Your Questions

Hi, I am currently planning a presentation on an historical figure and their influence, and was hoping to focus on the early career of Arthur Wellesley and his time spent in India, I was therefore wondering if you could point me in the direction of any resources that you found particularly helpful (particularly when writing Tiger, Triumph and Fortress. Many thanks for your help and of course the hours of enjoyment I have got from Sharpe. Peter Krajewksi

Hello Mr Cornwell. This summer I once again read Sharpe' Warterloo. When I read it I think of the common soldier. The men on both sides were really brave. How the French could walk into English musket fire stills stuns me. My grandfather fought with the East Yorks in world war one. My father asked him how he could go over the top knowing what was waiting. He replied we would have followed our officers anywhere. Is it all in the mind? Also this summer I found Sharpe's Triumph in hardback. What I enjoyed about this book was the pace. A good summer read. In regards to Azincourt is there any record of the English scrounging up all the swords , daggers, rings, armour, saddles. and anything of value from the battlefield? It is never talked about but they would not have left it? Look forward to your next book. Regards, Nicholas Langrick

hello- I just finished "Sharpe's Company" and I was sure that Sgt Hakeswill was killed in a previous book. Am I dreaming or was this "poetic license" and he has reappeared ? I wish that I had known about Sharpe when he was on BBC and I had watched more of the series.
Walter

Hi Bernard, Love all your books! Same old question - when is the next Starbuck classic hitting the bookshelves?! The character's immortal.. Know you're busy and write at a prodigious rate but have you thought of sticking a Sharpe/Starbuck -type figure into the world wars? The series could run and run! Look forward to hearing from you, All the best and continued success, Red Williams

I enjoy reading all your books, and get lost so easily in the world you so readily create. I have just finished reading the 'Starbuck Chronicles'You said on the last page that 'Starbuck will march again' Any idea when this is likely to be, as I did hear, from whom I can't recall that there were to be no more Starbuck. I look forward to hearing from you. Please keep writing the books I have loved every one of them. Kind regards. Dennis Sartain

Hello Mr. Cornwell, I just know your "Stonehenge" book, but it already made me a fan of your writings! Loved to read about Saban's life and the twists, turns, superstitions and sometimes cruelty of the Ratharryn tribe. And as I was looking in the site, I got curious and decided to ask if there are any plans about something in the same line of "Stonehenge". And also... I believe one book talks about Portugal (my country), in the Sharpe series... is this correct? Sérgio Marques

Hello Mr Cornwell. Thanks for your reply about Starbuck's cause. I was grateful for the explanation but I might have worded my question wrong. I meant to say that was it hard to place a hero on the losing team? We know with Sharpe, or Uhtred even Derfel (possibly my favourite character all time) that they can endure the worst because we are content knowing that they will win in the end. (I know Derfel kind of loses eventually), but we know that at some stage Starbuck has to get his ass kicked in the end and that's not a happy ending. Oh, and thanks for clearing up the argument. Adrian.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I've read all your historical fiction books at least a few times over. I've recently finished Azincourt, and I've begun to notice a religious/supernatural trend in your writing. It started with the Arthur books and continued with the Grail quest books. The difference between these books and Azincourt, I feel, is that you used supernatural elements rarely and always blended them with realistic elements. So, only at the end of Excalibur do we see a genuine bit of magic, and Arthur's departure is still ambiguous. Same goes with Thomas finally discovering the 'real' grail. but in Azincourt you have two disembodied saints talking to your hero throughout (unbelievable) and extorting him to 'get revenge' for Soissons (even more unbelievable, if they are saints).. it's a radical departure from your usual work. That's not a complaint, but I am curious to know what your thoughts are. Am I reading too much into your writing? Many of your books express a deep cynicism about christianity and religion in general (especially the Saxon series) but on the other hand, Azincourt presents a more nuanced position. Thanks.

Jesse

Hello Mr. Cornwell! I'm an American college student who has read almost all of your work. Thus, I was very excited when I came across this article (http://blog.moviefone.com/2009/07/16/bernard-cornwalls-agincourt-to-be-adapted/) about the potential adaptation of Agincourt into a movie. Is there anything you can tell us about that, or is it still top secret?

Also, although I haven't yet read your Starbuck books, I was wondering if you've ever visited the Southern Historical Collection here at the University of North Carolina at Chapel hill. Besides the fact that there's an enormous amount of fascinating primary source material here from the civil war, I noticed while searching the library website that the school has one of your Starbuck books listed in the "Rare Books" collection. Is there a story behind that? Thanks for reading this, and my father and I can't wait until the next Uhtred, or whatever you're working on, comes out!

Ben

I have just finished reading Azincourt and thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a member of a medieval reenactment group so as my persona is that of an archer, I identified with Nick Hook (as I identify with Thomas Hookton for that matter) but I have to say my favourite character had to be Sir John Cornwaille. His little speeches during the story, particularly "What are your new duties Hook? - To Rid the World of anyone I don't like!" Brought a smile to my face. So in the spirit of Sir John I have some question for you... Are any of the character's personalities based (even loosely) on people you actually know?

Secondly, as I write this I noticed the similarity between Sir John's surname and your own, is there a link or is it just coincidence? Further to that... Have you ever researched your own ancestry and found a Cornwell that was at Waterloo for example? If you did, would you consider writing a story about him? Thanks for your time... Dan Machulka, Australia.

Hello! I have just finished reading book number 4 "Sword Song" from the story of Uthred. I am wondering if there are any plans or hypothetical theories about filmatizing these books? And, as I am about to open "The burning land", I keep wondering if I will see such scenes on film. Thanks! Evan