Your Questions

Q

Dear Sir I just relistened to Sharpe's Eagle and again loved it. One line in the book relived on old question. In the audio a dragoon officer says that the point beats the edge of the sword. I know that in European history the edge became less and less popular and the point got ever more popular. In the Japan the edge is the samurai's soul and main weapon. Which would you favour for duelling and on the battle field? I still don't know. I guess I want a katana with a point but ..... I would like our option or Uhtred's or Sharpe's. Kind Regards Frank Kramer Ps I became a father for the first time 4 weeks ago and we named the boy Wessel. I wanted to go for Derfel but the wife said no :)) Frank Kramer

Submitted December 14, 2007

A

I wish Wessel well! I'm no expert on sword-fighting, but undoubtedly in battle you could do far more damage, far more quickly, by using the point rather than the edge. At the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars it was noted how British cavalry gave the french a lot of wounds by using the edge, but the wounded tended to survive, whereas French cavalry killed more effectively by using the point.

Q

I have read all your books. Like you I think the War Lord chronicles trilogy is brilliant. I compare it to Lord Of The Rings and wonder whether it would not make an equally superb movie trilogy with the appropriate funding!! are there any plans for this? John Callender

Submitted December 14, 2007

A

No plans, but thanks for your kind message!

Q

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. When the Danes or Saxons formed a shield wall, how did they protect their flanks? Was it an unspoken rule that you only attacked the shield wall head-on? Or did they refuse battle until they found natural features of the ground like marshes and woods to anchor their flanks on? I would think that an attack on the right, with the enemy's shield arms facing the wrong way could be quite devastating. Alan Kempner

Submitted December 12, 2007

A

I think the answer is dependant on a number of factors . . plainly you'd try to protect your flank by using obstacles such as walls or trees or water, but that would not always be possible. If your enemy so outnumbered you that the likelihood of his enveloping your flanks was imminent, then probably the best thing to do was retreat! Or run like hell. Otherwise you could put larger units on the end, or guard the flanks with cavalry, then pray. It's a problem that never went away!

Q

Hello. I want to thank you for the enjoyment that your work brings. I am currently relishing the Sharpe series. If I might trouble you, I AM a little confused. When Sharpe becomes a Major, I understand that it is army rank and not regimental rank. However, I thought that once Major Forest had been sent to Lisbon and Sharpe was once again with the South Essex and still addressed as Major -- well, I guess I thought he'd gotten regimental rank (because I'd supposed that once back with the South Essex he'd have only been a captain if he hadn't . . .) So in reading Sharpe's Siege, when the bugger of a Colonel smarts off about him only being a captain in his regimental rank and how a new Colonel is expected . . . What did I overlook?? Thanks for your time. And my apologies if you've been asked this over and over. Denise Holliday

Submitted December 12, 2007

A

It's all to do with the rather complicated procedures of promotion. The basic method was by purchase; you literally bought your way up the ladder. If an officer sells his commission to another officer, then a third man can't get the job by merit promotion, because that makes nonsense of the financial transaction. That, to us, seems like nonsense, and so it is, but there you go. You could get brevert promotion (Sharpe does). A brevet promotion did not involve money, and a man could be boosted up a rank, but he still kept his old rank. So Sharpe, as a Captain, can be breveted Major, and though he acts as a major, and is given the wages of a major, and wears a major's uniform, as soon as his major's job ends he reverts to being a captain again.

Q

Hi I enjoy your books greatly I couldn't help noticing similarities to Sharpe from the story of John Shipp, orphan rose up through the ranks in India etc. Have you read Path to Glory and is Sharpe Shipp?

Also are you Richard Howard? I'll be surprised if you answer but I won't tell, just curious. All the best. Ron Shipp

Submitted December 11, 2007

A

Sharpe is not Shipp, no, though I have used Shipp's biography in the research - everything else is coincidence.

