Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, Having long been a fan of Sharpe, I heard that during the Spanish campaign, Wellington got browned of with the stupid demands of Horse Guards ie asking him to account for one battalion using too much jam etc. I believe he wrote a very sarcastic letter back admitting to all these extravagances, but ending with the comment " however I believed I was here to defeat Napoleon" Do you know of this letter and where would I find it ? Thank you

Don Campbell-Thomson

Submitted May 19, 2011

A

It rings a bell . . . . but I'm not certain it's genuine . . . I'll have to look through (a lot) of books to trace it, so if I find it I'll answer properly.

Q

Dear M.Cornwell, Let me first assure you that although I am a great admirer of your works, and especially of your Warlord series, I have no manuscript whatsoever to present to you. I am currently writing a paper on the three novels of your Warlord series for my Master at the Faculty of Literature in Starsbourg, France, and was wondering if you would perhaps be able to answer some of my questions through e-mails, naturally. I am well aware that I am asking a tremendous lot of you, but few have actually the chance to interact with one of their favourite authors, and so I thought I should at the very least ask you politely. I would totally understand it if you declined, however I would at the very least need light on a particular topic. (so here's my question) What were the reasons you had for changing your editor from Harper Collins to Penguin whilst publishing Warlord? Looking forward to hearing from you, Matthieu Zebrowsky

Submitted May 19, 2011

A

There were two - the first was that my editor was stupidly sacked by HarperCollins (who later realised what a horrible mistake that was and hired her back), and writers often follow their editors - she went to Penguin until HarperCollins came to their senses. I was contracted to stay with HC for some books, but at that time I wanted to write two books a year and HC said 'no-one wants to read two books by the same author every year' and they refused to publish the second book, so it went to my editor at Penguin. Then she was re-hired and suddenly HC were asking whether I could publish three books a year. Crazy.

Q

Dear Bernard. Hurrah that the new Uhtred is finished!I've just re read the series so I'm really looking forward to that one, whatever it may be called. I have a couple of questions, firstly: Wasn't The Fort originally to have the UK title of Captivate Kill and Destroy? Only a minor one but it did rather catch me out as I was looking for it on Amazon and it took me a while to realise it was already out in the UK! I'm assuming your publisher persuaded you that the Fort was a catchier title?

Anyway, my main question/suggestion. I am just coming to the end of Gallows Thief. What a great book and a real favourite of mine. I'm sure this has been asked before but is there likely to be another story featuring Rider Sandman and Sergeant Berrigan and if so have you perhaps considered these two meeting up with Sharpe and Harper? It could happen! It would have the virtue of setting the story after the other Sharpe books and I know you always bemoan having to interleave new Sharpes between existing stories so that would solve the problem. Alternatively perhaps Sandman could be featured as a character in the next Sharpe story which I fervently hope is coming next... Thanks as ever for your wonderful stories and for your kindly forbearance in the face of pushy fans such as myself! Kind Regards Rob Comber

Submitted May 19, 2011

A

Captivate, Kill or Destroy was the first title but the publishers insisted it be changed, so changed it was.

I have thought of a follow-up for Gallows Thief, but I'm not sure it will ever happen....

Q

Hi Bernard, I met you at a "The Fort" signing in London months ago. You did a very good impression of my Belfast accent! I always Particularly enjoy your Irish/ Irish descendant characters in your books, and was wondering if you would consider a novel set in Ireland and from that perspective, in maybe the same era as the Arthur or Uhtred books?? Beth

Submitted May 19, 2011

A

I have a feeling that Uhtred and Finan will travel to Ireland - Finan has reasons to go back and Uhtred would want to help him. I'm not promising that! But it is something I'd like to write.

Q

Dear sir i love sharpe, its a great story. what made you want to write sharpe? where did you think of the name richard sharpe?

Kayleigh

Submitted May 18, 2011

A

I read C.S. Forester's books as a kid and when I began writing the first book I wanted to find a really interesting name for the hero - something like Horatio Hornblower - and I just could not find the name, so I decided to use the (slightly amended) name of one of my great heroes - Richard Sharp, the rugby player of Cornwall and England.

