Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell, I thought I might ask if you have had a chance to catch Professor Robert Bartlett's series on BBC 2 "The Normans"? I am no an expert on these matters but what fascinates is that England was, by 1066, a defined functioning nation and William, with, perhaps 10,000 men, imposed Norman rule on the nation that Alfred created. If you have not I would recommend. Yours sincerely, James D

Dear Bernard First of all I would like to congratulate you for the Sharpe series. The books are rattling good reads and about a decade ago I found them quite inspirational for me finding out more about the Peninsular War. Along with my then 10 year old son and long suffering wife we explored Salamanca, Fuentes de Onoro, Almeida, and Ciudad Rodrigo and a few years ago went to Badajoz where, incidentally, the people of the town refused a request from an English regiment to put up a memorial just a few years ago because they still remember the way the soldiers behaved after the battle. At the moment I am here again and revisiting several of the same places - staying in a nice hotel in Salamanca. Today I received a note via Facebook from my local second hand bookshop. They have a collection of Sharpe first editions, so I said where I am and they are happy to hold onto the ones I want until I return. I have checked these on your website and found a gap in the series! Where is the story of Fort Concepcion, blown up by the Light Division in 1810 (I think)? Surely Sharpe was involved. Also, he appears to have missed the Battle of the Coa River, a fight where the English were outnumbered but were successful in delaying Massena's men long enough. Surely Sharpe must have been instrumental there. Please let me know if I have missed something, otherwise you need to produce another book or two on the series. I am a psychologist dealing with war trauma (recent book, Memory War and Trauma, Cambridge, 2010). I work on war trauma around the world; but I have a related hobby exploring battlefields. I am currently hoping to persuade Cambridge to produce a follow up book on battlefield tours (there is one such chapter in MWT), exploring the human experience of battle as expressed through interviews with participants, novels, plays, history, etc - all revolving around the flexible notion of memory. I'm sure Sharpe should be playing a part. Anyway, thank you for your books. You have certainly made your contribution to the field (and I hadn't mentioned how the 100 years war will be one chapter of my book - another topic of yours, though I am waiting for the Battle of Castillon....) Best wishes Nigel

Are you going to write another book or more in "The Grail Quest" series? I, and I'm sure many of your other readers, would love to read how & when the "Grail" is found. I'm know I will have to re-read the previous 3 books, but I really hate the feeling of "hanging on". Also, what about the sequel of "The Starbuck Chronicles"? You are a wonderful author, how my Mom would have loved your books!!!

Jane Barry

Hello Mr Cornwell, I have just flown home overnight from Mumbai to London and during the flight i finished reading "The Burning Land". I am an amateur student of history and I have been reading history (fictional and non fictional) since i was a small boy. I am an unashamed bore on the subject and the reason I enjoy your books so much is because they bring that phase of England's history to life. Though I study history in detail I always try to glimpse beyond the misty obscure facts and attempt to empathise and imagine what everyday life would have been like for the people living at that time, regardless of their social status. Your novels bring life to the "facts" that we know. So when can i expect the next enthralling episode of Uhtred's journey on the bookshelves ? very best regards Jeremy

Hi! Just read the All of the Saxon Stories to date and would like to know when the next one's out!! Please let it be soon!
Craig

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished listening to the unabridged audio book of 'The Burning Land'(I listen in the car when I am travelling) and am desperate for the next part. Do you know when the next one will come out and will it be the final episode. I really love your novels for their exciting storytelling and also as I learn some history in a very real sense. Thanks and keep up the good work. Best regards Stephen Trinder Bisley, Glos

I was wondering when you are going to release a new Saxon Stories book? I have to commend you on these they were excellent, These gripping novels dragged me into the reading world and i am glad of it! thank you for this joy.
Trevor Smith

I enjoyed the series very much, but a couple of things bothered me. Since the books were not written in order, some things went unexplained. The most obvious one is how did Sgt. Hakeswill get out of the snake pit in India and wind up in Portugal/Spanish campaign? I am sure you have been asked this before.
Charles Cotten

Dear Mr. Cornwell I'm enjoying both reading and listening to your book. In particulary The Grail Quest, The Arthur Books and the Saxon Stories. I have them all on paper, but am missing the first book of the Grail Quests on CD. Where can I get it? Kind regards Leo

Will you be writing another book for the warlord chronicles? Nicholas Gwynne

Hello Mr. Cornwell, quick question for you... do you know if the audiobook of The Fort will be released around the same time as the book itself like it was done with The Burning Land last year? Either way, I'm looking forward to the new book and can't wait for the new Uhtred next year! Regards, Richard Mock

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I agree with you that Sean Bean is ideal in the character of Richard Sharpe. However before the TV films were made I had a preconceived mind's eye picture of Sharpe derived from the existing book descriptions. I find that Sean Bean's Sharpe, excellent though he is does not quite fit this picture. The Sharpe of the books is 6ft. 1" tall; in long range shots Sean Bean does not appear as tall as I had thought Sharpe would be. My imagined Sharpe had black hair, Sean Bean's hair is fair. Perhaps the most telling difference between the Sharpe of the book and the Sharpe of the film is the accent. The book Sharpe was dragged up in the gutters of London, he probably never left there until he was 15 when he spent a mere 6 months in Yorkshire. His accent and that of his contemporaries must have been "Cockney" or similar. Sean Bean speaks in a broad northern accent. This surely would never have been the case. Sharpe would have no reason to change his ingrained London accent even if he were capable of doing so, which I doubt. However he is your character, you control him and do so brilliantly and I can now ignore my small misgivings. I also find battle descriptions, by all authors, somewhat confusing. I found for example compass directions a little difficult to follow in Sharpe's Skirmish. Although there is a sketch map on the cover of the book an arrow indicating north would have been useful. I am sure I am not alone in finding occasional difficulties in following the progress of battles and relating landmarks to the action. A sketch map with a compass direction and if possible a scale, together with an indication of all the places and objects mentioned in the text would clarify matters considerably. I know you frequently show plans but nevertheless I can sometimes become confused and perhaps a few more details could be added. I am eagerly awaiting your next Sharpe book. With Kindest Regards and Congratulations on your International success, immaculate research and skill as a storyteller. Yours sincerely Basil S. Garratt

Dear Mr. Cornwell, my family are fans of your Sharpe stories. While reading your website I saw your biographical note about being refused "a green card". I am a professor of immigration law and would love to know more about the basis for the refusal. My imagination runs wild with happy speculation such as you originally came to the U.S. on a Fullbright scholarship or you protested the Vietnam war. I hope you don't mind my asking. Yours, Professor Lenni Benson, New York Law School