Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have thought of trying to write a novel for some time. I have signed up for NaNoWriMo to get started getting ideas out of my head and onto paper. I would like to know if you would be willing to share any tools or tips you have for organizing all of your thoughts and ideas about a story you are writing? I decided to send this question after reading your writing advice section on your website. Your passion was clear and it gave me hope that after years of thinking about doing this I may finally be on the right track. My father and I have always enjoyed reading your Sharpe books. Your writing style always makes for an enjoyable read. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Nick Yonto

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

The only way I know how to organize my thoughts and ideas is to write the story! I know that's hopeless advice, but it is the way I do it - right now I'm at the beginning of a new Uhtred novel and I honestly have no idea what will happen in the next chapter . . . . but everyone does it differently. E.L. Doctorow cleverly pointed out that writing a novel is rather like driving a car with dim headlights down an unfamiliar country road - and you can only see as far ahead as the lights reach. So just keep going - eventually you get there! on the other hand some novelists (Joanna Rowling, for instance) plan ahead and work it that way . . . . whatever works for you, I guess!

Q

Dear Bernard, I'm currently reading translations of your Anglo-Saxon books in order to get my Italian up to scratch. Cracking plots like yours, and good old-fashioned story-telling, is the only way I'm going to get through 300 pages of Foreign. Though our lass is getting a little sick of me asking her for translations of obscure military implements and medieval legal terminology (I now know the Italian for Weirgild, but not for bus-pass). So thanks a million for your help there, and for all the hours of pleasure I've had reading your books. My question is about Stonehenge, how do you view the languages spoken by the various communities in the book? Am I right in assuming the outlanders are the first wave of Celts in Britain, or do you see it as happening prior to the arrival of any of the recorded groups in British history? Regards Graeme

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

I honestly have no thoughts - and I doubt that the outlanders could accurately be described as Celts - more likely the rather mysterious people called the Beaker Folk.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just finished The Fort, and enjoyed it immensely! I do have one small complaint/request, however. In your introductory note, you explained a clever literary convention wherein all the fictional characters would have surnames starting with a certain letter. I found this strangely distracting as I read the book. Each time a new character was introduced, a mental stop sign went up until I classified them as historical or fictional, then resumed reading.. I normally get absorbed in your storytelling, but this seemed to reduce my suspension of disbelief that the story could actually have happened as written. Don’t get me wrong, I like the convention, but in future books, would you consider moving the explanation to the notes at the end of the book, so as not to distract from the first reading? As ever, eagerly awaiting your next tale, Stan Oakley, MD

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

I take your point, but I have a dire suspicion that if I had put that note at the end of the book I'd be swamped with complaints from people who'd have preferred it at the beginning! Sorry about that . . . I guess it's a judgment call, and I'll happily confess I might have got it wrong.

Q

Bernard- as a big fan of your books I would like to know what your approach is regarding the Sharpe book titles. Do you usually have a title in mind before you start writing, or do you decide on the title once the story is complete? I would assume that the actual title could determine the course of action, some elements of the story development, character interactions etc. Cheers, SN

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

I usually scratch around once the story is finished, though once in a while a bright idea occurs while I'm writing the book.

Q

Dear Sir, I was wondering, as you are now working on the next Saxon story, are you anywhere near the end? If you ever find yourself in the North of England in February, I would be glad to buy you a pint at the Jorvik Viking Festival!

Joe Mc

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

I'm not near the end - I've only just started! Thanks for the invite, unfortunately I won't be anywhere near England in February.

Q

Hi Bernard, I'm a long time reader of your work and I admin a message board dedicated to your writing: hookton.com. I've just read your wonderful book, 'The Fort' and couldn't put it down. I'm a Welshman married to an American in Tucson Arizona. My wife is also a big fan of your writing. My question is, are you planning to write any more about Sir John Moore? Many years ago I was stationed at Sir John Moore Barracks in Shorncliffe, Kent. I got a big thrill from reading about the camp in the Sharpe books. Alas, Sir John was then just a name to me, but the more I learn about him, the more fascinated I become. He seems to have been quite a guy. Keep up the good work and I'll keep buying the books. Tony Blackwell.

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

He was quite a guy, and we need a new biography, but I'm not planning anything.

