Your Questions

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

I know that you have said in the past that Uhtred is based on a real man that you are descended from. If I remember correctly, at the end of Agincourt you also stated that you are a relative of Sir John of Cornwaile. I'm just wondering if that would make, at least in the world you have created, Sir John a descendant of Uhtred?

Luke

Dear Bernard
On the napoleon website, there is an interesting discussion on whether Wellington could have beaten Davout if they had ever faced each other and whether Suchet could have done better had been taken out of the Eastern theatre, I wondered what your own thoughts were on the subject? Do you think Davout could have bested Wellington and seeing as how Suchet lost at Castalla could he have done better than Soult in the main battles against Wellington or even Hill ?
Also will you ever visit Chester in the near future, when you visit the UK you only seem to do London, there are fans of your books in the north west too as well you know, besides the battle brunaburh was only round the corner on the wirral.
Yours sincerely
Geraint
P.S Dunno if you have read it or not but there is an excellent book called A bold and ambitious enterprise by Andrew Bamford on the British campaign in the Low Countries in 1813/14 commanded by Thomas Graham, which is worth a read especially since it's a campaign that has not been studied very much.

Bernard,
I Love it all, what's next?
Stewart O'Brien

 

Will Thomas of Hookton story end with 1356? I hope not.  My next read will be The Fort or Stonehenge.

Michael Shaffer

Good evening good sir!

I am curious which book you have published that has given you the largest monetary profit? I hope you don't see this as rude or intruding, I'm not asking an amount, just the title of the book that was responsible for it. I have always been very curious. Thank you for your time.

Best regards,

Paul

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

let me tell your I have read all your medieval novels, I loved them so much! I have a couple of questions... any chance you'll writing books about Nájera battle (1367) and the battle of  Verneuil (1424) ?

Regards from Colombia SouthAmerica.
Dany

After reading most of the Sharpe books I came across the HERETIC book from the GRAIL QUEST series, . Myself and a colleague, both psychologists, have delved deeply into the myth and phenomenon of the story behind the double digit signal that many believe to stem from the period concerned in the series.  We have spent considerable time and effort reading the archival materials in both England and France and can find no materials concerning the purported origin that it came about during the war period between the two countries.  As such, we have nearly completed a document for presentation to a psychological association concerned with historically incorrect data, and for publication at a later date.  In the HERETIC book, mention is made on several separate occasions of this punishment (p. 17, p. 172, p. 331, p. 367 but I do not know if it is contained in others of the series.)  If you have any available first hand knowledge and information, from manuscripts,paintings, tapestries, etc., could you avail us with this knowledge.  If that is possible, we can withhold our presentation in order to conduct further research     and, if necessary, re-evaluate and rewrite our material.  Although we found no evidence supporting this behaviour, by the French, allusion is mentioned that sometimes a lord of a manor would perform this act to poachers killing his deer by the use of the bow and arrow.  However, that also may be a myth which needs to be destroyed as is the one concerning a recovered "lost" bird of prey being allowed to tear flesh from the breast of the falconer who allowed the bird to become lost.  I thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

David J. Cottrell.

Hello Bernard
I have been wracking my brains to remember a Sharpe book set in Yorkshire where Sharpe meets his brother. Am I going daft or was there such a book, I think I recollect reading it years ago
thanks
Jeff

Big Sharpe fan and about to embark on the early England series. Question: I seem to remember either in the Sharpe books or in the BBC series a description of the Light Troops quick march as an alternating walk/run of six steps each. I'm actually doing this as part of an exercise regime, but can't find any documentation of this as a real practice. Can you help?
Maureen Walsh

Hello Mr Cornwell,

I have long been aware of your books but due to history in my lower years at school I despised the subject and so did not read any historical fiction which therefore included your books. I remember watching Sharpe when I was younger and I couldn't stand it; my hate of history combined with the dusty scenery bored me so much that I henceforth vehemently proclaimed my dislike of the show. However my interest in WWII somehow persuaded me to take History for GCSE - which I am studying this year - despite my hate of the topic. However I began to enjoy History and soon discovered that History was not quite as boring as school had led me to believe and soon I found myself reading solely Historical Fiction. A friend who shares my love for both History and Historical Fiction recommended you to me as he had just completed the entire Sharpe series which he enthusiastically recommended. I was at first sceptical but I promised him I would consider it. After arriving home, I went upstairs and turned on the computer and after a quick search on YouTube I discovered Sharpe's Rifles. I loved it. I loved Shaun Bean. I couldn't get enough and so the next day, I went to HMV and bought them all. I will now take my time to apologise for my previous comments of Sharpe and I wish to retract them because he is in my opinion one of the greats and I find him a true admirable fellow. Indeed I would rank him among the likes of Bilbo Baggins (although I’m sure Sharpe wouldn't like that) and Hornblower. The former, although not a military man was my favourite book character but Sharpe is now rivalling him and the latter, although also one of my favourites, I believe is inferior to Sharpe and that is saying a lot (my apologies to C.S. Forester).

However moving on from that long-winded explanation I would like to ask how far back in History are you planning to write. Will we see anything of Rome or its Classical contemporaries? Also, have you ever considered writing about the World Wars?
Thank You for taking your time to read such a large quantity of writing for such a small question.
Adam Buckland