No, I'm not Richard Howard.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I first discovered your Sharpe series several years ago and have been a huge fan ever since. I never paid much attention to the Napoleonic wars but your novels fascinated me and made me want to learn more. My favorite historical subject is the Civil War (Or the War of Northern Aggression, as we Southerners call it:))and I love the Starbuck Chronicles. My question is this: being very knowledgeable about the military endeavors of the Napoleonic Wars and the Civil War, how do the American military leaders compare to the European leaders? Do you see anyone in the Civil War that might have been comparable to Napoleon, Wellington, or Blucher? How would an American army led by Grant, Lee, Jackson, Sherman, and others fared against the powers of Europe in the heyday of colonialism? I know the tactics and weaponry were quite different, but I am just curious. I avidly look forward to the return of Nathaniel Starbuck and Sgt Truslow. Thank you for your time.
Chris Palmer

Submitted December 11, 2007

A

That's such a difficult question . . . certainly no American Civil War leader had the power that Napoleon wielded, so the comparison really can't be made. My own view is that Lee could have held his own with anyone, as could Wellington. Grant would have ground out victories in the Napoleonic War, but I'm not sure he could have coped with the shortages of men and material as well as Lee did. Stonewall, of course, is the flawed genius . . . he would have needed a Wellington to command him - that combination would have been ferocious.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I just wanted to write to you to thank you for prompting my renewed interest in history - I have just returned from a trip to India where I enjoyed a very pleasant couple of weeks with my wife and 6 year old son exploring Seringapatam and Mysore. My son particularly enjoyed the Tipu's dungeons! I have recently written a paper on Lachlan Macquarie, one of the early governors of New South Wales, and discovered that he fought at Seringapatam - one of his friends being Sir David Baird. I was wondering if you could recommend any books/texts that contain a biography of Baird? I was delighted when he reappeared in Sharpe's Prey. Thanks for all the enjoyment your work brings, Graham Hawes

Submitted December 11, 2007

A

I don't know of any recent biographies of Baird - I confess I used Theodore Hook's life which was written way back in 1832, which I supplemented with the Dictionary of National Biography. Have you tried Googling him? or Amazoning?

Q

Thank you for the answer to my question about "Sean Donnelly from Derry",I was just curious to know.Glad you've been to Derry a few times,any favourite "watering holes" that you remember?Also did you ever visit the Walls of Derry or the Celtic hillfort of Grianan of Aileach? ANTHONY HEGARTY

Submitted December 11, 2007

A

I visited both! I loved the coastline, and spent days on it and retain a great fondness for Sligo, mainly because of its connection with Yeats.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for writing such wonderful stories! I'm not such a fan of the Richard Sharpe or Nathaniel Starbuck books, but so thoroughly enjoyed The Winter King that I finished the entire Arthurian trilogy in one summer. I followed it with the Grail Quest trilogy, Stonehenge and Gallows Thief. I've just finished The Last Kingdom and am hoping to receive The Pale Horseman for Christmas. I travel a bit for work and these books allow me to lose myself in a different time and place while in airports or flying.. I've always been interested in history and your fiction very cleverly hides history lessons in with a good story. I was wondering at the value of currency in historical England. In the Arthur trilogy, money seemed to be much more available, while in The Last Kingdom, very little gold can be found even though the latter series takes place hundreds of years after the former. I'm assuming that in the Arthur series, Derfel was much closer, personally, to royalty than Uhtred on a regular basis, and was accustomed to greater wealth. Is this the case? No criticism intended, I'm merely curious. If I may make a suggestion, a series about the Borgias and the Papacy in your second person style would be very interesting. Please keep up the good work and I will remain your humble reader and ardent fan, Rick

Submitted December 11, 2007

A

I suspect most gold was taken into the custody of the king or of the church, whereas silver was ubiquitous in Anglo-Saxon England . . . .and certainly formed the basis of the coinage. Nor sure Derfel used many coins?? The Borgias? It sounds fun, but no promises

Q

Been enjoying your recent stuff on Uhtred et al, but I am missing Sharpe. Two questions, first when do you plan to write another tale about the British Armys best( if a little unorthodox at times )officer and secondly is there any way you can bring back Obidiah Hakeswill,( perhaps when Sharpe joins the army as a recruit?) surely one of the best literary " baddies" ? David.

Submitted December 6, 2007

A

I think constantly of bringing Hakeswill back...not sure it can happen tho. There will be more Sharpe, but not for at least a year, probably more.