Your Questions

Love your stuff . Question, did the Basque ever come up in research around the battle of Vitoria? I am doing research for a friend of mine of Basque descent.

Riley Cogan

I know R. Sharpe is not exactly high on your work list now, but I do have some comments: Don't you think that Teresa is really Sharpe's greatest love - and having said that, (and I might be missing something) shouldn't his daughter with her have a greater presence? Love the books - thanks so much for writing them, and for great writing - in every sense!! Jay Sheth

Ok, I've spent the whole day in work today, after reading the overview of Richard Sharpe on wikipedia, with the riddle of Sharpe's father stuck in my head. It is winding me up and I know from your hints that his father is french and a rogue. I was wondering, does he appear in the books at all and did Sharpe meet him? Many thanks for the years of fun with Sharpe as i have read the full series so many times, and loved the starbuck chronicles. I eagerly await the next one but know you are writing other things so I won't push for a date, haha. I think I'll whet my teeth to the other series' you have written and my next read is the fort. Simon, Liverpool

I have enjoyed the saxon series and am up to the angels in death of kings any chance of getting the series made into a computer game like Ubisoft Assasians creed series? Having read the series it seems to me that it has all the action and intrigue that would be a great game.

Stephen

Where is Sharpe's Mission? it is in German only... that seems really strange...

Scott Hassler

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have read about about 15 of your books and have more on my bookshelf to read. I enjoy your writing very much. I read "Sharpe's Gold" in pocket book form and am presently reading "Sharpe's Company". I borrowed the dvd "Sharpe's Gold" from the library and have just viewed it. The characters are mainly the same as the those in the book with a few exceptions. The new characters have been inserted to comply with the plot of the story on screen. The plot of the movie is entirely different from that of your story. I have seen 2 other movies, such as "Sharpe's Revenge" and "Sharpe's Sword" and although some parts have been changed, the movie version goes along with the theme of the story. I was quite disappointed with the movie "Sharpe's Gold" although I truly enjoyed the book. My question is how could you allow the plot of the story you wrote to be changed completely by the producers of the movie version. Allan Bernstein

Hello there! I've just recently been introduced to your work, the first being your Warlord Chronicles. They were fantastic, and the twist about Derfel's hand was genius. I yelled so loudly with surprise that my family thought I was nuts! I'm currently reading Azincourt, (the names for the French are hilarious!), and I'm thoroughly impressed with the way you right the battles. I'm actually an aspiring fantasy writer, (I'm sure you've heard that a lot!) and I've almost finished the first book in my trilogy. However, to quote the great Inigo Montoya, I have no gift for strategy. So I was wondering if you could offer some tips when attempting to write large scale battles and the military/political planning of them? It can be difficult to think of realistic tactics when I can't experience them. Any help or advice would be golden, but if you don't get a chance to reply then I'll understand entirely. Can't be a bestseller without being a hard worker. So I wish you the best and hope to hear from you some day. Thank you for your time. Jo Amies

Have just finished reading "Death of Kings" and wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying the Saxon stories. I am a bit of a British history buff so these and the grail books are a great read for me. I have over the years read most of your output though I cannot confess to having read all of your work. The Sharpe books are excellent, I particularly enjoyed the Indian episodes. I currently live in Buckingham so I was pleased to see Uthred living there as well. The location of the town on the Ouse makes it a highly defendable place so you can see why the saxons made it a homestead. Did you actually visit the town during your research? Originally, I come from Dagenham, another great Saxon place. A few years ago I did my genealogy chart, just out of curiosity really. I am partially from Hugenout refugee stock, from French Flanders, and partially from herring fishermen in the Yarmouth area (Anglian). I guess I am more Danish than Saxon which is not what I hoped for. Still I suppose we Brits are a bunch of mongrels anyway. At one point you mention that Uhtred's "army" is made up of Saxons, Danes, Frankish and Finians. I reckon we all are. Once again, thanks for a great read. I look forward to the next episode. Regards Arthur Newman

I have all Six of the Saxon stories in unabridged Audio Book format and I wondered why the Burning Land and Death of Kings start referring to Uhtred being from Bamburgh instead of Bebbanburg? Was this deliberate or is it a publisher thing similar to harry potter and the philosopher’s stone changing to seer’s stone? Either way really enjoyed the series so far and looking forward to more. regards, Ralph Mortimer

Hello Mr. Cornwell. After reading the Sharpe and Grail quest series, I have embarked upon the Saxon stories. I haven't quite got up to Death of Kings yet, but I was thinking. Now that Uhtred is in his forties, which for Medieval times was quite old, do you have any concerns about the stories not being as "action-packed", as the earlier ones? Judging from the excerpts, Uhtred isn't the rash, bold, headstrong warrior he was before. Will we still be enthralled by the later books? when Uhtred finally gets round too re-taking Bebbanberg, will he be too old and sick to do it himself? Yours, Daniel Evans