Your Questions

Hello Mr Cornwell, Will the Arthur books ever be made into films? Perhaps with Ridley Scott as Director - what a series of films that would be.

Jon Mullins

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I became aware of the Sharpe series in June of 2010. I own all of the DVD's now and have watched the entire series at least a dozen times through. I started purchasing the books as I can find them in used bookstores (I'm on SSD) and find I really enjoy anything you write. Sharpe is my favorite though, I would really like to know what happened to Jane and her baby after Waterloo? Thank you so much for sharing your genius with the rest of us. Mary B.

Hi! I´ve never written to you before (or any other author). I really enjoy your work, especially Sharpe, Uhtred and Artur. I´ve been thinking of the riddle you gave us. Even tough I´m more curious about Sharpe´s descendants, than his parentage, the riddle intrigues me. "Has Sharpe's father appeared in one of my books? No. Clue? Take you out, put me in and a horse appears in this happy person! (eight letters)" Mount=horse, Joy=happy. Mountjoy. There is a historic soldier called, Luke Gardiner, 1st Viscount Mountjoy PC (Ire) (7 February 1745 5 June 1798), (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Gardiner,_1st_Viscount_Mountjoy), that fits the time frame. Could he be Sharpe´s father? However, the title Mountjoy derives from the Carolingian battle cry Montjoie, which the french subsequently used. Could Sharpe´s father be french? Am I on the right track? Regards Tobias, Stockholm.

Hi Bernard Many thanks for all the wonderful reading and the hours of pleasure that your books have given to me cant wait for Lord Uhtred's new adventure and please can you tell me if it will be available on Kindle? Regards Beryl

I have read the Richard Sharpe series with relish. I presume that now Richard is either retired or dead? But if he were retired and getting long at the tooth might he not retire to New Zealand and get involved in the 1844-46 Northern War (Heke's War)? The Battle if Puketutu. Brits 58th Rutlanshire (Blak Cuffs) 96th Foot (Rendovers, 99th Larnackshire (Queen's Pets), No. 2 Company Royal Arty, 6th Bn.,Royal Corps of Sappers and Miners, Royal Marines, Naval Brigade. Lots of good stuff. The battle of Kororareka March 11, 1845. Igor C. Loving

Happy Holidays, Bernard. Sometime ago I wrote you with a full listing of the guesses regarding Sharpe's father. Lot of guesses -- many of them mine. This was the first time I had written you without a response. Was that because in that email I guessed that Tarleton was the father -- and I was right? Or was it just misplaced under the avalanche of posts you get? Still hoping for more Starbuck and I'll see you in Fredericksburg. Cheers, Scott

Happy New Years, Mr. Cornwell. I hope the coming year is both prosperous and productive for you in all ways! At this point, as you are moving towards finishing Uhtred #6, I suspect you are giving a bit of thought to what to write next. Eventually, it will be Sharpe, if not this time then probably the next. I am writing to try to dissuade you from an unfortunate course you seem to be on that I fear will cause the Sharpe saga to fall short of what it should be. As I look at the Sharpe books, I see a gaping wound in the story. That wound is the year 1808, falling between ’Sharpe’s Prey’ and ’Sharpe’s Rifles.’ The gap must be filled. I know that you have said many times that having taken Sharpe back once; you are not inclined to do so again. But it seems to me that this is exactly what you must do. Here, I think, you must think not in terms of what you WANT to do, but rather of what you SHOULD do. The year 1808, when Sharpe first came to the Peninsula is crucial to his saga. What is required is two NOVELS to bridge the gap. The first should deal with Sharpe’s arrival in the Peninsula and his fighting the battles of Rolica and Vimeiro (since they were only four days apart, they can be handled in one novel). The second should cover the beginning of Moore’s campaign into Galicia, his retreat before Napoleon, and Sharpe’s rearguard action at Lugo. It should end literally the minute before ’Rifles’ begins. I recall your having said that you might cover this time in a couple of short stories. This would be a totally inadequate measure. All three of your short stories have been about small events, over with in the course of a single day. To try and cover such major battles and troop movements as I have cited above would be like using a band-aid where heart bypass surgery is needed. It simply won’t do the trick. You have a number of possibilities for future Sharpe short stories: a) One set in India where Sharpe tracks a man-eating tiger or leopard. b) One before Prey where we see Sharpe getting settled into the Rifles. c) The action on the Coa River, between ’Eagle’ and ’Gold.’ d) Sharpe’s recruitment trip home to England before ’Company,’ where he first met Jane. e) Sharpe and Harper in Paris after ’Waterloo.’ But all of these are comparatively small events that can be covered adequately in a short story format. The two events of 1808 I have cited cannot. Think of what pale, insipid caricatures of themselves ’Eagle’ or ’Company’ would have been if you had written them as short stories rather than novels. Trying to pass off Rolica/Vimeiro or Moore’s campaign as short stories would have the same unsatisfying result. I sincerely hope I have not come across as in any way disrespectful in this note; it was the farthest thing from my intention. But it just seems to me that you owe it to yourself, your fans, and Sharpe himself to take the trouble to cover 1808 as it deserves. Alan Kempner

Dear Bernard First let me wish you a happy new year. Second in the historical note in Azincourt you mention a lot of the famous British/French battles down the ages I wondered if you have or could ever be tempted to write a 1 off book on the battle of Fontenoy 1745. Its obviously quite famous in France but rather unknown in the UK yet Napoleon himself would declare that it kept the Ancien Regime alive for another 30 years.

Finally as the Hundred years war still has a way to go after Agincourt will you ever write a sequel to Azincourt and have Nick go up against Joan of Arc? Yours sincerely Geraint

Greetings Mr Cornwell, health and contentment for the new year. I was wondering if you ever thought of doing a one off book about H M S Victory? The complete history. In a way you did it with Stonehenge.

What do you do when you hit a block when writing? Or does this never happen to you? Do you stomp around? Have a cup of tea? Go for a walk? I look forward to your next book. Nicholas

I've just read the Fort, Loved it, but, how you ended it, could there be a second? Also, what about the Saxon Series, will there be a Sixth Book devoted to Uhtred? I really Love that Series

Jerry King