Your Questions

Mr. Cornwell: I know from reading your bio that you have never been in combat. But you write so convincingly about what it feels like -- reminding me of Stephen Crane, who also had never been in combat, but who Civil War veterans attested had captured the feeling, the madness, of combat perfectly. Have you consciously tried to imbibe your knowledge of the feeling of combat from the sources you have read (i.e., from first person descriptions of the experience), or is this unconscious speculative imagination at work? Michael N.

Hi I wonder - have you ever considered writing a series based on the Wars of the Roses? I ask because it's such a rich source of history. There were sixteen major battles, one of which, Towton, was and still is, the most bloody battle ever fought on British soil. However, I must declare an interest, because I belong to the Hartley Companie, a band of medieval re-enactors who re-enact battles from the times - and who also give living history displays. I have read everything you've written and you have give me endless hours of pleasure. I'm currently re-reading Lords of the North, superb series, and a great realisation of a truly charismatic character (Uhtred, not Alfred, the puny little **&^%$). See you've convinced me!
Peter Laurence Keen

Mr. Cornwell, I'm Italian and I love reading your books. I have read all the Arthur books and the Grail Quest. I also adore Sharpe's series but have been translated only 7 books of it. Is there some hope that increases the speed of translation? If I don't want to become old before reading all of them I would not want to be forced to read them in English because I would enjoy less. The same is worth for the saxon stories, only the last kingdoms has been translated in Italian. I conclude thanking you for the very beautiful books that you write. Andrea

Hello, Bernard. I have read, with the exception of the Sharpe Chronicles (that era doesn't interest me yet), nearly all of your novels, and I admire and enjoy very much the way you write. I have made friends in England during the past several years, and have visited your beautiful native country several times. I am now very interested in British history, and have recently viewed the Simon Schama "History of Britain" series. Your "Arthur" and "King Alfred" stories are fabulous. When will "Sword Song" be published? I am now enjoying the "Grail Quest" series. I'm curious as to why you wrote the "Grail Quest" series after "Arthur," and waited until recently to chronicle "King Alfred," when, chronologically, "Alfred" follows "Arthur?" Also, I am a Civil War buff, and am wondering if the "Nathaniel Starbuck" chronicles will continue? I thank you for taking the time to read and respond to this inquiry.
Steve Neuman

Mr. Cornwell, So far I have not read a book of yours that I didn't like (although the Warlord series if my favorite)and I have probably fallen in love with all the leading male characters at one point or another. I also appreciate the way you depict women in your novels, what I mean by this is you do not just portray them as just a pretty face or a "damsel in distress" although this is sometimes the case do to the era in which you write, they also appear to be intelligent, smart, intuitive, and sometimes just plain fiery which brings me to my question...Have you ever considered writing about a female lead character say maybe during the Civil War era? There were so many fascinating female spies who could have as many exploits and adventures as Sharpe! I have a feeling you will probably pooh-pooh this idea suggesting that a female writer can relate and know how females think and act, but with all due respect...the characters you create are so vivid regardless of gender. Please consider! A devoted fan, Diana Wolf (Atlanta, GA)

I loved Sharpe's Rifles. The first Sharpe book I read was Sharpe's escape so I was kind of confused jumping from book to book but that really cleared things up thank you and one short question how did you like the cast of the Sharpe movies and who directed it?

man I love this site just like to say how much I'd like to come see the show but Canada no way there. Just thought I'd put this out there, I hate Hakeswill, does he ever die and what ever happens to Teresa Sharpe's wife does she die? I haven't been reading the books in order so...I just read like maybe a week ago Sharpe's Company then Sharpe's Fury and now Sharpe's Hounor but after Sharpe's Company does Teresa come up again?

,3 quick things to ask. #1 Sir Thomas Graham is a general but what sort of general compared to A.w(Arther.w) would he have been lower or higher and was he as brave as you wrote in Sharpe's fury? #2 If/when will you go on tour in Canada and if you do would you go to say Kitchener Ontario or Toronto? #3 Did the Scottish highlanders ever fight against Napoleon? Also in some of your fantastic books if I may say you describe the French always aiming their muskets high but the British aim low?

Luke

Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading the first three Saxon stories, which I loved and I am waiting patiently for Sword Song to be published in September. I have one question, why is Uhtred portrayed as a Saxon? when, if he was a Northumbrian he would have been an Angle being a Northumbrian (Bernician) myself it just bothered me. Elisabeth Miller

Dear Mr. Cornwell, have you ever thought of writing a series on the Spanish civil war? Joseph

Dear Mr Cornwell. I've enjoyed immensely many of your books, most notably the Sharpe series. Thank you too for introducing me to Patrick O'Brian! My question is as follows: Why, when in the book version of Sharpe's Waterloo Sharpe is engaged at Hougoumont, did the film version place him at Haye Sainte? Extra supplies of ammunition were never delivered to the latter - which is largely why it did fall to the French late in the battle. I visited Waterloo recently, and in the course of a long and absorbing conversation with an ex-Coldstreamer (rightly proud of his Regiment's part in the fight around Hougoumont), we both wondered why this key part of your story - and history - was changed for the film? Many thanks - keep the stories coming! Tim Newton

I believe you wrote a tale involving an emergency hull repair to a Finnish Swan off the Red Sea involving the owner's avoidance of sea snakes. I would like to re-read it but I am at a loss for the title. "Stormchild" was wonderful and my late mother loved Sharpe. Eugene Bartley