Q

Hi Bernard! Thanks for another great read - just finished Uhtred#5. A comment and a question if you're interested! I expect it is the British love of the underdog that makes us (Brits) enjoy a writers protagonist who starts 'lowly' and finds himself promoted to lead men - Sharpe, Derfel, Uhtred, Thomas of Hookton, Nick Hook... even supporting characters get the touch (Steapa is a champion is he not?) Alexander Kent and C S Forester are two of my other favourites who, like you give us similar heroes. Here is my question: Unsuprisingly there are loads of authors who list your work as their inspiration for writing - Simon Scarrow being an obvious example with his 'rising through the ranks' star. Who, of the these inspired authors would you most recommend to a hero-hungry reader like myself? Thanks (and roll on Uhtred#6!) Simon, Lincoln UK

Submitted May 18, 2011

A

Oh dear . . . my problem is that writing historical novels makes me really reluctant to read them (you do it all day long and really don't want to do it all night long, if you see what I mean). So I'm the wrong person to ask! Amazon has some really useful lists - compiled by fans - and those might be a better guide? You may also want to take a look at the Reading Club pages of this website....

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell, me again...I've been here a few times. I wanted to know what you normally read? Different question from the old 'when is Starbuck coming back' line I know! Do you read history or fiction or any certain genres or specific authors at all? Also, completely off subject, but as I know you like your sailing, did you know I'm great great great grandson to Henry Blogg of Cromer? Ever looked him up? Saved more lives at sea than anyone else before or since I believe, and has his own museum. And no, I'm not suggesting he's worthy of a book, but he did win the GC! Just wondering, but more interested in what you actually read!

Ricky Phillips

Submitted May 18, 2011

A

What books do I read? A list that could go on forever! I have always been particularly fond of the books by George MacDonald Fraser . I read a vast amount of history. I like good mysteries and detective novels - Ian Rankin, John Sandford, PD James, Dennis Lehane. I could go on and on and on...I'm a HUGE fan of Stuart McBride, who writes Scottish noir tales - police procedurals - but with enormous wit and a very dark imagination....there are many others I enjoy as well!

He certainly is worthy of a book - I hope he finds a chronicler! Thanks for letting me know about him.

Q

What ever happen to Nick Hook? Will there be more books about him?

James O'Connell

Submitted May 18, 2011

A

It's possible we may see Nick Hook again, but I'm not making any promises.

Q

Hi Bernard: Just finished reading "The Bloody Ground" which is the first book of yours I've ever read and I must say I REALLY enjoyed it. I was in tears of sadness & joy at times, laughing, cheering and a whole mix of emotions. I've always been very interested in the American Civil War so this was a really fascinating book to me. I pumped it into the search engine to find out whether you had written more books on a similar topic, and I found this site and discovered there were three other Starbuck novels! Wow, only I seem to have read the last one first, although I guess that probably won't matter too much. It's certainly a credit to your writing that I read the last book and didn't need to have read any of the others to get to grasps with Starbuck's character. I'm going to order the other books in the Starbuck series, and certainly hope that there are some more to come! Can you recommend other Civil War books? Thanks Becky

Submitted May 18, 2011

A

There are three listed on the 'Suggestions for Further Reading' page for the Starbuck books (see link on the book page). They are: TO THE GATES OF RICHMOND by Stephen W. Sears; RETURN TO BULL RUN, The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas by John Hennessy ; and LANDSCAPE TURNED RED also by Stephen Sears

Q

Hello Bernard, it's been a while since I asked you a question but this is one that intrigues me, when do you decide on the title? Do you start with it or does it come to you as you are writing the novel? Have you ever struggled to settle on a title? Do you ever send a title to the publishers who then don't like it? And finally, why did 'Captivate, Kill or Destroy' become 'The Fort'. Having you finished the book I preferred the earlier title. Thank you, Barry Evans, Doncaster, UK

Submitted May 18, 2011

A

I preferred the first title too, but the publishers kicked and screamed, and they have to sell the book! So I guess I pick about 80% of the titles, and they argue over the other 20%. Usually the title comes to me while I'm writing the book, but sometimes it is a real struggle - like the new Uhtred which is finished, but untitled. I wanted to call it Crown of Thorns, but the US publisher decided that would upset Christians (why?), so it's probably going to be called Death Royal - but no decision yet.