Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, Just finished Sharpe's Rifles and it was a great entry in the series. As much as I enjoy it, I would like to see Sharpe enjoy retirement. Perhaps just one more volume to finish the Starbuck Chronicles? English history is so rich, you could write about Robin Hood or the War of the Roses. Hope this doesn't sound like a left handed compliment, because I do enjoy all your books!
Michael Calkins

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

I've thought of Robin Hood, but not sure when I might get to it! I'm not sure I'll ever tackle the War of the Roses, sorry. But I do plan to return to Starbuck.

Q

Love your writing! Are you aware of any works on the British/Canada & US War of 1812 that mirror your efforts with the Sharpe Series & the Starbuck Chronicles? I find that you 'teach' me history in a fashion that is enjoyable & entertaining; your works are tremendous!! Many thanks! ...John

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

I'm not aware of any such books - though it's certainly an intriguing subject. Sorry . . .

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I`m from Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. Sorry my poor English, but i think you will understand me. I`m just one of many fans you have in Brazil. I love all your books. Unfortunately the translation of them to Portuguese is slow. The Sharpe Books have only 7 (or 8) oh them in our language. I´am 38 years old (almost 39). I love medieval age, and want to make a tattoo with medieval theme. If possible, please, send to me medieval pictures of warriors and archers. English warriors and archers, of course. I love the British history. Why don´t you write pirates stories? Thanks a lot. Marco Antonio.

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

Sorry Marco, I don't have any pictures to send you! Why don't I write pirate stories? Because I haven't got round to it yet. But who knows, maybe someday...

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a huge fan of your work. I've read your "Saxon Stories" books, as well as the "Grail Quest" novels and "Stonehenge", but my favourites are "The Warlord Chronicles". I have read the entire series 11 times through, and have 2 copies of each novel (I had to buy new ones after the 10th time through, as they were beginning to fall apart, although I still have the first 3 as a 'display' set). I have visited England, although not recently, and am planning to go back in the future. I have been wondering, of all the historically significant places mentioned in your "Warlord Chronicles" novels, which is your favourite, and which would you recommend to an aspiring historian? Thanks, Chris Spackman

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

Any choice of place is bound to be capricious! For a place where I think we can be almost 100% certain that it was trod by Arthur himself (and I know that begs the question of whether such a character ever existed) I'd suggest Caerleon in South Wales - the Roman ruins there are amazingly impressive. My two favourites would be Mai Dun - Maiden Castle in Dorset, which is not a castle in the classical sense, but the largest Neolithic earthwork in existence. And no tour round Arthur's shadowy Britain would be complete without visiting the hill-fort at South Cadbury (very close to Wincanton), which has a claim, as good as any, to be the site of 'Camelot'. If I had to choose one? South Cadbury.

Q

Dear Bernard, If you could spare a moment to help me with a couple of questions i would like answered, i would be very grateful. Firstly knowing the South Essex are a fictional regiment. What divisions did you attach them too during their time under Wellesley /Wellingtons campaign of the Peninsular?? this is to help me in my holiday preparations of Spain and Portugal. Secondly i have just reread the Sharpe novels pertaining to that campaign and in my haste i forgot to write down where Sharpe travelled. i have used Brians time line as a reference, but he really only mentions the major engagements and not the smaller villages and towns Sharpe inevitably ends up being in or travelling through. can you help or point me in the general direction. again thanks,and thanks for the tip previously given about Julian Paget's excellent book. i have it and am loving it. Steve Fleet

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

I really can't remember which divisions - which isn't at all helpful, I'm sorry. Generally speaking the South Essex were doomed to be wherever the battle was hottest, and that determined the division for that particular book, but as some of them were written more than twenty years ago (groans) I really don't remember, and I'm fairly certain that sometimes I deliberately avoided mentioning any divisional attachment. I suppose the best advice I can give is to follow Paget to the heart of any battle-site, and you can be fairly sure Sharpe was on that spot before you!

Q

Gisela must die! She's turning Uhtred into a namby-pamby sissy! His charm has always been his complete lack of good graces and his joy in the killing anyone or anything for any reason at any time. Gisela is changing all of this. You have always got rid of Sharpie's women. Why not her? Are you going soft in your old age? Please, make her dead in the next book. Have read everyone of your historical fiction swashbucklers. They are fun stuff.
T. Moore

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

Ah, wait and see. Most of the next book is written, but I ain't telling you what happens . . . . .

