Your Questions

Q

Mr Cornwell, If i remember rightly the last Sharpe on Tv showed him, post Waterloo, in India. I'm just starting to read the last of the books but cannot remember this story. was it from one of the short stories, or a screenplay and, if the latter, will it be published?

Secondly, it must take several months at least to research and then write a book. You then switch to a different period and characters. Do you have to break of for a period in order to get the previous characters/story out of your mind. Do you ever have to go back to previous material in order to remind yourself of his characteristics or are they all fairly well established in your mind? is there ever a danger of you having an archer tap loading his long bow in order to increase his rate of fire!!!! Many thanks for hours of enjoyable reading.

Doug Logan

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

Both of the last two Sharpe films, 'Sharpe's Challenge' and 'Sharpe's Peril', were written by scriptwriters, only loosely based on the books.

I frequently go back to earlier material, but in truth I don't find it difficult to switch periods. I suspect my sub-conscious is working on the next period while I'm writing the previous book - so all last winter I was in Saxon England, but very aware that the next book (about to be started) was set in Revolutionary New England. So far I haven't had an archer tap load his bow, but who knows? It might happen yet!

Q

Bernard, Started reading your books a few years ago and have moved from Sharpe through Grail Quest now on Starbuck. Thanks for so much enjoyment - Sharpe is more than equal to Hornblower by CSForester. Would the two ever have met? Now that would have been a good book!

My question is... Is Nathanial Starbuck (descendants from Nantucket) fictitiously related to his namesake of the C.17 also from Nantucket? I do hope so as that means I am distantly related. Yeehaa! Kindest regards, David Macey

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

I suspect the copyright difficulties would prevent this so it is very unlikely.

I think he must be . . . I took the name from the Nantucket family (not the coffee lot) and, indirectly, from Moby Dick, which didn't stop one reviewer attacking me for using a 'thoroughly unAmerican name' sigh

Q

Have you read Battles of the Dark Ages by Peter Marren? I was fascinated by the small amount of information about Alfred's sister Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians...How about a female heroine? I've read all the Arthur books and especially love the Grail and Saxon series-love that time period. Please keep writing!!!
Susan

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

I have read the book - and frequently refer to it. You'll find more material on Aethelflaed in Ian Walker's terrific book, Mercia and the Making of England (Sutton Publishing, Stroud, 2000).

Q

What of further Sharpe and Starbuck books?
Tony Alvarez

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

Still a few years away...

Q

I just finished reading your extant Saxon books. I was struck by the marked contrast between your sometimes painfully detailed descriptions of arms, armor, and warfare and your total lack of love scenes. I really appreciated the moment of tenderness between Uhtred and Gisela in Sword Song (after Aethelflaed's wedding). I think these softer moments of love are a good complement to the harshness of warfare and politics. Do you have an authorial reason for not writing love scenes? If the four Saxon books are not wholly representative of your writing in this regard, then my apologies.
Chuan Q. Ho

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

Maybe the first four Saxon books aren't typical? There are certainly a lot of love scenes in the Warlord trilogy, and even Sharpe gets romantic from time to time - I'll try to put more in for you!

Q

With the benefit of hindsight what changes would you make to your previous books? Have you killed characters too early or had them perform acts which perhaps forced your hand re plot twists later on?

Andy Houghton

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

well, I certainly regret killing Obadiah Hakeswill - that was a daft thing to do, but other than that? I'm sure I would have regrets if I re-read the books (something I don't do), but I'm not aware of any real regrets other than not letting Hakeswill live to enliven Sharpe's later adventures. As for plot twists? Again I can't think of any - except that in the first few Sharpe books there are references to his experiences in India which, when I came to write them, had to be changed, but no-one seemed to mind!

Q

Re Azincourt page 157 Lady of Falmouth I'm interested in where you got the name "Falmouth" as the Cornish town didn't exist until the 17th Century.

Ian Paton

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

The name Falmouth is first mentioned in 1235 - Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names - but off the top of my head I can't remember if that ship is named in an original document. It might have been.

Q

Hi. I just want to thank you for being the only author I'm aware of to be bold enough to strip all the Hollywood garbage (insufficiently strong but printable) out of the Arthurian legend. When will they realise that plate armour sufficiently light to cover the whole body and still allow movement wasn't invented until the middle ages? I know you don't want people to give you ideas for stories, but what if I gave you a signed affidavit to say you can use the idea? I'd just so love to see your take on what I'm thinking about!

Simon

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

Thank you . . . . . I'm still loath to take on other's ideas, mainly because I have so many of my own! No harm in sending it (don't worry about the affidavit)

Q

It is good to see that you are still up to your antics. You have an impatient reader on your hands, good sir! When I saw that "Burning Land" is soon to come, I nearly pulled out my hair. 2010! What will I DO with that time?! Perhaps I will take up basketweaving until it comes to pass. That is a lie. I will keep up my own writing, and perhaps send you something when it becomes published and safe for handling. It is good, I think, to pass on work to one's peers. Even better if they are ruthless should someone fail utterly! In reading "Lords of the North" (and to a lesser extent "Sword Song"), I found that the battle details became a little hazy in comparison to the prior Saxon Tales. Is there a particular reason for this, or did it just pan out that way? Understand that it is in no way a complaint. If anything, it reinforces the feeling that the events are a recollection rather than straight storytelling. I have always found your books more intriguing than most for the simple fact that it doesn't quite seem like plot work. More a sequence of events, as one might expect to experience in a real life setting. The sense of surprise is constant. The extent of your research intrigues me. How is it that you come across resources which seem to be far more intricate and detailed than most in your field? I didn't mean this to become a praise fest, but alas. I hope the upcoming years will show us more of what lurks in that head of yours. -Torr

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

I wasn't aware of describing the battles any differently . . . . but I'm sure you're right . . . I'll be interested what you think of The Burning Land where at least one of the battles is a big set-piece of a major clash (though, as usual, we know very little of what happened at Farnham - yes, Farnham in Surrey, which seems a most unlikely place for a major battle, but it did happen!). I suspect I use a lot of imagination to fill in gaps in research, if that answers your second question! And thank you

Q

I have read each of your Saxon stories books probably a dozen times. They are my favorite books ever. I am fairly well educated (upperclass standing at a US top university, 3.9GPA). I was wondering if you conduct beta testing, because if so I would love a chance to read the Burning Land. I literally do not think I can wait until Jan 1, 2010. Obviously I expect the answer to be no, and either way would like to congratulate you on writing what I consider to be the greatest fiction of all time!

Brian Goldstein

Submitted July 28, 2009

A

Advanced copies are sent to those in the trade, so maybe you need to work in a bookshop?