Your Questions

Hello, Mr. Cornwell. I´m from Brazil and we are discovering your books here and loving them all (You´re now one of our bestseller authors, with Sharpe, Uhtred or Arthur). Don´t you intend to write something about the Marlborough wars? And about the English in World War I and II? Thank you.

Caio Julio Cesar dos Santos Fernandes

Mr. Cornwell, I'm in the process of reading "Waterloo", and I have to say that so far it is simply spectacular and riveting! The very best of the Sharp series! Recently I bought and watched the short film "Sharpe's Battle", which was based upon your novel of the same name (another magnificent addition to the Sharpe series, especially on how you describe the fearsome fighting qualities of the 88th!). I couldn't help notice how much the film deviated from the novel in the sense that much of the plot and the story line was different in many respects and in many ways. I'm not saying that the film was bad, just that it didn't hold true to the book to the extent that it should have. Did you get a chance to watch that film (Sharpe's Battle), and if you did do you have any sour feelings or regrets as to how the material actually unfolded and deviated from the book as it appeared onscreen? For I thought the film could've been much better, especially considering that they left out the ridge at Fuentes de Onoro where the 88th routed the elite French Grenadiers at the tip of their bayonets. Yours truly, Taylor "Irish" Ahern, from Squantum (Quincy!), Massachusetts

Mr. Cornwell, I am currently taking my last several classes for my history major in Maryland, and one of them is the history of the vikings. Sadly, my teacher has not read any of your books, and to be honest, even though my favorite of your series has been The Saxon Stories, those are the only ones which I have only listened to on audio (all of Sharpe I have actually read). May I ask, why does it take so long for your books to come out in America, when you live in New England (even though you are from England)? I have to say, Uthred has inspired me to take this class, and it still amazes me to hear of Ivar Ivarsson, and Ivar the boneless, and Beocca in class. Thank you for these stories. Vince Kurtz. MD, USA

Sword Song is, as expected, brilliant - currently keeping Simon Scarrows' 'The Generals' waiting on the bedside table. How on earth did you discover a family connection to Uhtred?

And I know you feel Heretic brought Thomas' tale to a conclusion but might there not be another book there?
Roger Gaspar

Dear Bernard The Sharpe novels are superb. I am struck, though, by the fact that in the middle period (c 1810) Richard talks of having to kill Sergeant Hakeswill whereas, in an earlier novel I certainly thought he'd been well and truly dispatched quite conclusively (unlike the elephant or tiger incidents earlier. Have I missed something? Richard Bruce

Mr. Cornwell, Hello Again, I hope the composition of your Agincourt novel is going smoothly- do you have a title yet?

Recently you let slip that reading about the events of 1414 made something click into place for you- does it have anything to do with Sir John Oldcastle and the Lollards by any chance? I'll understand if you don't answer straightaway since you are in the midst of writing it. I have taken to going through the Agincourt muster rolls that are available online and trying to pick out names I think sound properly "Cornwellian" and jotting them down so that when your book comes out I can see if I have a knack for character-naming like you do- I'll keep the list to myself for now of course, but it's a fun little exercise. I am immersed in a similar project trying to pick out names I can use from the lists of American soldiers held by the British in the prison hulks off the shores of New York during the American Revolutionary War. But don't worry- I'm not planning on writing anything as ludicrous as Mel Gibson's The Patriot.

Your recent reply panning his depiction of Tarleton was spot on. Why do you think most American writers romanticize the image of the militias during the war, like Francis Marion for example, who had little organization, military skill or discipline, and who only turned out (if at all) when their immediate area was threatened and then went back to all the comforts of home with little regard for the "big picture" of the war effort? It seems to me that the real story is with the men who were in the Continental Army, who had to march far and wide suffering disease, starvation, poor supplies, exposure, army discipline, the reverses caused by inept leadership and the derision of their own countrymen. Wouldn't you agree?

I'd also like to thank you again for introducing me to the works of George Shipway and Alfred Duggan. I have been flying through all their books as soon as they arrive in the mail- they have much to do with the recent dwindling of my daily page quota, but I can't resist them all the same. Each book I complete is like a class in Historical Adventure writing. I think it's time well spent away from the word processor. I feel like I have a whole new set of influences beyond the "modern" set that I would classify as including C.S.Forester, Alex Kent and yourself. I just finished Shipway's Free Lance and it seems to prefigure your excellent India Trilogy, being set just after Seringapatam and depicting the dubious behavior of the British mercenaries affiliated with the East India Company, who remind me of Col. William Dodd from your India stories, I view it as almost a companion novel. Was Free Lance any specific influence on your books? My favorite Shipway thus far is still Warrior In Bronze. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to look at my letter. R. Kulb

Hello, when you comment on the Sharpe films you seem to say that you've had little or no control over their content or quality. Don't most authors protect themselves with some right of approval?Finally, why did you go with ITV? Was it that the BBC and you could not come to terms? Many thanks.

Alan

Have just finished reading "SWORD SONG" which, as always with all the other series I have read of yours, I throughly enjoyed. When will the next book in the series be available? Regards Colin

Are there any plans to turn the Warlord chronicles into a movie or a series? Jason Vernon

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I can honestly say, I have never read any book which transports me to the era within the first paragraph as your Warlord trilogy and Uthred series has, wonderful stuff. Can you help me though, where do you get your information from regarding the beliefs and superstitions of Derfel and Uthred, I am very interested in this area of 'religion' but I am finding it hard to get information without being sold jewelry and the like.

Also, will you be writing any more books on the 'Dark Ages' or periods just after the Roman invasion ? Many, many thanks for your brilliant writing and entertainment. Tim