Your Questions

I am 14 years old, I love reading, and hope to be an author. My dad and I read your series about Arthur. It is without a doubt one of the best series I have ever read. It is surely the most descriptive. We thoroughly enjoyed discussing the characters and places you described. We are wondering if this series was ever considered, or will be considered, to become a trilogy of epic movies (in a Lord of the Rings fashion.)Ever since finishing the series, we have imagined who could play who! Thanks so much for your time, Gini

I have really enjoyed The Fort. It has reminded me of Sharps Waterloo, in that the battle has taken centre stage. Do you have any other plans for this type of historical docu-novel?

Chris Hall

Dear Bernard Dunno if you've heard or not but there has been a theft at Hougoumont of the Cross there. Link here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355171/Hougoumont-cross-survived-Battle-Waterloo-stolen.html.

I was curious after doing the Fort do you think you think you will ever write about Sir John Moore and his huge career again? he was almost in as many fights as Sharpe yet his was real!

Also you have long talked about wanting to write about Siege of St Sebastian and although you can't get Sharpe there what about Fredrickson he was there (he tells Sharpe about it in Sharpe's Siege) why not do a spin off book with Fredrickson?

Finally I know you have said you are reluctant to go back again but would you ever consider getting Sharpe to meet Davout (battle of Auerstadt) The Iron Marshal arguably Napoleons greatest as well. Yours sincerely, Geraint

P.S I am guessing you've already read them but if not Strange Fatality by James Elliot on the Battle of Stoney Creek and Our Friends Beneath the Sands by Martin Windrow on the French Foreign Legion are both worth a read.

I have enjoyed the Sharpe series since stumbling upon "Sharpe's Rifles" on A&E 12 years ago. My only question is that, would it have killed anyone for Sharpe to be knighted and being made a permanent Lt Col? Saved Wellington, the Eagle at Talavera, being pulled out of retirement to go on missions and basically saving the day constantly. What more does he have to do? Fred Annett

Dear Mr Cornwell I’m a fan of the Sharpe series for many years and I have all the books, audiobooks and so on. As I’m from Germany I would like to apologize for all grammar mistakes I will make in advance. After reading Sharpe’s Sword again I found a fly in the ointment. Sharpe took a bullet from Leurox and the surgeons didn’t cut it out. How could he live on with a bullet in his side especially the bullets were made of lead after my knowledge at that time and so he should have died on lead poisoning. Although I know this story is fiction and I’m a grown-up I really would like to understand it! I hope you can help me further with my problem. Thank you very much. Yours sincerely

I'm writing a sort of philosophical work which deals with, among other things, Christian civil disorder in the years up to AD500 - the sort of thing you depicted in The Winter King. Can you direct me to any sources of evidence for these disorders, or for the nature of early Christianity around these times? I'm sorry to say I no longer seem to have a copy of your novel; I don't like getting rid of any books, but I must have been overtaken by clutter. I am a lifelong fan of your work; any new book by you is an automatic buy, given available funds, of course! I'm glad to see you use the Sutton Hoo helmet on your site. I think it's very appropriate, and I've always been fascinated by it. With best wishes, Paul Nash.

Dear Mr Cornwell I have read lots of your books and love watching the Sharpe series over and over. I have just finished reading A Crowning Mercy and thought it would make a great film; are there any plans for this? Yours Sincerely, Gary Sheppard

Hi Bernard did you attend Hacton Primary in Hornchurch, if you are the same Bernard Cornwell then we were in the same class. Victor Smith

I am currently reading "the fort" and enjoying it very much. I was just wondering if you could answer me a (maybe)simple question. When reading i like to form an image of characters in my head, as I'm sure you do, thankfully your descriptive text makes this pretty easy. I was wondering however if you have any idea what sort of accents those fighting on the American side would have had? would they be like today's American accents or would they be more like English accents, is it possible that Paul Revere could have a northern accent or that Lovell had a west country drawl or would this have already been lost to generations past. I just wondered as i like to hear them speak in my head. Many thanks, Adam Everest.

Dear Bernard, It's just possible that you might think what follows ventures too close to being a plot suggestion, but I do hope not. (And just in case I hereby cheerfully indemnify you against even so much as a mild grouch, never mind a lawsuit, on my part at any point in the future.) At some point, Richard Sharpe really ought to encounter army surgeon James Barry, sometimes known as James "Miranda" Barry, don't you think? Incidentally, I've just encountered Patrick Lassan for the first time. Lovely touch, though I can't help feeling sorry for poor Lucille. I'm sure she'd rather he'd stuck with farming. Thank you for creating a world where one can immerse oneself so thoroughly and entirely forget the everyday for a while. With best regards Helena