Your Questions

Dear Cornwell,

my name is Fernando and I am a huge fan of your books. Here in Brazil we are used to see books (and other products as well) being published with a poor quality in general. But your books are something else. The covers here are amazing and, in my opinion, the best all over the world. The Saxon Stories, for example, with drawings that, together, form a bigger drawing (and with the participation of Techno Viking!) are simple awesome. The Artur Books also have great covers. And Azincourt, the one that I'm reading right now, is beautiful too. One of my favourites. So I ask you: what are your favourites covers all around the world? And do you get the chance to approve all your book covers? If so, good job with the brazilian ones. ;)
Fernando Fischer

I am big fan of yours! When will be Death of Kings published in Serbia? Sorry for my bad English. Thanks for your time!
Jovan

In your book Stonehenge, which I am reading again.  The "Outlanders", where they  called that do to geographical location or were they newly arrived Celtic Peoples into Britain?

Can't wait to read "Pagan Lord"!  Take it easy, and thanks for all the great stories.
Danny

Dear Sir,
I am a devoted fan, esp. of the Saxon Tales. Seeing as the USA is enjoying quite a boom in first rate TV series I was wondering why your fans have yet to see this wonderful tale on cable? The History Channel has seen great success with "Vikings" so the story of Uthred would be most well received it would appear. Are you concerned that the story would not be told correctly?
BTW - I long for the reunion of Uhtred and Ragnar.
Your devoted fan,
Pat Leslie

Is Thomas of Hookton very loosely based on the early military life of  the commander of the 'white Company' Sir John Hawkwood ?

Many Thanks
Kelvin Pickford

Hello Bernard,

I just wanted to tell you how great your Arthur Books are. I honestly had never heard of them and found A Winter King in a Goodwill here in Missoula, MT for $2.  I picked it up and read it and as soon as you introduced Arthur I was hooked like never before.  I could not put it down and Immediately ordered Enemy of God and Excalibur.  I finished all three books within a week and turned around and read them again.  I have just gotten in to reading really within the last couple of years.  I have read all of the Fire and Ice series by G.R.R. Martin, these Arthur Books are by far my favorite.  I just wanted to thank you for being such a great author.  I have just recently ordered The Warrior Chronicles/Saxon stories,  although your Arthur books have made me not like them.  Ha Ha.  My only question for you would be to ask if anyone has ever approached you about turning these books into a series of movies or anything like that.  I think these would be incredible movies and
people would fall in love with characters like Derfel and Ceinwyn.  Well thanks for being a great author and I hope you continue to do great things.  I am going to be reading everything you've got in the near future.

Thank you

Nick Arnold

Mr. Cornwell
First I would like to thank you, it is because of you that I can speak passable english. I used to skip english school to watch the sharpe series on the telly which led me to your books. Being a bookworm I forced my self to learn the language so I could read the original versions (i have little faith in translators I am afraid) and for that thank you again.
And now to the fate part. I am currently studying italian literature and culture in uni and in order to pass my history classes I had to write 2 papers. The first was on the Norman occupation of the southern Italy and the second one was on Napoleons campaigns in Italy. The first one led me to read your Saxon stories and well the second one was chosen mainly because your Sharpe series made me a napoleonic era afficionado. I aced both!
And at last a couple of questions if you wouldn't mind. Why do both your heroes in those above mentioned series have so much trouble holding on to a woman? In fact why every female character that forms an attachment with them and is somewhat interesting ends up in the grave? Also how come both protagonists have Irish "sidekicks" that offer (to some extend) comic relief?

My sincere apologies if the questions have been asked numerous times but I could not track down the answers.
Vivi Sereti

Dear Bernard
Inspired by your Sharpe books, my wife and I plan to visit Assaye and Gawilghur on our next trip to India.  Even our Indian tour operator has been unable to find a guide who can show us round these locations!  I imagine that when you were writing the Sharpe books you visited and researched these places as you always do.  The internet provides a certain amount of material, but can you provide us with any suggestions on source material, maps/instructions on how to find these locations, people who might be able to help and generally how we might get the most out of our visit?
kind regards
David

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

my name is Benton Walters and I'd like to, if I may, ask your help. You see I am currently writing a historical fiction story and while I'm following some of your very helpful advice (provided to me from a packet of your words for new writers printed by a friend for me) I keep feeling that I don't have enough commentary for my story and that it's a bit too dialogue oriented and I was hoping that you could help me in figuring out a way to add commentary while still be true to the story. I understand if this is a bit much to ask but any help would greatly be appreciated. Thank you for your time and for created such wonderful books.

I see this week you wrote regarding Sharpe... "He’s from London.  The background of his family is the gutter.  He thinks he’s English."

A little clue there perhaps as to the riddle of his father? Sharpe _thinks_ he's English... but perhaps his father would say otherwise?
Phil Dean