Your Questions

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

Dear Bernard, First of all, as ever, keep on writing, your books are amazing. Other authors send me to sleep. While reading them I've found that the term 'Fate is inescapable' is a common occurrence, is it a personally held belief that is reflected in your writing?

Secondly, I was wondering whether you could give me a few words about 'Man of Honour' by Iain Gale. While reading the synopsis it refers to the Peninsula War, which I thought referred to the Spanish engagements during the Napoleonic Wars, however the book is set in 1704. It also refers to the British army in 1704. I'm not an historian, but didn't the unification occur in 1707? My other fear was that (with the deepest respect to mister Gale) it would be a bit of a rip off of Sharpe and Harper. I'm really looking forward to the next Saxon book. I'd like to see the priest Beocca do some more heroics! I think you are very lucky knowing some details of your ancestry that far back. All I know of my family is limited to a few generations. My Great Grandfather on my father's side came to England from Ireland at the turn of the last century and died in the First World War, his son (Granddad) was then raised in an orphanage and went on to the Army and then the Second World War (Quite similar to Sharpe actually, except no commission). My mother's side are all English as far as I know. Anyway, this all boils down to the fact that your books really lend a sense of heritage to those who know their ancestors have been here for many hundreds of years but know little else, so thank you.

P.S. How did you come to find out about your ancestry? I think I'd like to explore my Irish roots a little. Thanks again for all the books! Warm regards Samuel Oakes (maybe a cameo Cornwell character one day? I know the list is ever lengthening!)

Mr. Cornwell, I wanted to drop you a line to tell you how much I have enjoyed your books and to pick a slight bone with you. Having just finished reading the third book in your Starbuck series, it seems to me that you have fallen into the pro-Jackson, anti-Longstreet camp and very unfairly. The troops under Longstreet at Second Manassas you place under Lee's direct command, so why not do the same with Jackson's? Also, the most recent scholarly works on the battle make it clear that if Longstreet had attacked on the day of his arrival he would have have at least one corps of Northern troops (Fitz-John Porter's) on his flank. Longstreet never liked jumping in without knowing what he was getting into and Jeb Stuart's reconnaissance confirmed the presence of Porter's corps. I have no doubt that given the subject -- the American civil war -- you have received these comments before, but Civil War buffs are notoriously pugnacious. Again, I do want to thank you for the hours of enjoyment your many books have given me! Keep writing! Chuck Harvey

Am almost 60 (will be next month) and should long ago have turned to more esoteric matters for my reading enjoyment. However, since I have not, I have a keen interest for more Sharpe. Am an avid fan of Sharpe, Hornblower and Aubrey. Since there is little chance for more books about the latter two of my longtime heroes, how about for the first? Thanks, Don Strong

Having read most of your books, which I thoroughly enjoy I note in Sharpe's Siege and Lords of the North you mention Exminster. I am curious as I come from that village and have used the Stowey Arms as my local. Is there any connection between yourself and the village? Charles Pragnell

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. In an August 8th posting, Owen asked you about novelists dealing with Welsh history, and you quite correctly recommended Cowper Powys. He should also read Sharon Kay Penman's fine trilogy of medieval Wales, "Here Be Dragons," the story of Llewelyn Fawr, "Falls The Shadow," dealing with Simon de Monfort, and "The Reckoning," which tells of Llewelyn Llelo. Ms. Penman is a fine author who richly recreates the feel of the age, although she writes from a woman's perspective and focuses more on romance than on battles. Alan Kempner

Hi. You published on August 8, a note from "Owen" asking about writers of books about Welsh heroes. He should read Sharon Kay Penman's trilogy about Llewellyn the Great - Here be Dragons, Falls The Shadow, and The Reckoning. Good reads all three. Penman is just finishing another mediaeval trilogy with the last book focusing on the children of Eleanor of Aquitane, including Richard the Lionheart. Strongly recommend all of them. Have you read any yourself? Chris

Hello Mr.Cornwell. I was wondering why their are different covers for U.S. and U.K. book releases?

Andy Boatman

Chanced upon this website and was overjoyed to be able to tell you how much I like your books all of them. I started with a casually bought paperback and now have collected all but the Starbuck Chronicles in HC and some of the Sharpe hard covers were hard to find, I can tell you! Who would have thought that a retired veteran of many years of teaching K-1st grades would get so hooked on books about battles? Now that Im retired, Ive started re-reading the Sharpe books in the right sequence. Fun. What I could wish for is something after Sharpes Devil. He and Patrick have come home rich and he has the money to divorce that dreadful Jane. And there is nothing Id like to see more than to see Janes complete and utter downfall. Of course, I can imagine all sorts of horrid things happening to her but my imagination in no way compares to yours. So, Ive always been hoping there would be some book with a lot of good closure (I hate that I used that word; sorry.) Werent there any battles (maybe in India, again) that Richard and Patrick could get pulled into and, while all that was going on, there could be a well-deserved comeuppance to Jane served up to us loyal fans? I never really liked Jane from the beginning, I think maybe because of her terrible brother and uncle. I suppose genes will tell. The last book of the Grail Quest series really left us hanging. Hope there's going to be another one of them.

Beverly Rigsby

Mr Cornwell, let me begin with saying that I have began reading the Sharpe books and they are absoutley brilliant. However many of the films differ, quite a lot from the books, I was wondering, if you had an opinion on the films, compared with the books. For instance in Sharpe's rifles (book) there is no Teresa but there is in the film? Michael B

hello ,luv the saxon tales. Was wondering when your new book Sword Song will be avalible to purchase in Australia? Thanx for great reading, you're an unsung ledgend. Hope the saxon stories keep coming.take care..Jude.xxx