Will you be writing another book for the warlord chronicles? Nicholas Gwynne
I do not plan to add anymore books to the Warlord Chronicles.
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
Yes, I do believe the audio book will be released at the same time.
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
We try to make the maps as self-explanatory as possible - but one problem I have is that they're always the very last thing to be put into the finished book and there's rarely time to check them properly (I know, we should try harder). I guess north is straight up on the Skirmish cover? That would make sense!
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
Neither of the above - I just wanted to marry an American blonde (nothing wrong with me). I couldn't apply for whatever visa it is that covers engaged couples (like the blonde had a first mistake), so applied for the plain vanilla green card? A friendly guy at the US Embassy basically told me there was a quota system and I wasn't covered - does that make sense? He actually put it a different way, but this is a family site.
Hi, I e-mailed you a couple of months ago about where i could find useful sources for a book I am writing. At your advice I began to search for related material and found a marvelous book about the history of Scotland written by Magnus Magnusson. Since buying the book, and a couple of other's my story has come on leaps and bounds (88,000 words and counting) so thanks for your help. But still I have questions so here goes... When you are writing your first draft do you want it to be as close to the finished article as possible or do you have a lot of editing to do before it is ready to submit? And I am struggling to find a decent database for family crests and battlefield standards from the 13th-14th centuries is there anything you can suggest that might help me? thanks in advance... ps hopefully you may come across a book called Saltire in a couple of years (fingers crossed). Michael Cunningham
I rewrite constantly, endlessly. I always think that writing a novel (for me! not for everyone!) is like climbing a mountain - I get a quarter of the way up, look back and see a better route, so it's back to the beginning and start again and that better route takes me halfway up, I look back, and so on and so on. Once that 'first' draft is finished I rewrite the whole thing maybe two times, and it's then that I add lots of detail before it's ready to submit.
I can't, sorry. I'm no expert - I use the simple sources - the Oxford Book of Herladry. I know there's a lot on the internet, but suspect much of it is bogus. Maybe someone can make a suggestion?
I have really enjoyed reading many of your books. Especial Azincourt, and the Thomas of Hookton series. I was wondering if you where going to write another book in either one of those series?
Angus Merrell
Anything's possible, but no promises!
Hi Mr. Cornwell, I am wondering if you are a birder. You make so many references in your books to birds that I suspect you are. I have really enjoyed reading your books. I am now reading "Vagabond", the 12th straight book of yours I have read. And I haven't even gotten to the Sharpe series! Thank you, Denny Granstrand Yakima, WA
Not really - though I do keep binoculars and a Birder's Guide handy. Right now we seem to have a lot of ospreys (and great white sharks, but thank god they don't have wings)
Hi there! Still loving your work after many years! I know you've mentioned that the Arthur series are your favourite books of yours to read but I just wondered which of your characters is your personal favourite? (I realise that may be like asking which of your children you prefer, but they won't be offended!) Which character did you find easiest to write? And which hardest? Finally, many authors say when interviewed that they bring a little of themselves to their characters, and I just wondered which (if any) of your characters you identify with most and which you think is the most similar to you? (Obviously, I'm not expecting you to suddenly reveal a penchant for shooting people and beating up unsavoury characters in dark alleyways!) Many thanks for the years of enjoyment, long may you continue! Richard
We all bring something of ourselves to our characters, but maybe it's what we'd want to be, rather than what we are? I did a lot of research int Hornblower a couple of years ago, and came to the conclusion that he was really C.S. Forester's wannabe character! I don't know if any one of mine is easiest to write . . . and I'm not sure I have a favourite, except to say that it's probably whichever one I'm writing at the time. I do rather like Rider Sandman, though - I'd like to spend more time with him.
Mr. Cornwell I do not know how far one can take your riddle regarding the fatherhood of Richard Sharpe. However a few thoughts. First his name. Richard 'Powerful Leader' Sharpe '..a sharp quick person' (keen,active,quick.) A quote from Wellington ' Being born in a stable does not make one a horse.' Ours (our army) is composed of the scum of the earth. So...... Take you out. Remove any thoughts about what the 'Fan' thinks about the origins of Sharpe. Put me in I believe when you originally thought about Sharpe you thought of him as the 'scum of the earth' of course with two names that potentially set him apart. And a horse appears. Apart from the above reference. 'a hack' refers to 'a horse let out for hire or used for varied work' or 'a writer who works mainly for hire' Finally you say( and I believe) 'This happy person' I do not hold with the connotation that HACK should be a pejorative. I consider you to be the preeminent author of modern 'Ripping Yarns' which is no small feat. Your self and C.S. Forester in the past hundred years have covered the land and sea with the best of adventure prose. Thank You. You are Sharpe's father.
Patrick May
Me, not guilty! But thank you for your wonderful compliments and a very impressive piece of detective work. It deserves another clue - IRONY!
bernard have you seen the movie Centurion yet? I think you will enjoy it roman legions against scottish picts.
Wayne
I haven't - I've been far too busy (and still am) making a fool of myself at the Monomoy Theatre - haven't had a night off in a month - and none in sight for a couple of weeks. I'll play catch up when it's over.