Your Questions

Hi,

I was sorry to hear that you had pulled out of The Cheltenham Literature Festival next month as I haven’t been lucky enough to meet or see you at an event yet and I’d spotted that you were on the brochure. I do hope there were no health reasons which prompted it and do you think you might return to the event or an event nearby in the future?

 

Eagerly looking forward to the new Sharpe book I think I guessed it was At Almaraz from the description about a year ago and I’m excited to see what you do with it as I’ve recently finished reading every Sharpe book and short story after about 2 years as I’d become a bit of a Napoleonic nerd needing my fix. I’ve since read about 30 of your books and love them all as I slowly work my way through your collection, done warlord Chronicles so Last kingdom book 2 next.

 

One of my favourite books you’ve written was actually your non fiction on Waterloo the way your get all the facts but present them with the narrative style and urgency of a novel. Any chance of another one on Salamanca or Vitoria? Also please keep Rupert Farley as the narrator of Sharpe or indeed for all your books as I recently listened to a Sharpe book and he’s untouchable. Whacky thought but you couldn’t make the timelines work to have Sharpe at the battle of Leipzig sent with the rocket battalion because that would be awesome?

 

Hope to meet you in the future and that you are keeping well and sorry this is so long I’ve been trying to to vomit praise too sycophantically.

Yours sincerely

Stuart Carver

Hi Bernard,

I have searched repeatedly and cannot find any information about where Sharpes Command will fit into the chronological order, other than it is in 1812. Am I missing something, surely this is something fundamental that lots of people will want to know!

I'm currently re-reading the series after last reading them at uni 20 years ago and am loving them every bit as much. I'm currently in 1811 so want to fit Command in at the correct point of the story!

Any help much appreciated and thank you for a series that has fueled my interest in the Napoleonic wars generally, introducing me to the likes of Forester and O'brien etc. too!

Kind regards,

Jason

Hello there! I first off want to start by saying I'm a huge fan of yours and will forever be grateful for The Last Kingdom series. I listen to them in the car over and over from first to last and they are absolutely incredible. I watched the show before I read the books and was also, obsessed. After I read the books though, I couldn't help but feel like the series was done an injustice. I always tell my fiance' that if the show had a budget the same as GOT or Vikings, it would be the best show to ever air on any platform ever, I felt the same way about the movie as well. I really don't want to sound ungrateful, but I wanted to ask your opinion on the matter. Do you think the show could have been better? Do you wish anything would have been done differently? I personally wish more than anything that they would have kept Sigtryggr alive and done a whole new season based off of War of the Wolf. That was such an amazing book and probably my favorite, aside from War Lord of course. The war at then end of War Lord was so beautifully written, I can see, hear, smell, and feel everything going during the battle of brunanburh, there is nothing else like it. Sorry for rambling, but yeah, how do you feel about the series/movie? What would you have done differently? What would you have liked to see brought to life? Thank you so much for taking the time! I hope this message finds you!

 

P.S. I CAN'T WAIT FOR UHTRED'S FEAST!

 

Ryan Dakhil

I just finished watching the entire BBC series of Sharpe, I'm a middle school teacher and my summer break is over tomorrow. I've read every book of yours I can find and loved almost all of them, especially Sharpe and the Saxon Stories. I don't know who owns the TV/Movie rights to Sharpe, but do you know of any talk about creating a new version of maybe a BBC/HBO reboot  with you having more input, especially having historical notes at the end. Sean Bean was the best, just looking for more Sharpe! Love your books, Thanks for all the great reads, and getting a little history wisdom on the side!!!

DWIGHT HIXSON

I have just finished reading the Grail Series (again) and am about to start the “Last Kingdom” (again) I really like your characters and stories.

My question is, do you have any intention of writing any Musketeer stories? It would seem be a fertile field.

Cheers

Greg Rowe

Hi Bernard,

I am just rereading the Starbuck Chronicles for the umpteenth time, as its such a wonderful series of books, just like all your others.

I know you will probably never finish the Starbuck series for numerous reasons, but would you ever consider writing a one off Patrick Lassan book/journal about his time spent in America during the Civil War?

This would allow you to give us more insight in Sharpe's son and bring to some form of conclusion the stories of Nate, Turslow and the rest of the wonderful characters in the Starbuck series.

Regards

Fergus

The Warlord Chronicles remain my firm favourites and are the three best books I have ever read ! I have seen the trailer for the new series and I am worried that they do not follow the books accurately. Were you happy with the outcome. It doesn’t look as good as The Last Kingdom

Dave Edgell

Dear Mr Cornwell

could you tell if you have any plans to write a short story novel of uhtreds adventures? I very much likes the ones in Uhtreds Feast

thanks

Robert

Dear Bernard Cornwell

 

I just wanted to say thank you

For being such an outstanding novelist,

You have the knack of leaving the reader, ( I listen to the audiobooks ) keen to know what happens next

 

Like many of your readers, I had not heard of you until Sharpe hit the screen, which I enjoyed immensely I then listened to the whole series of Sharpe, then the Sea stories, then the Harlequin, and I am now halfway through The Last Kingdom I’m beginning to wonder what I’m going to listen to when I have gone through all your books

 

I do like the main character idea

Sharpe, Uhtred, Thomas of Hookton

Uhtred I know was real, were the others based on real people? Or just a character for that book

 

May your ink never run dry Sir

 

Kind regards

Brian Stimpson

 

Dear sir,

I greatly enjoy reading your books. I think they are THE TITS.

I have a question for you: Is Richard Sharpe based on John Colborne? I am just now finishing your excellent nonfiction book on the battle of Waterloo, and have been looking for any connections to the Sharpe series. I suspect it’s Colborne because of his general badassery, his history, and because he obtained his position through merit?

I realize that Richard Sharpe is based on probably multiple different real life people, but I have to imagine there is some impetus for his inspiration?

I suppose I’ll know if Sharpe eventually travels to Canada!

Thank you for your attention, and please know that I am an ardent fan and will continue to read your books with attention whatever your response.

Yours,

Mike Dano