Your Questions

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

Bernard, I have noticed lately that a few people have asked you about Share and Lucille. My question springs from that. Had you already planned his future when he threw you that curveball? Thanks for taking the time to read this. Brooke Morey

Dear Sir, I was just re-reading S. Waterloo (very good by the way!!) and wondered why Napoleon thought of Wellesley as a "Sepoy General" despite beating every one of his Marshals that he sent against them? surely he would have had some respect for him? Many regards Chris G.

Sir, Enjoy your books. The first time I read the Sharpe series was a long time ago. I am sure two of the original books were written differently to the newer versions. I believe the original version of Sharpe's tiger was more detailed, and that Sharpe was tied to a cart wheel when he received his punishment. and I am fairly certain there was a book that mentions more about Jane gibbons trying to find out what happened to her brother. I am sure I remember reading of Sharpe trying to avoid Jane gibbons and meeting her in a church. This section of book was set in England. Am I going crazy or was the original books different to the reprints? I eagerly await your response. Yours Sincerely, Ron Hignett

Hello Bernard. Nearly all of the correspondence you receive is about Sharpe, Starbuck, Uhtred etc but I have just finished 'Scoundrel'. What a flipping good read it was as well. I really love the 'thrillers' and this might be the best one. It was an excellent story and very prophetic. Do you remember writing it? How much research did you have to do? And did the house on the beach that was built by someone called Starbuck have a direct link to the Starbuck novels? One final question on this subject, do you think you will write any more stand alone thrillers? The final final question, will you be touring the UK when 'Sword Song is released, and if so do you know where you'll be going? Many thanks, Barry Evans, Doncaster, UK

The English longbow, the 7 barrel gun for the fighting tops, makes me wonder why the English let the faster bow fall by the wayside to more cumbersome flintlocks for fighting in 150 meters or less. Any ideas from your research?
Marc McCrory

Dear Bernard, 2 quick questions....... 1/ I saw a list of your books on another site and there were 2 I did not recognise........"The Hidden Hand" and "The Snarl of the Beast" both 1992. I am sure it's a mistake as I have read every one of your books, but do you know anything about this?

Also, as much as I like Sean Bean as Sharpe in the films, did you ever see any of the footage featuring Paul McGann? He is great and would have made an excellent, but different, Sharpe. Rgds Robert Marsh

First of all I would like to thank you a great deal for all the books you have written! Now for a question that I have yet to find the answer to. I am a qualified Ancient and Medieval historian from Wales and love reading historical fiction, yet, I have never found any good novels written about Welsh history. There are plenty of history books but nothing that seduces you into the era like a good piece of historical adventure. There is a massive untapped source of events that authors seem to have overlooked lurking within the history of Wales. I was wondering if you have any plans to venture into these woods or if you know of any successful authors that cover this area? Many thanks. Owen