Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, Firstly may I thank you for the many years of pleasure I have had reading and re-reading your books. I have been with you since the very first Sharpe and have pretty much everything you have written. I am especially enjoying the Saxon series, probably because I myself am one! Having just read Sword Song, I noticed the phrase in what I assume is Anglo Saxon for "Fate is inexorable" and thought it would make an excellent tattoo and rather than take your book to the artist I wondered if there was a web resource I could utilise to not only print the correct letters but also to try and locate a suitable font? Once again thank you for all the enjoyment you have given me over the years. Best Regards Tony Stone

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

It comes from an Old English poem, The Wanderer, which is very beautiful and rather sad. I don't know of a website, but you could go to a library, find a book of Old English poetry (or Anglo Saxon poetry, same thing) and look it up! If you can find a copy then you'll find the quote at line 5.

Q

Bernard, I really love reading about history in your books. My ancestors ultimately came from Germany then went to Wales and finally to Virginia in 1687. The original name was Lang, Anglecized to Long. Do you have a clue what would have brought my family From Germany to Wales in the 1400's?

My next question, My son has a scholarship to Oxford in the fall. Mom and Dad are going to. Can you suggest a few English Castles to go to? I have already been to the Tower of London. Keep writing, Bob Long

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

To be honest, I don't have a clue! Did they go to South Wales? In which case perhaps they had mining skills that were exportable? But beyond that vague thought I don't have a clue.

There are so many! Obviously I'd suggest Bamburgh, but it's way up north . . . . the good thing about going to Northumberland is that it's extraordinarily rich in castles. Bamburgh has been heavily restored, but is still worth a visit. Alnwick (very near), pronounced Annick, is quite magnificent (it's used in the Harry Potter filming) . . . and in the same area you have Chillingham, with its wild cattle, the little gem of a castle on Lindisfarne and the magnificent sea-cliff ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle (a bracing walk from Craster). The Welsh borders have some wonderful castles! The little town of Ludlow is worth a visit, with its fine castle, and not far away is (to my mind) the prettiest castle in England, Stokesay. Nearer London? Leeds Castle (in Kent) is spectacular, as is Arundel . . . it's really a pretty endless list!

Q

This is the "back seat singer" again. In a previous answer to one of my questions, you stated that you do not write from an outline but rather have in mind a beginning and ending and then let the Muse drag you through the manuscript. My current question: how many drafts do you normally develop and is your editing for content or copy? And, do you have someone else help you on copy editing? Just once again raising my voice in song...Lewis Knickerbocker

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

It's hard to say how many drafts . . . back in the Dark Ages when I used a typewriter I'd reckon on four or five, but the ease of a computer means that you're constantly rewriting and some passages might go through a dozen drafts (and I don't count). I always think that writing a book is rather like climbing a mountain - you get a third of the way up, look back and see a better route, so start again, and the new route propels you halfway up, when you look back, see a better route . . . . and so on. The effect is that the early chapters get rewritten far more than the last chapters. The publishers employ copy-editors, so yes, I get lots of help with that (and need it).

Q

Dear Bernard, I can't say I've read all your books, but I think I've read everything published and enjoyed every one of them. My favourite character? I think its Thomas of Hookton, but I'm not entirely sure of that because there are so many. My questions is, if someone were to write a book whose central character is one you created, would you have any objection provided they asked you first? David Eric Coote

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

They could ask me and I'm afraid I'd say no . . . . which isn't just because I'm horrible, but how could someone else possibly know characters who live inside my imagination? I'd tell them to make up their own characters!

Q

Hello! I began reading Sharpe last year and I've been almost reading each book successively each after the other! (currently on Sharpe's Sword). I love the grit of the battles and the anti-hero style of Sharpe himself. Thought you ought to know you have yet another fan :D. After university (assuming I get there this year) I plan on doing a lot of travelling around the world, and I'd like to visit some of the places mentioned in the Sharpe series. Since I cannot visit every single location, are there any locations in particular you'd recommend? Personally I fancied Gawilghur,is the breach still in the wall? Thanks for your time and I hope you come to Wales sometime! A loyal Welsh, Sharpe fan! Illtud Deiniol, Pontypridd P.S. More Welsh regiments please!!

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

The breach is still at Gawilghur, though much overgrown, and I doubt it's going away soon as the area is remote and very sparsely populated. I'd suggest Seringapatam, which is quite beautiful and you can still see where most of the action took place and, so long as you take a good book describing the battle, Assaye, which has to be the least-changed of all Wellington's battlefields.

Q

I like your books. I've read many from different authors and yours are unbeatable. I am not a writer due to my own lethargy and laziness(I'm not sure that's spelled right), but I still enjoy reading and evaluating(?) characters. So far one of my favorites has been King Alfred. Do you like him? Apparently Uhtred doesn't, but I see a very intelligent man who gives power only to people he knows he can control. I also have to congratulate you for the constant change in some characters that comes from maturity. Derfel seem naive in the first part of the first book, and very clever when writing the story. I noticed you like writing through the point of view of men who lived next to "historical celebrities". Will you write at least one book through the eyes of a famous person? I guess not, as that might take some of the liberty away. Thank you. Charlie Rodeiro

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

I'm not sure I ever will write from a 'celebrity' viewpoint, but never say never! It might happen.

Q

Dear Sir, I am looking forward to your next book about Agincourt. Can you help me with a question; was it not the Welsh that invented the long bow or were at the very least bloody good at it and used as mercenaries or am I just nationalistic and ill informed? REGARDS AND MANY MANY THANKS Gareth Jones

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

The long bow has a history of thousands of years . . . yew bows have been discovered in neolithic graves (in Yorkshire), so it's very hard to say exactly who invented it, or where. The point to remember is that the long bow is extremely hard to use; a man needed the physical strength, and the skill to aim an arrow that was offset from his direct eyeline. Men did master the long bow for hundreds of years before it suddenly became a war-winning weapon in the 14th and early 15th centuries, but I suspect such men were rare and the bow doesn't feature much in early mediaeval battles. Then it suddenly flourished and there were thousands of men capable of shooting it . . . . why? no one knows. Certainly the Welsh were there, but it's hard to claim primacy for them. It seems to have been a mainly Welsh and English phenomenon, and even then it was patchy - some counties produced archers, others didn't. And yes, the Welsh were bloody good at it!

Q

Hello, I've been reading a lot of your books lately and they are absolutely amazing! The only problem is that they end!! I have one question, is there going to be any more books after sword song? I hope so as this is my favorite series, although the Arthur trilogy is also extremely good (and too short, for me anyway) Thank you so much for these great books, I'm so happy that I picked one up in the airport not knowing anything about what it was! All the best Rikke

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

Yes! There will be more books to the Saxon stories.

Q

Hi Bernard. Love your books. I understand it that your giving Sharpe a rest for a couple of years, I know you wont write Sharpe and Starbuck at the same time, so can I assume your planning a Starbuck in the near future PLEASE!! What are your current plans for the next couple of books? Kind Regards

Submitted July 17, 2008

A

The next book is almost certainly another Saxons story and I haven't thought beyond that!

Q

I have just finished Sharpe's Trafalgar (for the second time)can you tell me what happened to Lady Grace and Sharps child. I have read all of the Sharp books over the years but can't recall reading any more about her. I really enjoy your books, long may they continue. Kind Regards Keith Mulley

Submitted July 16, 2008

A

You need to read Sharpe's Prey.