Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell Hiya I'm glad to hear you will be visiting Blighty again soon...book signing I hope...please try to get close to Wales - we get left out a lot here! I was wondering about your Dad. He was a Canadian airman. Do you know with which squadron? My Uncle, although a Londoner flew with the Moose Squadron Canadian RAF. Look forward to hearing from you or seeing you again. Loyal Sharpe fan Bev

Submitted August 4, 2011

A

I don't know, sorry . . and sadly it's too late to ask him.

Q

Maybe this is a silly question; but how do you pronounce "fyrd"?

Mickster

Submitted August 4, 2011

A

That isn't a silly question at all . . . like 'feared'.

Q

just a note to say how much I've enjoyed the Sharpe series and the Saxon stories. thank you for writing them! I wondered why you changed the character of Hakeswill when you went back and did tiger and the India books - I love his "says so in the scriptures" which isn't in enemy etc

Steve Lavery

Submitted August 4, 2011

A

Because I didn't think of it till then . . . . one of the huge drawbacks of writing books out of their chronological sequence.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am currently working on research for a BA Honours History dissertation on British Military Intelligence (the collection and transmission of etc.) in the Peninsular War. In your novel Sharpe's Gold you make reference to a telegraph system employing pig's bladders to transmit messages across parts of Iberia. I have been struggling to find any history books explaining this method in more detail, are there any books or sources that you may have used in writing Sharpe's Gold that you would be able to recommend regarding this telegraph system? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated, Regards, Duncan Ainslie

Submitted August 4, 2011

A

Oh dear . . . I wrote that book thirty years ago and I've long lost the notes. I can tell you I didn't make it up, but that's small consolation - it possibly came from some diary or book of collected letters? But which? At this distance I have no idea . . . or possibly it came from Philip Haythornthwaite's excellent book on arms and equipment of the Peninsular War? The biography of Colquhoun Grant, perhaps? I'm sorry, it's just too long ago to recall . . . .

Q

I'm currently enjoying The Fort, but as an ex Royal Marine I feel I must question your reference to RM on page 61. I've always understood that Marines didn't become Royal until 1802. Haven't you jumped the gun a bit by giving them the Royal title in 1779? Love your books -Keep writing! Best regards Dave

Submitted August 4, 2011

A

I have, and I do apologise for that.

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell, My name is Gabriel. I´m Brazilian .I´m a fan of the warlord chronicles and I want to know , What is the purpose of Derfel, he dies in the fight against the Saxons in the monastery ? sorry for mistakes in translating my question.

Gabriel Ferreira

Submitted August 4, 2011

A

I honestly don't know what happens to Derfel! I've left that for you to ponder....

Q

Hello, Mr. Cornwell! I'm a Brazilian fan, so my english is not the better, but I wanted to say that I'd love your work, and try to buy every single book of you. I don't like the publishers of here have changed the name of Arthur for Artur, and The Arlekin for The Heretic, but I know that you can't have anything to do with that. I wanna know if you will come for Binal do Livro 2011, in Rio. I waiting for your letter soon (I already have asked that in another). Hope you still writing your wonderfull books, because in my 17 years old you're my biggest idol. Jéssica Frutuoso Mello

Submitted August 4, 2011

A

I will not be in Rio in 2011 - and I am sorry as I did have a wonderful visit there in 2009!

Q

I just ordered the UK version of Death of Kings on Amazon because I did not want to wait until 2012 for US version. After doing so I thought - is there a difference between the US english version and the UK english version. Please let me know. By the way - I love your books!

Scott Fraser

Submitted August 2, 2011

A

No difference, with the exception of the spelling of a few words and, most often, the book covers.

Q

hello, I'm a huge fan from Belgium. At this moment I'm reading the saxon stories and i was wondering if you could give me some information about the recruitment of the saxon armies at the time? like the recruitment of the fyrd and who made a part of it(thegns only or also peasantry?). I have found a couple of things on internet, but i was wondering if you could recommend me some books? I'm very interested in Britain in the dark ages, but you find so few things about it. thx for your time

Henk

Submitted August 2, 2011

A

The fyrd was a citizen army - in theory every able-bodied man was a part of it. This meant that large armies could be raised quickly, though there were drawbacks: the army had to be fed and supplied (difficult), and their training was plainly inadequate to face ruthless professional warriors. So, in practice, the fyrd was most useful for defending the burhs - a job where their lack of training was not nearly so important because they had the ditch and wall to protect them. I think the best book to consult would be John Prebble's 'Alfred, Warrior King', which has a good deal about the Burghal Hidage (the system for raising the fyrd and allotting it to the defence of the burhs).

Q

In the King Arthur series I believe there was a pivotal battle set @ Maiden Castle. I will be visiting there soon and wish to re-read that sequence but cannot remember which volume it is contained in. Can you direct me? Thank you

Charles Burgan

Submitted August 2, 2011

A

I think you're referring to the Battle of Mount Badon? The only battle at Maiden Castle that I know of was fought between the British and the Romans, and so predates the Arthurian era. My description of Mount Badon is in Excalibur.