Your Questions

Mr. Cornwell, As odd as it may sound, my brothers and I have a ranking system for books. I am proud to announce that the Sharpe books have recently joined some VERY, VERY elite company in our "top tier". We liken a book making it to our "top tier" to someone climbing Mr. Everest. We were wondering if you have a "book ranking system" either formal or informal that you use to place the "top tier" books you may read throughout life?

Conor

Hi, just a quick note to say how much I have enjoyed reading the Saxon and Arthur books. I can't wait for the next installment of Uhtred's story, what I want to know is will there be anymore to Derfel's story (Arthur)? as I would like to know more of what happens to him in the time after Arthur's demise. thank you.
Peter Wilkinson

Hi Bernard,I hope that you're keeping well.I've recently decided to re read The Warlord Chronicles and have rediscovered how good that they are.I personally think that they would make a cracking TV series in the mould of HBO's Rome.Your take on the Arthur story seems to be an adult,realistic vision,with political intrigue,great characters,vengeance,love and great action scenes.The thing though that has stuck me most in re reading the stories is that every time that I come across the character of Merlin in the tales,I always think of the actor Brian Cox.When Merlin talks,I hear his voice echoing out from the page,Merlin's dialogue seems to be written for his voice.I'm sure that when you wrote the stories you didn't have Brian in Mind specifically but do you as you are writing characters for your books,imagine an actor playing the role in your head and consequently adapt the character's speech cadence to the way you would imagine the actor would deliver the lines? or do you just write the dialogue as if it were you yourself that were saying the words?Thanks in advance if you find the time to answer. Anthony Hegarty

Hello! My name is Andrey and I am a big fan of your work. I am 22 years old, Brazilian, and I've been reading you books for 10 years now. I am writing this message to tell you about how I like everything you write and also to ask if you have any idea of the success of your books here in Brazil. I also want to know how are you capable of writing so many books so rich in details in such a small time. Reading your work made me think about writing too, and of course I have my ideas, thanks to you. To finish this message. Do you have any project of writing a Second War based book? Thanks a lot for your time. Andrey Mattos Machado PS: Sorry for my poor English.

Mr. Cornwell, I'm enjoying your Sharpe series, and have taken care to read all your books in order. I'm currently reading Sharpe's Prey and have noticed many references to events that I didn't read about in the preceding book, Sharpe's Trafalgar. Mainly dealing w/ his life w/ Lady Grace. Did I miss something? Mike

Hello Mr. Cornwell, As weird as it may sound my brothers and I sit around from time to time and talk about which Sharpe moment is our favorite (mine is Sharpe defending Wellesley at the Battle of Assaye...doesn't get any better than that!). I was wondering if you had a favorite moment?
Charles

Good evening Bernard, I'm an avid reader of your work and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, for many happy hours engrossed in historical fiction. I would like to ask where you get your inspiration? Have you considered the war of the roses? I hope you find time to answer, but would not wish to detract from your writing of your next novel. Thank you in anticipation Cliff

Dear Mr Cornwell, my name is Joris Plag and I am from Holland and I was wondering is your new book Azincourt going to be translated into dutch? And if it is when can I buy it in Holland. I really want to read it, so if it is going to take a while I`ll read it in English. Thanx for your time. Greetings, Joris Plag

Dear mister Cornwell, I very much like the Sharpe story's. I do have all the DVD's but i would like to reed all the books. I own Sharpe's Triumph and Sharpe's Tiger in Dutch language. I would really like to buy the rest of the series but there isn't a translation in my language. Can you tell me if the translation in Dutch will come soon? Thank you very much for reading! Mariette Hebinck

I have read all your Sharpe books and many of your others and enjoyed them immensely. I have often wondered if your inspiration for Sharpe was the historic character John Shipp who was also an orphan who joined the army in about the same time period as Sharpe and was the only soldier to be commissioned from the ranks twice.
Brian Beck

hi Bernard - greatly enjoyed all the books you have written and hope you never stop writing ! I was just wondering about the phrase you used in the Alfred series " fate is inexorable " what made you think of this phrase and why did you incorporate this phrase into this particular story ? and do you now how to write this phrase in viking/danish runes ? thanks a lot Michael p.s. looking forward to book number five in the Uhtred/Alfred series.