Your Questions

Q

hi I am a huge fan of your work. I love all your books I particularly like Uhtred. With this in mind I would ask for your assistance. I plan to get a tattoo of the old english phrase you use in the Uhtred story meaning fate is inexorable. I will have the lettering in old english and wondered if you could suggest a symbol or design to go with it that is relevant to the chronology of the story. I would be grateful for your input. thank you. Rob. p.s Thomas of Hookton is pretty cool too.

Submitted June 28, 2011

A

A symbol? I assume you don't mean the old AS letters (the ash and thorn) - if those are what you want then you'll find the phrase at http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=text&id=wdr. Otherwise I can only suggest you have a happy time googling! I found this site - http://www.wearetheenglish.com/tattoo.html - and maybe the Interlaced Band is just what you need? Lot of needle-work though - - - good luck!

Q

I am an ex KRRC/RGJ man of 24 years and was wondering if Sharpe was Kings Royal Rifle Corps/60th Rifles or Rifle Brigade/95th Foot. The 6oth was formed in America as you probably know, of British woodsmen. I ask as in the TV series, he wears differing dress? S W Rose

Submitted June 28, 2011

A

Sharpe was 95th!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, As I'm sure you hear quite often, I love your books! I'm really looking forward to the next Uhtred book this year, and can't wait for another Sharpe, whenever that might be... I was wondering about the 'bonus content' I've been seeing in your books recently - what did 'The Fort' come with? I heard it was some sort of guide to your novels. And will 'Death of Kings' come with any extras at a particular retailer? Sorry for the somewhat nerdy questions, but I'm a bit of a completist! I hope this finds you well (and working hard on another Sharpe!) Andrew

Submitted June 28, 2011

A

That 'bonus material' is stitched on by the publisher and I'm not even entirely sure what it is (because I don't have any of my books in e-format). I haven't heard of a guide to my novels (I'd like one for myself, please), though perhaps that's added to the e-book?? I really don't know. We did put the full text of Paul Revere's Ride and The Death of Sir John Moore at Corunna in the UK hardback of The Fort - a special edition. Sorry, not being very helpful here, but maybe the publisher's website can help?

Q

Good Afternoon, i have recently read 'True Soldier Gentlemen' by Adrian Goldsworthy about the 106th Foot in Portugal at the beginning of the Peninsular War. Have you read it? If so, what do you think of it? If not, do you plan to read it, and the rest of the impending series? A final request, please write some more Sharpe books soon.

Peter Green

Submitted June 28, 2011

A

I haven't read it, but I will, thank you! And yes, more Sharpe soon!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell. When that long awaited time comes to write another Sharpe adventure can I suggest that it is based around the action at Albuera. This involved the Worcester's who were also at Rolica and Talavera where they captured two French standards ( to Sharpe's one) but because the French had unscrewed the Eagles from the top of the standards means that it does not count. I think we deserve some redress in this matter as Wellington himself said "I wish very much that some measures could be adopted to get some recruits for the 29th. It is the best Regiment in the army." Wellington's Regiments by Ian Fletcher.

On a totally different level, was it easier to write about Sharpe, as history dictated that Wellington would eventually win compared with writing Starbuck when history dictates that Lee will eventually loose. Love your books. Never stop writing them. Mike Walker. Worcester. UK.

Submitted June 28, 2011

A

I'll think on it! I need to write another Sharpe soon and I'd love to put him at Albuera, though I don't suppose he'll thank me for that day of horror.

Not really - Starbuck is in a more difficult situation, which makes him interesting. I need to get back to him too!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was wondering how long it takes you to come up with a plot and how many drafts you write before you arrive with the final book. Kind regards Tom Conlon

Submitted June 28, 2011

A

It takes most of the time it takes to write the book! Does that make sense? Probably not. Some writers (lucky people) know their plot before they start a book, but I'm one of those who don't have a clue. E.L. Doctorow cleverly said that writing a novel is like driving on an unfamiliar and winding country road at night with very dim headlights, and you can only see as far ahead as those inadequate lights reveal - and that's true for me, so you end up discovering wrong turnings and dead ends, and go back again and again, and again and again, however many times it takes. I usually reckon that the first two thirds of a book will be rewritten about seven times . . . the last third ought to be a bit easier because by then you can see the road's ending (you hope). But writing on a computer - well, they're not separate drafts as they used to be with a typewriter. I go back a hundred times a day and change something . . . but seven seems about right.

Q

Hello Bernard. I emailed you about a year ago asking you if you would consider writing a book about Robin Hood. At the time you stated possibly. I would like to know whether you are any closer to making my wish a reality. please say yes. thanks Gareth

Submitted June 25, 2011

A

Sorry to disappoint you, but Robin Hood is not high on my list right now.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I read that stirrups were not in common use until after 1000 AD. Was this a different kind of stirrup?

Richard Martin

Submitted June 25, 2011

A

The usual date offered for the introduction of stirrups into Western Europe is the 7th Century, AD, but we have evidence that they were used in Scandinavia a hundred years earlier. So yes, I'm quite sure Uhtred used stirrups!

Q

hi Mr.Cornwell. I've been trying to solve that riddle of who Sharpe's father is since I first read it my first semester in college, and let me just say that after a lot of researching and full out study groups on this subject me and my friends from my dorm think we have the answer. But we're probably wrong because even we doubt it. Is Sharpe's father Luke Gardiner? He was a viscount of Mountjoy, but we couldn't ever find if he was ever in London at the time when Sharpe would have been born around 1776 we think. Ray Guerin Jr

Submitted June 25, 2011

A

Sorry, no!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was just wondering, as you have a new book coming out in September, will you be visiting the UK at all for any book signings? Best wishes Eileen Furze

Hi, Do you have any firm plans to come to the UK for either book reading / signing or interviews? Regards Colin

Submitted June 25, 2011

A

It's a very good possibility. Keep an eye on the Diary page of this website - we'll post an itinerary when it becomes available.