Your Questions

Thank you for your books. I have read and enjoyed the saxon stories and just starting the grail quest books. I was wondering if when you start a new series of books do you have a plan as to how the story will develop and the number of books you will write in that series or does it all come together as you write the book.

David Fox

Mr. Cornwell: I'd be interested in learning about your feelings regarding killing a character off. From my perspective, killing off an interesting and well developed character must be a gut wrenching decision. Also, do your characters occasionally change and evolve in ways that you did not originally envision? I personally was completely surprised in the Sharpe novels, when Lord Pumphreys went from being a likable rogue to being something more loathsome that I was rooting for Sharpe to kill. Was this something you had in the back of your mind from the characters inception?

Tom Ciolli

I have been offered a copy of "Sharpe's Sword" described as a first edition, but apparently the publishing history states "First published in 1983 Rifleman publications in 1983", The title page shows 'Published by Collins in 1983'. I'd be grateful if you could let me know if this IS a first edition, and what relevance the 'Rifleman Publications has. With many thanks in anticipation of your help. David Siddons

Mr Cornwell,I know you probably get this a lot so I apologise in advance, but I'm a huge fan of yours and have read all your books, my favourite being the warlord series. I've just finished my GCSE's (a return to Derfel no doubt) but I'm stuck on whether to take English Lang or Lit? Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

On a separate note, in your Saxon and Warlord series particularly I've noticed quite a scathing evaluation of the Church, would I be right in saying that you're an atheist (like me)?

And finally (sorry for blathering on) are you a fan of Gemmell? Although your writing styles are vastly different, I can see the same ideal of what a hero should be in each of your works. Thanks for your time if you choose to reply, Calum

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I was wondering whether there are any more Sharpe books in the making? I have enjoyed them immensely, not just as good novels but the history in them along with your historical notes helped with my A level research (in regards to dates etc). Anyway would be nice to know what happens to Sharpe and Harper in the end, hopefully something in line with their reputations! With the greatest history/book lovers respect, Steve Jones

I am nearly finished reading all the Sharpe books in historical order and I'm already feeling withdrawal. I am near the end of Sharpe's Devil and was shocked at the reference to Sharpe's witnessing his first sea battle. Yes, I know Devil was written long before Trafalgar, but it felt like a very unusual, for you, anachronism. Guess there's no way to fix that! Anyway, I am a middle aged woman who never could have imagined loving books on war, but I do love Richard Sharpe and am sorry to be through with him.

Liz Hibbard

hi Bernard I was just wondering if you would consider doing a Sharpe prequel at all? eg Sharpe's life growing up as a young lad in Wapping? or when he lived in Sheffield? maybe you could include getting recruited by Hakeswill and his first battle in Flanders or possibly as a short story?

Matt Nicholls

In your Sharpe research did you ever discover why the British Army armed their riflemen with Baker Rifles and not breach loading Furguson Rifles?

rgm

Dear Mr Cornwell, First of all let me start by thanking you for all your works so far, I have been reading your books since I was 14 years old and enjoyed every one! The ones I have got the most enjoyment and inspiration from are without doubt the Arthur books, and it is these I have a question about. Can you kindly provide any information or further reading on the dream tower, as used by Merlin until it was burnt down? Did these really exist? I find it a very interesting concept, and would like to find out more and maybe try building one! Thank you very much, and I hope you continue to bring pleasure to countless people through your work for many years to come. Yours, Joe

Dear sir, I have realized from the many questions and answers here that you are an atheist and have a lot of scorn for religion. However, I have also gathered from the answers given, that you are aware of some of the positive consequences of religion/belief. While I may or may not agree with your views, I am a bit disappointed that you most times portray religious characters so negatively, when you seem to strive to be fair to other characters in your novels (the real ones, at least). In the Saxon novels, for example, while I realize that the story is told from the viewpoint of the pagan Uhtred, almost every Christian person is portrayed as either borderline crazy fanatics, stupid, selfish, cynical, plain evil or a combination. This is grossly unfair to the Christian people, priests, nuns and monks who did do a lot of good and who did care for their neighbours. So my question is this: Why not include a comment about this in the historical note at the end of each book? You did put in such a comment for example concerning Æthelred, who you admit to portraying unfairly in your books. Why not do the same regarding the priests and monks who appear frequently in your writing? Finally, I would like to thank you not only for all the great books, but for taking the time to answer people's questions here, the vast numbers of which impress me greatly - particularly seeing as you are such a hugely productive writer. This shows that you appreciate your many fans! Have a nice day! -Yngve-

Dear Mr, Cornwell I would like to beg your indulgence and ask a question which you may find frivolous or silly. In your excellent Saxon series, my all time favorite of your works, so far, you mention that the history of those times was written by priests, who would often change the facts to make some important personage sound better or worse than he was. Would this still apply in the 13th Century or even later? Would it be at all feasible to write about a royal personage being erased from the history books completely? I am writing a critique of The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs, which was written 100 years ago, this November. A historical romance, set in the years 1243-1264 and built on the premise that Henry III had two sons, the youngest Richard was kidnapped as an infant by De Vec, an enemy of the monarch. De Vec, a Frenchman raises the child as his own, names him Norman, teaches him swordsmanship and to hate all Englishmen. After many stirring adventures, Richard/Norman is restored to his Royal Family To explain the fictional Richard and his story, Burroughs explains: At first it was suppressed by one of the Plantagenet kings of England. Later it was forgotten. This always sounded a bit hastily contrived, but how else could it be explained? Regards, D. Peter Ogden