Your Questions

Q

hi first I would like to say thanks for introducing me to the world of reading. The first book I ever read (without flicking though) was Sharpe's Company and since then I can't put a book down! I was just wondering, would you consider writing the books to Sharpe's Justice and/or Mission? I cant help but think how much better they would be with your insight and creative genius and I know you are probably sick of hearing this, but please don't keep Starbuck too far from your thoughts - there are so many unanswered questions! Matt Nicholls

A

I can't write novels for the films, "Sharpe's Mission" and "Sharpe's Justice"; those stories have already been written by someone else. Although I may use "Mission" and/or "Justice" as a book title sometime in the future, my books will not be connected to the stories in the films in any way.


Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell. I just read about the release and general description of Azincourt. I am curious, is the lead character somehow related to Thomas of Hookton or his stories? Does the Grail Quest stories have any relation to this one? The Archer's Talel was the first of your books that I read and got hooked really quickly and was just curious since I would really like to see that story continue past Heretic or at the very least hear about the characters. Thanks. Jeff

A

He isn't. I took the name from the muster roll of the archers who really were at Agincourt and it just happened to be the name I liked best and, by coincidence, shared the Hook with Hookton


Q

A friend without email asks In the Starbuck series you fall short of Gettysburg and wondered .....have you any plans for such a book?
Andrew Allen

A

I do hope to get back to Starbuck one day...including Gettysburg.


Q

Hi Bernard, I have noticed that quite a few of the Sharpe Novels have not been made into a film notably the first 5 books,Tiger,Triumph,Fortress, Trafalgar and Prey plus Havoc,Escape,Fury and Devil. Could you tell me the reason for this and will there be any films made of the books I've just mentioned. Yours sincerely Rod Bassett

A

The decision is wholly up to the filmmakers - but Sharpe's Challenge was loosely based on the books Sharpe's Tiger and Sharpe's Fortress. For more information about the Sharpe films, click on the link found on the homepage of this website under the Sharpe Cut box.


Q

Hi Bernard, I have been an avid fan of the Sharpe stories and the screenplays for well over a decade. Imagine my surprise when researching my family tree I discovered that my great-great-great-grandfather William Brackley was a sergeant in the Royal Bucks King's Own Militia from 1793-1816 and probably fought in Ireland 1797-1799, then the Peninsular war from 1799 and finally in France from 1814, he was also at one stage stationed in Chelmsford. His Regt. colonel was the Marquis of Buckingham. According to his discharge papers he was discharged with a good service record but suffered from - excuse my translation of the handwriting - dibility, old age and Rheumatism. Nevertheless he still managed to father several more children and died finally around 1850. To my mind this is a remarkable comparison to the early Sharpe when he was a sergeant, William's company would also have been skirmishers. Did you have a role model for Sharpe and do you have any advice as to where I can find more definite information on his company's involvement in the Napoleonic wars. Regards Chris

A

I didn't have a role model for Sharpe . . . . at this distance I can only suggest you look for whatever is the successor regiment to the Royal Bucks and see if they hold the archive? They probably do, but who they are? I fear I don't know! You might enquire at the National Army Museum?


Q

Mr Cornwell, Let me start by saying that you are hands down my favorite author. I look forward constantly to your each new release. I have told many people of your books. I don't know which I series I love the most. They are all so wonderful. They make me feel like I am in the middle of the action weather that be feeling the surge of a shield wall or smelling black powder smoke on a Spanish battlefield, or shooting arrows at the French. I am addicted. I know that you are very busy but have you ever thought about writing about the Crusades. I have read some very good books about that period but no one could bring it to life as you could. Thanks for your time. As always if you keep writing I will keep reading.
Shane Scroggins

A

I do not have plans to write about the Crusades.


