Your Questions

Mr. Cornwell allow me to start by saying I have fallen in love with your style of writing. I am currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I was an avid reader as a youth but I had not read a book in over 15 years until a friend gave me a copy of Heretic. I devoured that book in a little over a week and promptly got myself a Nook so that I could download the rest of the series. You sir are a very gifted story teller and I thank you for rekindling my love for a good book. I have since finished the Grail series and felt depressed I had to leave Thomas of Hookton behind. Only to discover another character that i have enjoyed even more so far, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. I am currently on "The Lords of the North" and loving every word of it. I am taking an English Composition class online and actually used Thomas and Uhtred for my compare and contrast essay. I just wanted to thank you for being my escape from the chaos and stress of daily life here in Afghanistan. Also I would like to ask if you had ever given any thought to writing a series about the Knights Templar or Freemasons? I know these two have been done by many other authors but I would love to read a novel written with your style about them. Thank you again for such wonderful novels and I look forward to finishing the Saxon series and potentially moving to the Sharpe series. Robert Teal "Walking in the light"

While doing some research on the war of 1812, I discovered that an officer named Lieutenant William Henry Sharpe of the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment was the commanding officer of Fort Wellington at Prescott Ontario in 1846. Could this be a relative of Richard Sharpe, perhaps another son? Link: http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/wellington/natcul/natcul3.aspx#off.

John Blake

are you kin to John Le Carre?

Paul Deaton

Hello Mr. Cornwell, I have two quick questions. What are the chances of you writing a novel or series of novels covering the life of Jeanne d'Arc? There's a great story there for someone willing to tell it. Is the next Sharpe book on the horizon? I really am fond of those books. Thank you for your time.

Hank Pryor

hi Mr Cornwell I'm a a massive fan of your Sharpe books and have currently almost finished with Sharpe's Trafalgar again having finished Waterloo I have read that you are reluctant to take Sharpe back in time again however are we likely to see captain Joel chase and co again in the future books? many thanks.

Gareth Brookes

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

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

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

Mr. Cornwell, I own all the titles that are available in kindle format. I am moving to a different reader format that supports digital rights management(DRM) to enable public library use. I would like to petition that you ask your publisher to do the same so that people like me can purchase and donate ebook copies and donate them to public libraries. Thank you.

John Mire

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