Your Questions

Hallo, I just discovered your Saxon stories and I'm really enjoying them: not something many Irishmen would admit to! I studied Old English and Old Norse Literature at university, and needless to say, its not often such enjoyable novels as yours come along set in the time period and cultures that I find so interesting. At first I thought you had perhaps misunderstood how close the English and what they referred to as "the Danes" would have been at the time, both linguistically and culturally, but I've just read the bit in "The Pale horseman" with the Frisians in the marketplace baiting a Dane and I thought: You know, Cornwell has got it got it spot on. They looked like each other, their language was very similar, their cultural roots were identical, but they regarded each other as "hateful foreigners" (to quote an old English poem). Sounds a bit weird, but to someone like me who grew up in northern Ireland, its something i see everyday. Anyway: great work, keep it up please! I hope Uhtred's life and career is (was?) as long and glorious and Mr Sharpe's. One question: As "Britain's storyteller" (as your website says) one era you haven't touched on is the English Civil War. Any plans/interests if that conflict?

Tim Hodkinson

Have you ever thought of doing a book set around the 1060's to cover the Battle of Hastings? I keep searching for a story set in these times but no one seems to have written one.

Neil Cox

I am a History student coming to my final year of A-level study. I have been a fan of your books since I was 13 and they helped shape my style of writing. I wish to go on and study military history and later take a career in it. I was going to take War Studies at Salford University, but first I would like to know if the War Studies degree is well respected amoungst Historians and also if you would recommend any course. I really want to turn my intense passion for this subject into a "job" (I use the quotation marks to distinguish it from most jobs which are dull.) Thank you for you time, Sean Winters.

Hi Mr. Cornwell. I've had a recent idea I'd like to run by you, I think it's one of the best I've come up with in some time. More than once, you've expressed a desire to have Sharpe at the siege of San Sebastian in July - September 1813. As you know, at present, this is impossible because Sharpe was in England at the time chasing down the recruiting scam in Sharpe's Regiment. I remember you writing that you might have to re-do the chronology of Regiment to allow Sharpe to be at the siege. My idea is: rather than re-writing, leave Regiment as it is with Sharpe in England for that time period. Then write the story of the siege of San Sebastian and Soult's Pyrenees counterattack of 1813, but write it as a novel starring none other than William Frederickson! You made Sweet William a formidable soldier in his own right, don't you think he deserves at least one novel all to himself, out from under Sharpe's shadow? And this would be an opportunity to give some background information on him, like his birth, upbringing, early military career, etc. What do you think? Alan Kempner

Can you tell me were I might find Muster rolls for the battle at Bordeaux? I've looked on the internet but have found nothing. I'm looking for three Hylton brothers who died under the command of the Black Prince. They were son's of the Baron Hylton, I would like to know if they were Men-at-arms or if they were Knights.

Austin Helton

Mr Cornwell, Firstly I find your works to be fascinating. My Mum got me into reading Sharpe when I was 11, after I'd found a copy of "The Last Kingdom" at Midway Airport in Chicago. In my spare time I partake in historical reenactments, mostly of the 7th Missouri Irish Volunteers, USV, in the American Civil War. I am beginning to look into adding the Peninsular War into my area of reenactment. I was wondering if you would have any information on any famous Irish officers within Wellington's Army. Thanks for all the good work. ~S. Ó Catháin.

I am a new reader of yours and live in Atlanta GA. I am delighted to have discovered your work. I wonder if you know of the work of the late Nigel Tranter and wonder if so, might you share thoughts on his work you. Kind regards.

Ned Montag

I m Renate from Hannover ,....my question is,do you know Widukind 8th century, the dutch of the pagan saxons,who made war for 20 years against ,king Karl the great and whose father in law was the king of Denmark?was there any contact of the anglosaxons with their relatives,who still prayed to Wodan? greeting,Renate

Mr Cornwell. Perhaps you could point me in the right direction. I am researching my ancestor, Pvt James Angell of the 3rd Battalion 95th rifles. He was at Waterloo, and I gather formed part of the eventual charge after the immortals had been routed. Sir James Kincaid's book deals with the 1st Battalion at Le Hay Saint. Do any of the other books by Harris, Costello, Leach et al, deal with the 3rd Battalion ? I presume you based your Richard Sharpe story on the Kincaid books, but I wondered if you had checked out the others as well. Best Regards Len Williams

Hi Bernard, I have all but finished Azincourt and I am really enjoying it. Just a few questions relating to it. You don't seem to overly indulge the character's feelings in this or in many of your books (Uhtred apart perhaps). For example and not to give away the story but when Michael Hook gets into a spot of bother you don't allow Nick to express his feelings too much. It's like you don't allow him to dwell on it too much but force him to get on with it. Is this because of pacing or just your style or at that time and place feelings were a luxury??

Also I think you don't use sentences with the "as" construct too much. For example something like- "How are you today?" he said, as he began slicing the bread. I'm just wondering is it a case that it's simply not in your writing style to use it or is it perceived that such a sentence construct is considered weak English? Regards Willie