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a final year journalism student and am writing a small portfolio of short articles as coursework for my degree, one of which, I hope, will be about you. I was considering being cheeky and seeing if you wouldn't mind doing a short telephone interview with me but realised how many similar requests you must get so have decided to E-mail a few questions instead. I know that you must be tremendously busy and appreciate any time that you dedicate to this. I have been interested in military history since my Dad told me as a youngster that my Granddad was involved in the Second World War and was one of the few who held Pegasus Bridge from the Germans on the morning of June 6th 1944. My recreational reading tends to be based around fact-based things and have only read a handful of fiction titles in my entire life but decided to give the Sharpe (I was proud to learn that you had borrowed the lead characters name from a Cornish rugby great!) books a go after watching you present Sharpes War on the history channel. Wow! Im completely absorbed. Having followed Sharpe through India, the battle of Trafalgar, Copenhagen, Spain and Portugal Im finding myself, halfway through Sharpes Havoc, consciously reading slowly so I dont arrive at the end of the books so quickly! Maybe if I read at a really slow rate, and you keep on writing, Ill be in Sharpe heaven for years to come?! Anyway, to the point; the questions that Id like to ask you are:

1) You have not written the Sharpe series in strict chronological order but they read almost seamlessly with characters referred to in books that you wrote in the early eighties popping up again several books later but in the same chronological vicinity. Do you have a massive Sharpe world written down somewhere that includes characters, relationships and events that you use for reference? If not how do you weave novels in around existing ones so skilfully?

2) You wrote that you couldnt bring yourself to read Sharpes Eagle because you would feel uncomfortable reading your first attempt at a novel. Why? And in what ways do you feel your writing has improved? What do you do now that you didnt in your first book and vice-versa?

3) Are you happy with how they were written and [you should be!] do you have a favourite one? Any plans for any more? Thank you very much for enabling me to feel as though Ive lived through some of the greatest British military victories of the last few centuries! Im already lining-up your new book Azincourt for those dark, post Sharpe days. Thank you very much for your time, Phil Mitcham

A

omg, I wish I did . . . I really wish I did. It was daft to write them out of order, but I thought I'd finished the series after Waterloo, then along came Sean Bean so it seemed sensible to write more . . and that meant going backwards. Actually they're full of mismatches, but you've been very kind and not noticed, and I rely almost wholly on my memory (not great) with an occasional glance at a previous book to check something . . . but the mistakes still creep in. Sometimes the mistakes are deliberate - in one book I said Sharpe was with Hakeswill in the breach at Gawilghur, but when I wrote that book it just didn't work, so I ignored what the previous book had said . . . no one seems to mind too much!

I don't re-read any of my novels! I write the things six or seven times, then read the galleys (UK and US) and that's enough! Maybe when I'm really old I'll re-read them? I have no idea if I have improved, maybe I haven't - it's just not something I think about - I think about what I'm writing at the time, and the rest is irrelevant, really!

My favourite Sharpe book? I really like Siege, but I also really like Tiger, and Regiment and Trafalgar and Company, and many others. But my favourite Sharpe book is always the next one...(and there will be more!).


Q

Mr.Cornwell, First of all, I'd like to THANK YOU A LOT for all the books you've written... I was never used to read any kind of books, until I go to a friend's party... I was kind bored...and then I looked for something to do...and I finally found "The Archer's Tale". That, I can say, was almost like "finding the Grail" =D. I'm from Brazil, I'm 21 years old, and I have a question for you: Won't you ever film anything about "The Grail Quest"? Of course, film something about the greatest trilogy ever (even better than Lord of the Rings). Well, I think that's all.. I'd really wanted you to know that those books are the best books ever read by me. I'm a big fan of yours. Have a nice day. Jorge

A

Thank you Jorge! No plans to film the Grail Quest books at this time.


Q

Mr. Cornwell, How can you bear to get up in the morning and look at your face in the mirror? Here is my gripe. I waited for some two years for the paperback edition of "The Pale Horseman," and once I picked it up I was unable to stop reading it. For two whole days, I was up till 1:00 am, and suddenly I had reached the end. So how long until the paperback edition of "Lords of the North?" I am already suffering withdrawal symptoms. Lucky for you, Sir, that there are many more Bernard Cornwell books. In short, I loved the book. I've been a longtime fan, and I look forward to reading the rest of your work. :-) Jeva Singh-Anand

A

I'm not sure where you live, but a paperback edition of Lords of the North is available both on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. Hope you'll enjoy it!


Q

Hello. I just finished Lords of the North. Maybe you answer this question in the next book, but... I have to ask it anyway because I am impatient. Is the minor character Rollo the founder of the Norman fiefdom? Julia

A

No - it was a very common name!