Your Questions

Hi Mr Cornwell, How do you decide who to dedicate your books to? Also, I think its Fury, you dedicated the book to Eric Sykes. Is this the well known comedian and actor and do you know him? Many thanks Tony

My wife and I have truly enjoyed reading (and rereading) the "Saxon Stories." Is there any possibility that the series, or any part of it, will ever be made into a movie?

Joe Watson

My 12 year old son and I both love your books and the Sharpe movies as well. We read somewhere that Sharpe's birthday is June 23, which also happens to be my son's birthday. Is it true that you did pick a birthday for Sharpe, and, if so, why this date?

Also, any plans to give us your version of Robin Hood?
John Shepherd

Hi Bernard, Just finished reading the Grail trilogy - for the second time, and I have a question relating to the Battle of Crecy. In one of your descriptions of the scene you describe the English as flying the white dragon on red background flag,amongst others. We know that this flag is known as the Saxon flag, or the war flag of the English, but I thought this was last carried into battle in 1066? Could you let me know if you have found another source that tells of its use in 1346? Best Regards Graham

I love your books. I've named my son after Patrick Harper. His obsession with birds and his tender human nature enriches his character. How can you be persuaded to write a book or small series for him? On a particular road trip, with a broken radio, wife and I made our own Harper story we call "Harper's Lament". It's a tale of Harper's attempted defence of a small Spanish village against a raiding French force. Unfortunately, we can't do justice to such a wonderful hero. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent. Samuel Hill

Hi Bernard, I assume with getting published it's a case for everyone who gets published, 50 or 100 don't. Is this simply because a lot of what is submitted to publishers is really not very good? If one does submit a really good book, can one be sure it will get published or does luck, timing or lap of the gods etc play a part. Or do some really good books for some unknown reason not make it? Willie from Ireland

Dear Bernard In your Sharpe novels the one battle Sharpe missed was Corunna I was wondering if you had ever considered writing a one off story on that battle with a different character other than Sharpe since it was the Dunkirk of the Napoleonic wars and its a shame (from a readers standpoint) that you missed it?

And to really stir the pot How about Dulong from the french perspective? He is one character that does deserve more page time.

And you have said after Azincourt that the next book will be a Uhtred book. Will he being going up north to give his brother in law Guhtred a hand against the Scots invasion of his kingdom. I hope you don't mind me saying but for a man whose castle he wants to reclaim is in the north he spends far to much time in the south.

Finally will you be doing any touring in the Northwest for Azincourt? yours sincerely, Tony

P.S You have probably already read it but if not I can recommend John Gallaher's The Iron Marshal Louis Davout on who was arguably Napoleons greatest marshal.He and Wellington would have been an interesting battle.

Dear Sir, I really enjoy your Sharpe books , they kept me sane while in Iraq. I am also looking forward to the next one ! Also your new one on Agincourt. You say the longbow was an English expertise but I was under the illusion the welsh were quite renowned with it also and were used as mercenaries ? Thank you once again for your novels all the lads read them and were also enthralled and I lost many a novel but hey ho no doubt someone else will enjoy them out there. Regards, Gareth Jones

Hi Bernard Your replies to those fans who clamour for more Sharpe are starting to sound frighteningly like the replies you give the Starbuck fans ie - "will get back to it one day"! I've always taken this to be a euphemism for "I've moved on now why don't you?" so I am getting a bit worried as I love Sharpe! You've stated that he is one of your favourite characters so I'm hoping that there will indeed be more stories. Personally I'd love a collection of short stories perhaps post-war where Sharpe gets to meet up with men he's befriended over the years ( from both sides).

On another note entirely I understand that filmakers buy the rights to books and then adapt them for movies/TV - and you always say you have no problem with the way your Sharpe books have been adapted- but what happens when there is no book to buy eg Sharpe's Justice which wasn't based on anything you'd written? Do they buy the rights to the characters rather than the book? How do you ensure the integrity of your characters? Just curious.... best wishes, Fiona

Hi! After about 30 years of reading little other than non-fiction (about the "dark" ages, aspects of religion etc) I heard you on radio talking about what was then the new Uhtred series. What a revelation this has been for me. I find that I can access aspects of history through your books that pure non-fiction cannot satisfy. Insights into "real" lives, people's motivations and internal conflicts etc. Particularly, aspects of how religion operated upon people which seems to be a constant and very interesting theme through the various periods you cover. All this coupled with ripping yarns. Thank you. I can understand that you avoid 1066 and all that - what a depressing period. But what about the English settlements when Cerdic, Cynric, Hengist and Horsa came up against the Celts, their Christianity and the survivals of their original religion? Just a thought! All the best and please keep writing. Pete PS. Thanks for keeping Uhtred true to his faith.