Your Questions

Having attended your very entertaining talk in Ely Cathedral on Monday, I wondered whether you might have seen the following item in the Sunday Times today? Final word We (unhappy) band of brothers Its taken them 593 years, but the French have finally devised an excuse for losing the battle of Agincourt: the rosbifs cheated. French academics gathered at the battle site yesterday on St Crispins Day, the anniversary of the battle, and held English manhood cheap, as Henry V might have put it. They accused his troops of acting dishonourably, even committing what we would now understand as war crimes, burning soldiers and hacking bits off French noblemen. We have only one thing to say; once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. If the French wish to apply contemporary standards to the great battles of history, so be it. Let them explain how blind King John of Bohemias death at Crécy was not historys most outrageous breach of health and safety legislation. Let them explain how shooting Horatio Nelson at Trafalgar, a man with one arm and one eye, advanced the employment rights of the disabled. Or perhaps its just better to dismiss yesterdays gathering as an entirely appropriate tribute to St Crispin the patron saint of cobblers. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article5014719.ece. John Hodder

As with all your previous books, I am eagerly looking forward to your next one Agincourt. However a question: why such a delay between the UK release and the US release? It always surprises me that the publisher seem to habitually release your new books just AFTER Christmas, when, at least to me, it would be a great gift to receive and one I would greatly appreciate. Neil Cosgrove

I need your help on the British Armed forces, since I am creating an alternative History of a North America still part of British Empire and American revolt failed. The problem is how would the Army be structured in this timeframe this is were I need help, Now would this late 1939 army be like the Imperial British Army pre WW1, a late Victorian style? LW

Bernard - thanks for the books it has provided so much enjoyment and historical knowledge over the years. Just one question however is in regard to your current book tour. When are you coming back to Scotland? I was disapointed that the current tour did not have an Edinburgh or Glasgow date. I previously attended a book signing and talk some years ago in Edinburgh. Ken Murphy

Dear Mr Cornwell, I read your bulletin board today (25/10/08) and someone has asked for more news of Lucille. Hooray, I'm not alone in feeling that Sharpe deserves a "History". Why, as a hero did you not reward him with a Major or colonels pension instead of a run down farm that he could not afford to rejuvenate. Starbucks chronicle tells us that he died in 1860 and his son is in the french cavalry so why not a book about Patrick Lassan that could be set in the Crimean war in 1854, Sharpe would be 72 years old and could make a cameo appearance to explain his later years. P.S. On another web site (I forget which) a writer says that Jane Sharpe died in 1840 or 44 and that Sharpe married Lucille then, is this right? Love your books and speed to your pen. Mike Walker. Worcester, England

Hey, hope you are well Two very petty questions but was just wondering... Firstly, why do the majority of your novels contain no heavy swear words, especially the 'f' one? This doesn't detract at all, just pure curiosity considering they must have been ubiquitous in a soldier's vocabulary and, what with the graphic battle scenes and frequent violent death, it's not as if there can be a vast under 11 crowd to risk alienating. And secondly, do you conform to that saying about being your own harshest critic or are you fairly easy-going about your novels? Oh, and have you re-read Sharpe's Eagle yet? (Sorry, that's three) Thanks for taking the time and good luck with the writing. Max

Dear Bernard Being an avid fan of yours for some time, I always keep an eye on what questions people have asked, and I have noticed how you regretted killing of Hakeswill, Because you really seemed to enjoy writing his cruelties. I also know how you don't wish to take Sharpe back in time, but if you wanted to have fun writing Hakeswill again you could always take Sharpe back to when they first met. I also wanted to say how in the Arthur Books you left some questions unanswered, I don't really want to know what happened to Arthur or Nimue, because if I do find out it would take away the magic of guessing and fantasizing. I suppose in the same respect I really don't want to know what happened in the dark ages, because I like believe your stories are what happened, since the characters were all so lovable, hateable and real seeming. Also, is the Main Character in Redcoat Sharpe's Father? Kind Regards, never stop writing. Damien

Hi Bernard, Thanks for the excellent talk at Cheltenham last week. Currently reading Azincourt and loving every minute of it. Came across a few websites today while reading up on a few facts concerning Azincourt and thought you might be interested if you haven't came across the story yourself, I would also be interested to hear your views. It concerns a French history conference saying that the whole story of the battle as we know it is total lies, and one historian is quoted as saying: 'It is the result of deliberate myth-making by Shakespeare in his Henry V, perpetuated to this day by authors such as Bernard Cornwell whose best-selling novel Azincourt is a gripping, galloping, gore-filled celebration of the English underdog.' The web address in case you want the whole story is: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/10/27/do2704.xml. Scotland on Sunday is also running the story at: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk/Academics-challenge-39myth39-of-Agincourt.4630335.jp, as I assume are many other news sites. Andrew Moore

Dear Bernard It was reported in last weekends papers that the French were holding a conference to discuss Agincourt, the main theme being that the English were not as outnumbered as is popularly claimed, that they resorted to underhand tricks to win the day and that their actions could, in retrospect, be described as those of war criminals. You were loosely quoted in the article. Do you subscribe to the French view that the victory was overplayed by the English or is this just a piece of wishful revisionism by the cheese eating surrender monkeys? Regards, Chris Poulton

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a very big fan of your Saxon stories, Archer Tales, and, most of all, the Arthur stories. I was just wondering who you think is the greatest character you have ever created or written about? Luke
Yates

Dear Mr Cornwell, I discovered the Sharpe's series through my father in law and enjoy your writing very much - I just finished Wildtrack and like it, so I will pick up your other thrillers soon. My question: Is the Saint Pierre Trophy real? I was looking for some info on the Internet, but could not find anything and I have never heard of it. I do follow sailboat racing (Route du Rhum, Around Alone, etc...), so i am very curious. Thank you!
Gwenael Gouery