Q
What is high on your list at the moment? Joseph Sharpe
A
In a word...Agincourt
Your Questions
Q
Dear Sir, I have enjoyed several of your book series over the years. I have noticed a new release of the Starbuck Chronicles, is this an indicator that you are bringing out new books in this series? Thank you for your time. Derek Bracey
A
No, sorry. The current books are being re-released, but there is not a new book in the series right now.
Q
Bernard, I am writing a book on English rugby captains and will be interviewing Richard Sharpe. It has been suggested that you named your character after the England outside half. Could you please confirm or otherwise. Regards Steve Lewis
A
It is true. What happened was that when I began writing the first book I wanted to find a really interesting name for the hero - something like Horatio Hornblower - and I just could not find the name, so I decided to use the (slightly amended) name of one of my great heroes - Richard Sharp, the rugby player of Cornwall and England.
Q
I am in the process of re-reading the Sharpe series and I am wondering when the British military ended the purchasing of rank (and the officer corps made almost entirely of the upper class) and started promoting men based on achievements? Or is the system still the same as it was during the Napoleonic period? Also, are you brainstorming anymore Sharpe novels? Please say yes. Thank you. Michael
A
It ended in the mid nineteenth-century . . . and I'd disagree about 'entirely of upper class'. We can argue about what the upper class was, but in truth only the Guards Regiments and the cavalry attracted the sons of the aristocracy and the county gentry . . .the officer class in the 18th Century was what we would call middle class; sons of wealthy families, often, but not of distinguished lineage.
There will be more Sharpe, but I'm not thinking about him now, too busy with the current book.
Q
I wrote a long comment and an error occurred. Here goes again - I am aware of your knowledge and research you have done for SHARPE so can you help me ? My GG/Gfather was born in Badajoz 1805 orphaned ? during the siege and ended up in the household of Edward Villiers Ambassador to Spain, I just want to expand my background knowledge of this time and the people involved to try and work out how a Spanish gypsy boy got to England and became my ancestor! just wonder if you could help me in my quest nothing ventured etc. thank you Eileen
A
I would imagine, and this is just a guess, that he was taken as servant? He was probably a good lad and caught someone's eye? It's just a guess.
Q
Dear Mr.Cornwell, thank you for the Saxon Stories you have written so far and long may your imagination continue.You have hinted that they will continue beyond Alfred the Great but I'm curious to know how far.My local town of Gillingham,Dorset has an area known as Slaughtergate where Edmund Ironside defeated King Canute in around 1015? and was wondering if we would feature in one of your forthcoming novels.Another claim to fame we have is that Edward the Confessor was declared King here in 1042.Our forest was a favourite of King John and he built A hunting lodge here which was used for about 200 years til the time of HenryIII,so our little corner of Wessex has quite a slice of our country's royal history.Keep up the good work PLEASE!!!!!!!! Adrian.
A
My plan is to continue as far as Alfred's grandson and the moment when it could truly be said that there was one country called England ruled by one king . . . the birth of a nation . . . and I fear that will be long before Edmund and Cnut!
Q
I recently saw and very much enjoyed the movie Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. I know the story goes back a long way and was wondering if it was based on a real person. Did you come anything when researching Gallows Thief? Michael Calkins
A
It is based on a real story . . . I'm told . . . but I confess I don't know any details, so it wasn't in my mind when I wrote Gallow's Thief.
Q
Mr Cornwell is there any plans for a game of Sharpe or any other of your books. Andrew Ogilvie (I met you at the Borders Book Festival)
A
There has been talk of a Sharpe game. It hasn't happened yet, but never say never!
Q
Judging from the quotes you use in your book, I think it is safe to say you're a fan of Shakespeare, do you have a favorite play of his?
Will McMahon
A
I'm a fan . . . probably two plays: Macbeth and Twelfth Night . . . Macbeth because it's, well, simply magnificent, and Twelfth Night because it's the great reproof against Puritans (who now rule us, damn them).
Q
Will there be more Sharpe books? Andrew
A
There will be more...but not for awhile. I have a few others projects to finish first.