Q

I'm huge fan of the Sharpe series, Mr. Cornwell, and also a writer in my own humble way. Right now, I'm trying to find some resources on the officers ranks of the British Army. I've got a character, a Scots officer, and I'm trying to find anything that might tell me how he would have gotten on with his English colleagues. I seem to recall some mention of this being made here and there in the Sharpe novels, and was hoping you might point me to where you had researched??? At any rate, your incredible panorama of detail in all the Sharpe novels has always left my brain stuffed full of military minutiae, and I love them to bits!
Anna Gray

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

I'm not certain I used any particular sources for the relationship between Sharpe and the officers in the Scottish regiment he joins. I've certainly read so widely through diaries and letters of the period that I'm sure some of that rubbed off, but in truth I suspect it didn't need much research! Scottish regiments were (on the whole) more homogeneous than English regiments, and there was an inevitable family feeling to many of them, so an outsider was not really welcomed. Plainly an outsider should work his way into the family's affections, and I'm sure that happened frequently, just as sometimes, as in Sharpe's case, he felt excluded. English regiments were probably more accepting (though that's not saying much), purely because they were less restrictive in their catchment area. At the heart of it is the love-hate relationship between England and Scotland; it's tribal, and you go from there. Wellington himself valued competence above tribe, so many Scots were welcome and happy in his employ. Really - the tribal thing will determine first acquaintance, but it won't last . . . if your Scotsman is prickly and defensive about his nationality then he will have an uncomfortable time, if he's a good guy who others like, then it won't matter at all, except to be the cause of occasional teasing. It really depends on his innate character rather than his nationality!

Q

Dear Bernard After listening to your radio programme on Radio4 and of course your dislike of Puritans I wondered if you had ever thought of the English Civil War and taking on the Puritans literary so to speak??

Also you have been writing about the Hundred years war and have course been writing about victories like Crecy and Agincourt and that you may also write about Vernuil and Poitiers as well. It would be wrong to see a war written about only half done and wondered if you will also write about the defeats from the British perspective Since you have done the victories since it seems only fair ie The siege of Orleans and Forigmby and Castelle that lost us the war the yr 1453 should allow Old man Hook to still be alive for the end????

Finally you are writing about Alfred and the forging of England any chance of Edward 1st and the forging on the United Kingdom??? yours sincerely Geraint

P.S If you have not read them I can recommend Charles Spencers book Prince Rupert the Last Cavalier and John Adamson's the Nobel Revolt and finally Guy Dempseys book on the battle of Albuera

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

I would love to. Oh, how I would love to! The trouble is that the puritans always win! Some clever American (apologies to him, but his name escapes me for the moment) wrote a fascinating book a few years ago which pointed out that there had been three great contests between puritans and cavaliers in Anglo-American history - the English Civil War, the American Revolution and the American Civil War - and the puritans won all three. That's obviously a HUGE generalisation, but there's an interesting thought there . . . . my belief is that the puritans always win because they don't get drunk at night, but spend their time making plans. We're in a period of puritan ascendancy now (witness how governments are trying to legislate thought), and of course puritanism has little to do with religion - there was no one more puritanical than the ghastly Robespierre. Aaaaargh, I do hate them. Who was it who said that a puritan is haunted by the thought that someone, somewhere is having fun? People tell me proudly that their ancestors sailed on the Mayflower, my boast is that my ancestors threw the bastards out. Ah well.

I think both are possibilities, maybe even probabilities? I'm doing my best!

I really don't know - ars longa, vita brevis and all that. I'll concentrate on Alfred and his successors for the moment - and to be honest I'm not reading about the first Edward so I'm probably not putting him on the list. But never say never.

Thank you! I have them all!

Q

Recently I read "Last Kingdom" and "Pale Horseman"; I plan to finish the series. My question is how do find a place on computer to get the definition of some words. Words like fyrds,byre, thegns. I once stayed in small place in Wales called Kenfig which is within 2 or 4 miles of Porthcawl on the Bristol Channel. Isn't" the Bristol Channel a part of the Severn river. Also the tide that comes and goes in channel is as strong as the Bay Fundy in Maine USA? While staying there one night the tide blew a concrete wall that protected the road in front of the hotel. Thank Ervin Rickert Fort Wayne, IN

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

I have no idea - I use a dictionary! A good dictionary is much better than the internet (I hear the booing). The Bristol Channel is the Severn Mouth, though where the one turns into the other is up to you. I really don't know offhand the tidal range of the Bristol Channel - but it has to be huge, and it causes the Severn bore - the wave that sweeps majestically up the river. Fundy is around forty feet? Which is about the same as Dover. I've never sailed the Bristol Channel - but I became very used to the tide 'gates' in the English Channel - the last time I sailed Royalist there (before bringing her to the States) I was heading eastwards off Start Point and the towed-log was showing a hull speed of around five knots and we were actually going backwards at around two. That's a tide! I'm sure the Bristol Channel must have similar pleasures!

Q

I read all your books as soon as I can get my hands on them. Now into Agincourt, I wish you would consider making a children's version of this book with sex & violence muted. My grandsons would be captivated; I would love for them to have wonderful books like this to read. I pass my books on to our children. I shall suggest reading this one with pencil in hand, so my daughters might create a read-aloud version, suitable for 10 to 12 year olds.
Lucille Griffin

Submitted February 14, 2009

A

Agincourt without the violence? We could try, I suppose, though I'm not sure I'd use Agincourt as the template. I'm often asked to write something for younger readers and one day, maybe, I will, Thanks for the suggestion!