process to visualise the action, or are you able to come up with it as you go just with an end result in mind?

Appreciate you taking the time to read this

Again, love your work Mr Cornwell, thank you so much for all the inspiration and countless hours of entertainment!

With regards -

Chris Edwards.

Submitted January 13, 2022

A

It probably won’t help to say it depends on the fight. If it’s the description of a real action, say the Battle of Salamanca, then I follow the historians and embroider onto their accounts the actions of my fictional characters, but if the action is entirely fictional I make it up as I go along, with constant revisions as it develops.  I like not knowing how such sequences will end (though I’d be astonished if Sharpe or Uhtred lost), and I suspect that uncertainty gives an added tension to the narrative? As for visualizing the action – it’s all in the imagination.  If it’s a large battle then you must begin by making sure the reader has the geography in mind so they can follow the movements, but after that you’re free to focus in on individuals and describe what they see, hear, smell, feel and do! Read John Keegan’s great book – The Face of Battle – which will tell you what the reader needs to know!

Q

a new starbuck!

seriously though. i know you wont write another starbuck, but why?

is it the negative association with the confederate flag? are you bored by it?

and if you'll indulge me:

 

  1. what cultures/historical times you find fascinating but cant write about because you lack the time to do research about?
  2. what advice can you give for aspiring writers whose native language isn't English (but still want to write in English)
  3. please write me a short story with sgt Harper as a protagonist so i don't have to write one myself

Malachi Dodd , Earl of Farthingale

Submitted January 13, 2022

A

I’m not bored by Starbuck and haven’t totally written off the thought of another book.  I suspect I’m simply happier in the company of Sharpe.

Maybe the Roman period?  The research is all over my bookshelves, but I’m slightly daunted about opening those books. And I’m really too old to start another series!

To remember Joseph Conrad whose native language was Polish and who claims never to have even heard English until he was 23. He ended up as a major English novelist!  Maybe it’s a better idea to write in your native language and depend on translators? But Conrad is a shining example of what can be done!

 

Q

Dear Bernard

I saw this video on British Light Infantry in the American Revolution that you might find of interest. I should say though after watching this that Sam Gilpin Uniform in the book Redcoat is all wrong and you'll have to do a rewrite on that book.

Any chance of a Sequel to Redcoat on the British evacuation from Philadelphia and the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse  ?

Anyway enjoy

Geraint

https://youtu.be/A-tSAtRF9_E

Submitted January 13, 2022

A

Thank you!  I doubt there’ll be a rewrite – Sam’s uniform will have to suffice!

 

Q

Happy new year Bernard. I wondered if you'd ever thought of the 7 Years War and the Battle of Minden which is a famous British Battle for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers while its infamous for George Sackville later Lord Germain who was the War Secretary in the American Revolution

P.S if you've not read them I recommend 1759 the year of Victories by Frank Mclynn on Quebec/Minden and Quiberon Bay which all happened in the same year.  Plus  Prussias Glory by Christopher Duffy on Frederick the Greats Victories of Rossbach and Leuthen. Supposedly after Jena/Auderstadt Napoleon remarked Rossbach is avenged

Geraint

Submitted January 13, 2022

A

I’ve thought of it, but not for long.  But I’ll take another look – thank you!

Q

Dear Sir,

I have much enjoyed the Uhtred series, all the way to The War Lord.

I am left with a vexing question - why is Gisela never mentioned as being in Valhalla, as opposed to all the lords Uhtred fought with and against? Are women excluded?

All the best,

Marie-Claire Perrault

Submitted January 13, 2022

A

They’re not excluded – a heaven without women would be hell! Though admittedly Valhalla does seem to be a male preserve (other than the Valkyries), so Gisela probably went to Helgafjell which was a mountain where the goddess Freyja ruled over a feasting hall open to both genders.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I am an avid reader of the Sharpe series, to the point, occasionally, of rereading some, particularly Sharpe's Waterloo. I own the Fontana paperback edition (1991). I am hoping that you might clear something up for me. On the top of page 232, there is this exchange between Sgt Harper and Sharpe:

Harper: "The Germans will be here by early afternoon, eh? Where will they come from? 'From over there', Sharpe pointed to the west, ...beyond the left flank of Wellington's line.".

I was under the impression that Blucher's forces were east (not west) of Wellington's, near Wavre. after the battle of Ligny. This seems to be confirmed by Sharpe's reference to "beyond the left flank" of Wellington. Is it possible that the use of "west" here is an editing error, or am I confused and mistaken?

Hoping to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Russell Copeman

Montreal, Canada

 

Submitted January 13, 2022

A

You are not confused, but I am. For some inexplicable reason I confuse east and west whenever I’m writing. I never do when I’m sailing, thank God, but my manuscripts are replete with easts when it should be west and vice versa – so that’s a mistake we didn’t find when the book went to press. I’m sorry!

 

Q

Do you have any plans for another Rider Sandman adventure?

Michael Allen

Submitted January 12, 2022

A

I have given it some consideration....

Q

Did you read the novels of Rosemary Sutcliffe?  Her series on Roman Britain was of the Young Adult variety, but Sword At Sunset was straight up adult fiction.  I discovered them in the school library in the 6th grade and devoured them.  I can honestly say that they were beginning of my love of British history to this day.

Victoria Alvey

 

Submitted January 12, 2022

A

I think I read Sword at Sunset many, many moons ago.  I remember thinking it was a great title!

Q

Having just finished one book by one of your fellow authors I finally got round to starting Sharpe’s assassin. On page 24 you say Sharpe thought he was around 38years old and had decided that August 1 would be his birthday as that was easy to remember. Was it a random decision to choose Yorkshire Day as Sharpe’s birthday, or was it a nod to Sean Bean who as a fellow South Yorkshireman, I was born in Dinnington which is not far from Sean’s home city of Sheffield?

Thank you for bringing Sharpe and Pat Harper back. Can we expect any more stories involving the battling friends?

Adrian Leigh

Submitted January 9, 2022

A

I confess I had no idea it was Yorkshire Day, but I’m delighted to learn that it was. I made the arbitrary decision that it would be Sharpe’s assumed birthday years ago and suspect I made it on August 1st!  And I’d placed Sharpe in Yorkshire long before the excellent Sean Bean came along so that was a happy coincidence.  And remember Sharpe begins his military service as a private in the 33rd – a Yorkshire regiment. I don’t have any personal connection to Yorkshire and only chose the 33rd because that was the Duke of Wellington’s first battalion command – but Sean made it all much more believable!

Q

I am interested in the truth behind some of the gifts bestowed to other kingdoms and warriors, such as in ‘Enemy if God’, after Arthur orders the head of Cadwy to King Mark, he then sends a tribute of polished turtle shells ‘that had washed up on the shores of his wild country’. Were items like this truly viewed as prizes or of some significant value, possibly a gift of the ‘Gods’ or a treasure of the wilds? I wonder at the historical truth behind this.

Ross Brodt

Submitted January 9, 2022

A

I honestly can’t remember about the turtle shells, but suspect I picked up a reference to them in some archaeological paper, and I’m sure they were considered valuable gifts simply because of their rarity.  Some items, like auroch’s horns, were known to be treasures of the wild, but others? Who knows? I suspect some were considered supernatural, but anything rare would be considered valuable and a worthy gift.