Q

As part of my Initial Officer Training at RAF Cranwell I am required to complete a 1500 word essay on one of a number of military and political topics.. As a childhood fan of the Sharpe programmes and later the books I have become particularly well read on the subject of the Napoleonic Wars. As such I have chosen the question; 'Assess the effectiveness of the opposing commanders' leadership and key decisions at the Battle of Waterloo (Napoleon and Wellington)' for my essay. I intend to discuss the nature of the two generals leadership styles, to consider Wellington's choice of the battlefield at Waterloo and to investigate Napoleon's selection of Grouchy and Ney to command his two forces. I would appreciate any information or opinions you may have concerning these particular topics and would like to be able to refer to yourself in my completed piece. I am particularly interested to hear you thoughts regarding what the impact may have been if Napoleon had switched Grouchy and Ney around, would Ney have stopped the Prussians and could Grouchy have handled Wellington. Any help you could render would be much appreciated.
Officer Cadet Daniel Hopkinson

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

I'd suggest you read Andrew Roberts's splendid book on Napoleon and Wellington's contrasting styles, and Jac Weller's summary at the end of Wellington at Waterloo. You can make lots of 'what if' arguments, but undoubtedly Napoleon did make mistakes - and he played to Wellington's strengths. Remember that Wellington had picked the battlefield of Waterloo over a year before (while travelling, I think, to the Congress of Vienna - he noted the ridge at Mont St Jean and mentally filed it away). The ridge gave Wellington dead ground in which he could shift (and conceal) his troops, but his great fear was that Napoleon would attack around his right flank, which is why he posted such a large number of good troops at Braine l'Alleud (who never got into the fight) - instead Napoleon, as Wellington remarked, 'came on in the same old way and we saw him off in the old way.' Napoleon attacked straight ahead, and no one ever doubted Wellington's ability as a defensive general. It's true that W's army was not the fine instrument he had led in the Peninsula, but there were enough good troops. If Napoleon hadn't delayed the start of the battle then it's possible he might have abraded W's line sufficiently before the Prussians arrived - and even so it was a damned close run thing! And you can probably fault N for not keeping a closer eye on his left flank - allowing Jerome to feed more and more troops into the futile attack on Hougoumont and, more crucially, not preventing Ney from destroying the French cavalry. Would Grouchy have handled Wellington? We'll never know. W had been humbugged, and a faster assault on Quatre Bras would have driven him back towards the coast, but it didn't happen. And if Ney had stopped the Prussians? It would have been a French victory, but again it's all hypothetical! Good luck!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, some years ago I wrote to you concerning the 18th century exploits of a young naval officer in the American colonies, so I was delighted to see that "The Fort" is a story from that period. On a new subject; One of my wife's ancestors, Mary Ann Cameron, was a daughter of Robert Cameron, born 1783 in County Down, died Bristol in 1857. Robert Cameron was a Master Sailmaker, Royal Navy. He seems to have amassed a considerable fortune, owning several houses in Clifton, Bristol before he died. It is probable that Robert Cameron was the Master Sailmaker aboard one of Nelson's ships at Trafalgar. Do you know where I might find any records that may confirm this?

Ian Green

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

The only recourse I can think of is to see whether the Public Records Office at Kew has the documents. I wouldn't know where else to look, sorry.

Q

The Fort is brilliant. It has gently got a stronger and stronger hold on me as the story unfolds. Characterisation is great as usual. Can I say that the video shorts on the home page are excellent as well although I'm not sure you will have endeared yourself to the Americans! So what's next please? I have a serious judgement to make about storage of the first editions, some 23 now and no spare room. With regards from North Essex (overlooking the site of Sharp's escape by Barge to London). Roger Gaspar

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

Thank you! Next is Uhtred.

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell. With regards to Sharpe's father, could there be any possibility that Hakeswill could be Sharpe's father?? Just putting it out there or is that possibility just too cruel? Incidentally have you seen Sharpe's Peril? what did you think about the inclusion of Hakeswill's son? Thanks keep well and keep writing. Rob

With the exception of the Starbuck books, I have spent many wakeful hours speeding to end of your tales. The American Civil War never has held my attention. Either Crispin or Crispinian whispered Sharpe’s father’s name& Obadiah Hakeswill.

Kurt Irgens

Submitted November 4, 2010

A

Oh god, No!