Your Questions

Q

Well you sucked me into the Sharpe's father riddle - so I will just make one guess and give up. My thoughts go to whomever might couple with a prostitute in 1776 (around October). So I will say John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich. Thanks for the Sharpe series, in my opinion it is second only to Patrick O'Brien for originality and historic accuracy. I know I learned more about the Battle of Waterloo from your book than several texts on the subject.

Jerry Desmond

Submitted November 4, 2011

A

He should have been so lucky, sorry.

Q

So, is the famous pattern welded sword discovered at Bamburgh castle really Uhtred's serpent breath?

Nicholas Smith

Submitted November 4, 2011

A

No, it's just a very happy coincidence that they found it. Or yes, if you prefer?

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell. Thank you for another great read in Death of Kings. I frequent your site and have certainly noticed that many of your readers (myself included!) are clamoring for more Uhtred, or more Sharpe, or more Thomas, or more Starbuck, or more of all of the above. I noticed from your bibliography that as recently as a few years ago, you published multiple novels per year. With so much interest in your various works, are you the least bit tempted to go back to such a release schedule? Of course, I'm afraid with even the most diligent of effort, we'll always read them faster than you can write them.... Thanks again for your wonderful stories. Best regards, Shawn

Submitted November 4, 2011

A

I wouldn't mind going back to two books a year . . .I sometimes wish I were still doing that, but the trouble is that I fell among actors and for the last five years I've spent my summer on stage at the Monomoy Theatre, making an idiot of myself, and this year, for instance, I was at the theatre, either rehearsing or performing, every day between June 7th and August 28th, which left no time for writing. So it's a choice - acting or writing? And right now I do like my summer idiocy, so I'm afraid it's still one book a year. Sorry

Q

Hello: I am a great fan and poor because I cannot get enough of your books. (White Lie) My question involves the Peninsular War and your recommendation or referral to "The Peninsular and Waterloo Campaigns" by Edward Costello. 1967 on page 316 of the paperback edition of "Sharpe's Sword". It is the first printing by Signet. I have gone to Amazon and researched the book and was inundated by books of the genre and would to ask you to recommend a good read, by an author of your choice on the subject. I promise not to sue, I just want to enjoy learning this marvelous history. Please stay healthy and inspired as I look forward to anything you write. A devoted and happy fan Sharkey

Submitted November 4, 2011

A

Well, Costello is a good read! So is 'The recollections of Rifleman Harris' - Eileen Hathaway has edited good editions of both Costello and Harris. I'd recommend 'Adventures in the Rifle Brigade' by Kincaid, an officer, and my favourite is 'On the Road with Wellington' by August Schaumann who was a German commissary officer with the Kings German Legion and left a remarkable account of his experiences. For a good overview, read Richard Holmes's Redcoat! Good luck!

Q

Hello. Would you ever consider writing about Edgar the Atheling, who I think is a fascinating character in British history? He had a very interesting life, and is often known as 'England's lost king'. Many thanks, Andrew Storey, Leeds.

Submitted November 4, 2011

A

I might, but he's not in the pipeline at the moment, so it would be a long way off . . .

Q

Dear Bernard, Wow! I cant believe that I took so long to grab hold of the Sharpe books! Ive only done so recently and I have read two (Triumph and Rifles) and have just finished Chapter One of Havoc and already that heartbreaking bridge collapse scene has me well and truly hooked and thinking about the sheer horrible truths of war. Just wanted to ask a question, Ive seen some people who have labelled your work "historically biased" and some even say you must hate the French! I hope I am right in saying any views of characters in your books are just those of your characters and not yours personally, for you do not seem to be the kind of man to hate for no reason! It was just I found some of the remarks offensive and they weren't even about me! I take it to be just characteristic views of what many an Englishman would have felt for any of Napoleon's army back in those long and bloody wars. Am I right? Keep on writing these books and I hope it isn't too long until another new Sharpie lad! Thanks Mr Cornwell, from Matt Rabjohns

Submitted November 1, 2011

A

I guess it depends what view is being expressed! As characters express lots of views, many of them contradictory, some are bound to coincide with mine. Do I hate the french/ No! Do I think Napoleon was a vile warmonger and needed to be stopped? Yes. But really, I'm not responsible (no?) for my character's opinions!

Q

Mr Cornwell, I have a question regarding Sharpe's Tiger, in this book Sharpe gets flogged against an A frame made of sergeant's halberds however in other books you describe Sharpe's flogging as being against an overturned wagon. I was just wondering if there was any reason for this change? is the former more historically accurate?

Daniel Sutton

Submitted November 1, 2011

A

I think it totally depended on what was available! Sometimes an A-frame was constructed, sometimes it was a makeshift 'scaffold'. I think they're both historically viable.

Q

Dear Mr.Cornwell. Have just finished reading DEATH OF KINGS which has left me wanting to know more about our Saxon ancestry. However, my first love is still the Sharpe series - will there be another novel in the foreseeable future?

Rob Cottrell

Submitted November 1, 2011

A

There will be more Sharpe, but when? . . . . I just don't know right now.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell. Thank you for another great read in Death of Kings. I frequent your site and have certainly noticed that many of your readers (myself included!) are clamoring for more Uhtred, or more Sharpe, or more Thomas, or more Starbuck, or more of all of the above. I noticed from your bibliography that as recently as a few years ago, you published multiple novels per year. With so much interest in your various works, are you the least bit tempted to go back to such a release schedule? Of course, I'm afraid with even the most diligent of effort, we'll always read them faster than you can write them.... Thanks again for your wonderful stories. Best regards, Shawn

Submitted November 1, 2011

A

I wouldn't mind going back to two books a year . . .I sometimes wish I were still doing that, but the trouble is that I fell among actors and for the last five years I've spent my summer on stage at the Monomoy Theatre, making an idiot of myself, and this year, for instance, I was at the theatre, either rehearsing or performing, every day between June 7th and August 28th, which left no time for writing. So it's a choice - acting or writing? And right now I do like my summer idiocy, so I'm afraid it's still one book a year. Sorry

Q

would you consider a series of starbuck goes west?

Gene Kite

Dear Mr Cornwell, Firstly, many, many thanks for giving me so many hours of pure reading joy; not since discovering Dickens as a young man have I enjoyed one person's writing so much. I have read so much of what you have written and love it all, especially the Saxon stories, but above all, the Starbuck Chronicles. So ... to my complaint! You simply cannot leave Starbuck where he is - can you? As a Brit with a long abiding passion for the American Civil War, I long to know what he did after Antietam and then after 1865. It's been 15 years since vol IV and you have written so much since then, surely you could now put us all out of our misery? There are many of us out here holding similar views and some of us don't have a great deal of time left! With the greatest respect and many thanks again, yours very sincerely, Roger Sillence

Dear Bernard On a previously asked question dated 7th Nov 2001 on whether you will be writing any further stories on the starbuck chronicles how long do you anticipate to have a new book out on this it's nearly 2012 and we are desperate to know how the series will continue Kind regards

Leigh

Submitted November 1, 2011

A

I think he'll probably stay in the east . . . I know a lot of folk would like to see him leave Lee's army, but that, I think, is where the greater drama is so he'll stay there.