Your Questions

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

Mr. Cornwell, I just have one quick question if you wouldn't mind answering. Is the "Sword Song" the last book in the Saxon Series? Thanks, J.H.

Sharpe's DVD are to be translated in Italian version? Many compliments and greetings from Italia. Roberto Scudeletti Noale Venezia I T A L I A

hello sir,,firstly thank you for the saxon series,,can you tell me when Sword Song will be released in australia? cheers mate, Jude from West Aussie

Hello Mr. Cornwell First off, just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your novels, you are one of few authors I have come across that has written books on medieval eras that I have truly enjoyed. I am wondering whether you can tell me when Sword Song is due to be released in Australia? Lastly, although this may be a fleeting dream, would you ever venture down here for book promotion (if not already)? Cheers, George Dimitriou, Melbourne Australia

: Have always loved your books, especially Sharpe and The Archer's Tale, but I do have a silly question; in one of your books, I believe it is Sharpe's Rifles, you refer, in jest, to circumcision being a requirement of new officers. It sounds a bit anti-semitic (which I'm sure you're not) or perhaps you were emulating the attitudes of soldiers of that age? Thanks, Alan

Hi again Mr. Cornwell. Judging from the hints you've been dropping, your Agincourt novel will soon be in the works. Regarding that, what are your thoughts on Henry V? Was he really the noble, inspiring leader and fearless soldier that Shakespeare makes him out to be (his speech on St. Crispian's Day is my favorite Shakespearean passage). What type of relationship will your main character have with him, anything similar to Uthred and Alfred? Alan Kempner

i am just reading the grail quest books. I want to know how you came about the name Pryke? that you used for the priest.
Jim Pryke

Dear Sir, I am reading your The Grail Quest trilogy and I will appreciate your sending me your answer about something that confuse me. In your novel Harlequin (Historical note) you tell (I quote textually): The word longbow does not appear in the novel, for that word was not used in the fourteenth century & But in this novel (Harlequin) the word longbow is frequently used. Do you mean as a whole word? Can you, please, help me to make it clear. PS. I beg your pardon for my lame English, because I am an Albanian, but a your fan. Erand Ibrahimi.

Just a quick question prompted by the debate over the pronunciation of Badajoz (Badahoth?). I read, somewhere else entirely, that there was a King of Spain who spoke with a lisp and the people, replicated his speech impediment so as not to embarrass him. However, it was not something that the then Revolutionaries in the modern day, Spanish speaking Countries of South and Central America felt it necessary to do. Would you happen to know if there is any truth in this apocryphal sounding story. Keith Harris, Retford, NOTTS.

Mr. Cornwell, I am currently writing a book which takes place in medeival England, and I was hoping that you might be able to recommend some good books in which I might be able to find information regarding common names around the turn of the first millennium, and also information about their language. Any help is appreciated. Zach Miller