Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell In yours books you create a detailed atmosphere, it probably demands a lot of research. I would like to know where you do this research, do you research all by yourself or somebody helps you with that? I am not a native English speaker so forgive me for any grammatical mistakes

Lucas

Submitted October 2, 2009

A

I do my own research. I've been reading history since I was a child, and all that reading contributes to what I do. However - when thinking about a new book I'll spend some months reading in a very concentrated way, though how long and how much depends on the book. I'm now writing a book set in the American Revolution and, though I know the period well, I still needed six or seven months of reading.

Q

Greetings - Since I was a young boy (I'm now a 45 years old boy), I have been fascinated by the Arthur story. I made it a point to read every book on Arthur I could get my hands on. I am now on my third read through the Warlord series. Your books and Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Mists or Avalon" are my favorites. I wonder: has anyone approached you about making movies or a series based on the three books? They really would make a (potentially) great series, as long as you keep it out of the hands of the folks who did the "Mists" mini-series - it was tripe. Really, the whole purpose of this note is to say thank you for some thoroughly enjoyable reads! Paul Johnston, Kent, WA USA

Submitted October 2, 2009

A

There's been some talk of it, but I suspect in the long run they would prove too expensive to make.

Q

Mr. Cornwell where can one purchase the latest SHARPE'S PERIL DVD in NTSC North American format? I can't seem to find one. I thoroughly enjoy all of you books and videos on the Sharpe series as well as the books on the Starbuck Chronicles, too bad you havent continued on with this particular character and series and too bad no video series on same. Thank you for you labours. Phil Riley

Submitted October 2, 2009

A

It is not available, yet. There are plans to show the latest two Sharpe films, 'Sharpe's Challenge' and 'Sharpe's Peril', on US television next spring (WGBH) and, I imagine, the DVD will be available some time after that.

Q

Mr Cornwell, I am looking forward to "the Burning Land" immensely and was wondering if you would be doing any talks in Scotland on your upcoming visit?

Tom

Submitted October 2, 2009

A

Sorry Tom, Scotland is not on the itinerary (see the Diary page for the list of events).

Q

Dear Bernard Have just finished reading Burning Land and enjoyed it immensely. I wondered with Uhtred meeting Constantin and he coming across as a ruthless and wily character if Uhtred will be going up against him and the Scots in the future??? And I wondered if in the next book will Uhtred get to the siege of Chester and the Viking attacks that happened there and in North wales???

In regards to your archer novels I have noticed the battles you have written about tend to be slightly one sided in regards to Archers and wondered if you will do ever do a book where BOTH sides used archers??

Last but not least would you consider giving Sharpe a bit of a rest and get back to Starbuck as there are many more open ended plot lines compared to the Sharpe books and you have left them like that far too long. Besides this may be me speaking out of turn but there seems to be a bigger interest (At least from other posters on this site) about another Starbuck than a Sharpe at the moment. Besides you have to get Starbuck to some of the western battles like Stones River I'd love to know what he would he make of Braxton Bragg??) Yours sincerely Geraint P.S I have to ask but You released Burning Land at the same time they found the largest horde of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever which is all over the news. That seems to be an incredible coincidence or where you already aware of it???

Submitted October 2, 2009

A

I think we'll just have to wait and see....

There are few battles like that - Shrewsbury (where the sixteen year old Prince Henry who would become Henry V took an arrow in the face) is one, and I have plans to write a book about another such battle where both sides deployed archers - but which battle? Wait and see! But part of the longbow's appeal is that it was a weapon of such specialisation that few countries could deploy it . . . which makes the attendant tactics more interesting to me.

No, I wasn't aware of it.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, have you ever thought of writing about Dick Whittington? He was a friend to Henry the IV and Henry the V. Also he he made a lot of changes in social welfare of the times. This always gets left out in the general history. There might not be much fighting in his story but a lot of intrigue. In Toronto, on University Avenue, there are two cannon. One was made in 1813 and the other in 1815. After rereading Sharpe's Waterloo I look at the cannon with new respect. They are nine pounders. Did you read about the Saxon loot that was found buried a few days ago? Quite a number of the pieces are the sword pommels. Seems the Saxons liked to take the pommels from the defeated I look forward to your next read. Nicholas.

Submitted September 30, 2009

A

I confess I haven't thought of Dick Whittington - I've been aware of him, of course, especially when I was writing about Henry V's efforts to raise funds for the Agincourt campaign, but I'm not sure he's a subject that would suit my style of story-telling. Maybe someone else will write about him?

Q

Hi Bernard,just writing to say how much I am enjoying your books.I have just finished Rebel and Sword Song and am currently reading The Gallows Thief. Ater years of reading only autobiographies I have been converted to your books and cannot get enough of them. Are there any plans to film any of your novels besides Sharpe? Thanks and keep up the good work,Rob.

Submitted September 30, 2009

A

No plans at the moment.

Q

Could you please tell me if you are ever going to do write another book on Starbuck I really enjoyed the book on the American civil war and I have just come back from a trip to Gettysburg so please could you carry these chronicles on

Mr. Roy Hobson

Could you please tell me if you are going to write anymore Starbuck chronicles.

James Swift

Submitted September 30, 2009

A

Yes, I do hope to get back to Starbuck.

Q

Hi, being naturally extremely excited about the new Uhtred book, I've just listened to the unabridged audiobooks of the first two as a quick re-cap and was wondering when the third and fourth will be released in the same format? Elsewhere in the questions section you seem to suggest that they should already be available in this format, but I can't find them on Amazon.co.uk or Audible.co.uk (which has the other two). Am I missing something? PS: I think Tom Sellwood is a great narrator for them. Cheers.

Ed Prior

Submitted September 30, 2009

A

Both The Lords of the North and Sword Song are available unabridged through BBCaudiobooks (Chivers). I don't know if you can get them from Amazon, but maybe from the BBC website?

Q

good afternoon Mr Cornwell my English is not very good. I would like to preview the Burning lLnd in Brasil, what month to preview it? ok thanks

Patrick Almeida

Submitted September 30, 2009

A

I believe The Burning Land will be available in Brazil in June 2010.