Your Questions

One of the reasons I enjoyed the Sharpe books was the fact that Sgt. Harper enjoyed birds so much and they were described so appropriately (e.g., proper habitat and actions), and it was so sad when he ceased his birdwatching. Was there any particular reason why this change in character happened?

Doris Falkenheiner

Hi Mr Cornwell firstly I'd just like to say Thank You for writing such wonderful stories :-) I'm glad my birthday's in September as it co-insides with the release of The Death of Kings so guess what i want for my birthday :-) would there be a possibility of a British signing tour it would be a pleasure to meet you & certainly make my birthday a very memorable occasion Best Wishes Helen

Dear Bernard, I am just finishing a re-read of your wonderful Saxon stories and am glad to see Uhtred `rides again' [Death of Kings] in time for Father Christmas to fill my stocking ! I sincerely hope this is not the last in the series. Do you ever visit the UK and perform book signings Bernard ? Many thanks. Paul. Liverpool, UK

Dear mr cornwell. Thank you for your response to my previous question. I was wondering if you plan to come over to the uk to do any book signings when death of kings is released.

David Fox

Hi Bernard I am a huge fan of your books and have read most of them, my favourite being the Arthur novels which have been read and re read a number of times. Azincourt is also a fantastic novel, you have a great ability to her round the romanticism of knights in battle and bring out the realistic harshness of what it must have really been like. I am looking forward immensely to the next Saxon book and wanted to know if your planning to visit England once it is launched to give talks and signings as. Many thanks, Simon

Ever since I read the last book of the "Warlord chronicles" I have been asking myself the same question : What happened in Dumnonia after Mordred was killed in Camlann and Arthur disappeared ? Did Meurig of Gwent succeed in taking Dumnonia over ? Or was this prevented by the king of Powys ? And when circa did the battle of Camlann take place ? The map in Excalibur says "The Kingdoms of Britain ca.525" but in fact through the whole series there are several inconsistencies concerning the timeline and the age of Derfel and Arthur, so the battle would have taken place much sooner .... . Kit

Hello there, Just a quick one to satisfy my curiosity really. I live in London and recently went to visit my parents caravan at Durdle Dor holiday park in Dorset. I happened to have just finished the very good Grail Quest series and was wondering weather the Hookton that you described was based on / around the nearby Lulworth Cove? I hope you can settle my mind on this as they both seem very similar. Keep up the good work! Kind Regards, John Churchill

hey, my name is Gavyn, I'm 17 and from south wales :) this is just a little thank you :) i have just finished reading the Winter King and Enemy of God, i have just the 3rd book waiting for me on my book shelf, and i cant wait to read it but i thought that i would take the time to send you an email. I love those books, i'm getting a bit to into them that i'm just sitting on my bed all day and reading them, i love the fact that there not like the normal Arthurian tales, your stories make them sound a lot more believable, as if your telling what actually happened in them times. your books has inspired me to go out and look at some of these druid sites that still remain and to go to Angulsy. also did you go to any of these places you mentioned in your books as research ? thanks again i look forward to reading the third book Gavyn x

Hi Bernard, I think it is somewhere in Sharpe's Siege, where Fredrickson is struck by the resemblance between Sharpe and Captain Killick, the American privateer. Is this a pointer to Sharpe's parentage? Regards Willie

Regarding the "Sharpe's Father riddle", is the answer to the riddle "American"? It's difficult to explain how I came up with this answer, so I thought I'd just ask first whether or not I'm correct. Thanks.

Richard

Enjoyed The Fort. Question: on page 18 New Ireland is mentioned. I can find on reference it this in historical references. Is this pure fiction or can you point me toward a historical reference document? Tom Kennedy

Sir, I am a huge fan and have devoured all of your amazing historical novels. I especially enjoy the Saxon Stories. I was just wondering if you have ever considered writing your own version of a literary classic like The Count of Monte Cristo?

Rick Conard

I've just finished reading the last Sharpe novel 'Sharpe's Devil' and one of the things that made me particularly want to read it was Don Blas Vivar. I loved the character in Rifles and he seems to represent something of an old world as it were, in fact between him and Cochrane you see two sides of an old coin, I think. There is so much of the dark or crude side of humanity in your novels (which is good) but it is even better to see something of the good or righteous side so strongly and wholly represented. I wondered if you felt any admiration for the character you created. Or does he represent some values or characteristics you respect perhaps of men you have known? As an aside I want also to mention that I thought the book was brilliant and the twist at the end was excellent especially the way it was tied into the action. I saw in an interview once you said you didn't think the book worked, well it worked for me! Thank you for writing it and all the Sharpes.

Gary Watson

May I ask where you got the name "Finan" for your character in The Saxon Series? I've been researching my father's side of the family and have Finan ancestors! but can't find out much about the name - any help would be grateful!!

Marie Watson