Nick Hook needs some more books; any idea if you will write any more? I really enjoyed it, thanks.
James
It's possible - but no promises!
Dear Mr Cornwell, I would like to know if you will be visiting the UK anytime soon? Maybe with the release of the next Saxon book. I enjoyed your visit to Ely recently, although quite embarrassingly I had to get up half way through to pee! I've been collecting your books for a few years now, but I feel rude turning up at your events with more than a hand full of books to be signed. As their are so many to collect now and your visits to the UK a little infrequent I fear I'll never finish my collection! Many thanks. Aaron.
I suspect I will be in the UK for the release of The Burning Land in October of this year. Details will be posted to the Diary page when they become available.
Bernard, I'm a big fan of yours... and out of the two thousand or so books I've read, you are probably my most consumed author. You even inspired me to write a book! One question though... are you aware of some of the continuation errors in the Sharpe books. For example, Sharpe's Trafalgar being apparently Sharpe's first experience of fighting at sea, yet later on in another novel him experiencing it for the first time apparently. Just petty things like that... do you think it's important? Best regards- you are a great writer. Mark Howitt
I am well aware of the inconsistencies! In one book I say that Sharpe and Hakeswill were together in the breach at Gawilghur and I knew that perfectly well when I wrote Sharpe's Fortress, but the story simply wouldn't work if they were, so I ignored the earlier book reference and wrote what, to me, was the better story. I suspect this is slightly frustrating for some readers, and it can be very frustrating for me, but there it is. Alas, if only I had my own reference guide, but the Sharpe books emerge from a mind as disordered as my office . . . .
Hi Mr. Cornwell. I have just finished Azincourt and truly loved it. This is the only book of yours that I have read and obviously I want to rectify that. Problem is that the local bookstores ( Pretoria, South Africa) dont seem to keep many of your books on shelf. They do however keep some of the Sharp books. My question is simple. Is it ok to read them in any order or should I rather go to the pains of starting with the first one and working my way through them? Thanks again for Azincourt- I really had a great time reading it. ps; Have you ever considered writing anything on the Boer War? (Had to ask being a modern day Boer.) Tinus Snyman
Yes, it's possible to read the Sharpe books in any order as they each contain a complete story.
Boer? I've thought of it, but it's not likely to happen...too many other things I want to write first.
hi Bernard, I had a question about the battle of Talavera- I know that the capture of the eagle was a fiction, but was the battle a British victory? I thought it was really inconclusive, yet (maybe to my eyes, of course) it seemed a victory in the novel (although it was not said what was the outcome of the whole battle) and did as many British as French troops die? I imagine the French suffered more casualties, but...
Teo
It was an allied victory, certainly. Cuesta, the Spanish commander, did his best to lose the battle and his reluctance to pursue afterwards meant that it wasn't nearly as complete a victory as Wellington would have wanted, but yes it was a victory! French ambitions were thwarted, Wellington was left in control of the field and the French were forced to retreat.
Hi Bernard, I've bothered you quite a bit of late with questions. I promise this will be the last one for a while. I'm just wondering how you harness your research?? What I mean is, do you simply underline passages in books or capture useful information in a notebook. I find I read something useful but then when I want to use it, I can't exactly remember the source or what exactly I read. At other times I hear a useful quip or expression in a pub but then can't remember it later. Is it a case of keeping a notebook to jot down ideas, research references etc?? Regards Willie
I keep notebooks, I jot things down on the back of bills, I scribble on unanswered letters, and eventually I try to pull it all together on the computer. A notebook is best - it's better than marginal notes in a book, at least for me, because I can never find the page again.
I read the book where Sharpe is on his way to England on board ship and he is a Sergent still. What I would like to know if there is a gap there? As the next book does not to cover how he became a Lieutenant and was in the Rifles and in Spain. Have I missed a book? I have read your Sharpe series with pleasure and I am starting over again. It is a great arm chair series of books and I enjoying them again. I am now reading "Sharpe's Enemies". Thanks- Ervin W Schrader
I don't think you missed anything. He's an Ensign in India, after that, because he joins the Rifles (who didn't use the rank Ensign) he's a lieutenant.
I have been a fan of the Warlord Chronicles for many years, I read them at least once a year. I just started reading Sword Song. I just read where Uhtred states "Fate is inescapable." Being a fan of the Chronicles Merlin quite often states "Fate is inexorable." Is this something that you live by?
Shannon Aldi-Hogan
I probably shouldn't have used that in the Arthur books, but back then I didn't know I'd be writing stories of Saxon England. It's a quote from an Old English poem and seems to sum up their fatalism - not sure I believe it, though.
Mr. Cornwell, May I trouble you for some advice please? I have been working on a historical novel for the past two years(first one!). It is set in ancient Roman times and is based on a true story. I have written quite a lot of words and it is certainly not near completion. What I once 'feared' has now happened! An American novelist('Give me back my legions! by Harry Turtledove) has just had his novel on EXACTLY the same theme and characters published!! Question: do I call it a day and write on some other character in history or, continue? Would a publisher want the same again? I am really into the novel and write daily(sometimes not a lot-I cannot 'force' it. But I am making progress). Grateful for any advice. Thanks in advance. I'm 62 years of age-wished I'd started writing years ago!!!
Jeff Adams
I assume these are the three lost legions? It's a terrific story! I confess I haven't read Harry Turtledove's version so I can't tell you whether it's so brilliant that your best course is to abandon two year's work. Sounds to me as if it'll be another year at least before yours is finished, and memory is short, so my advice (unseen) is to keep going. I really don't think the market is spoiled - and if your book is good enough it won't matter that there's been another on the same events!
Long shot, but any plans for visiting Toronto or the area, more specifically Caledon, in the near future? Matthew
No plans for it right now Matthew, but you never know what the future holds. Check the Diary page every so often, maybe I'll get there one day!