Your Questions

Dear Mr. C., I am a frustrated historian, having chosen, 40 years ago, law school over a degree in history. Your books are great! I have read them all, except the last two modern sea stories and Sea Lord made me want to sell my cabin cruiser and go back to sail. Sharpe, however, remains my favorite. Please consult your inner Sharpe and have him tell you about some of his further experiences as a battalion commander. There is clearly an opening after Regiment and the Peer had another "close run" while piercing the French frontier. Also the South Essex must have marched after Waterloo; of course, the Prussians did most of the pursuit and secured most of the loot. The occupation of Paris also could have given Sharpe some interesting times, old friends and old lovers.

I am quite amazed by your website and your communication with readers, but curse you when you drop hints such as Sharpe's father. You have cost me a lot of research. Let's see. Sharpe's son is a tough soldier and one might assume his father was also. Now who of that stripe was in London in '76 or '77? I have a bet with myself that a certain Colonial Loyalist field-grade officer may be the responsible party. Can't wait until you let us know. Keep up the good work and effacious the Frogs. Jerry Finefrock

Hello Mr Cornwell. I was wondering when you write your action scenes in your novels do you find it easier to write in the gunpowder era (Sharpe, RedCoat, Starbuck) or the pre-gunpowder era (The Saxon Stores, The Grail Stores and Arthur). I'm looking forward to 'Sword Song'. Any chance of an War of the Roses story. Thank you for your wonderful novels. Ed Whelan

Dear Sir I have read most of the Sharpe novels ( only four to go) and have also enjoyed the TV series which gets limited exposure here in Australia but which I was fortunate to watch during many lonely winter nights in Manchester where I was consulting for 18 months. I have lived in Sydney for nearly 30 years now having previously lived in South Africa (for 32 years). I have always wondered whether you based your character on the former England and British Lion of the same name and today I was delighted to read, in the forward to Sharpe's Rifles which I bought this morning, that you had indeed done so! I was fortunate enough to see him play for the 1962 British Lions in South Africa and will long remember his skill. The try he scored to win the match against Western Province had everybody talking. He was, unfortunately, injured in the Northern Transvaal match and only played in the last two sets but the South African crowds had an enormous regard for him. What a player! As I recall the other flyhalf was Gordon Waddell. I saw my first Lions side in 1955 and the flyhalf then was Cliff Morgan. The last one I saw was Tommy Kiernan's 1968 Lions again with brilliant flyhalves in Barry John and Mike Gibson. What lovely memories I have of rugby in the those days. I plan to visit my family in South Africa next year during the 2008 Lions Tour. Please forgive my ramblings, but thanks for the wonderful Sharpe stories and for bringing back some lovely rugby memories. Maybe you would you care to share with me why you based "Sharpe" on the great rugby player? With kind regards, Patrick McDuling

Dear Sir, Your Warlord Chronicles is my most favourite adaptation of King Arthur, and although I have neglected to own a copy for myself, have given some as presents to friends who enjoy an excellent read. Every summer away from school, I re-read the trilogy; it's become a ritual now in its 7th year. That is...to be honest, more than a third of my life so far haha. Each time I discover something new, such as the intrinsic meaning of a phrase I had merely glanced past before. Although no continuation is in the making, I was wondering if you considered writing a "prequel"? Not specifically on the Roman occupation of Britain, but of Roman civilization. I notice in your Arthur and Saxon novels, there's a theme of a struggle of peace and human goodness against barbarism and war, and I believe a novel of Republican or Imperial Rome would be another masterful play of the theme. Jonathan Looi

Hello Mr. Cornwell, it's me again. I wrote you previously while doing a report on your book, 'Sharpe's Havoc'. I was just wondering, out of a curiosity that I've developed, what was your favourite book to write? I know that as a writer you must enjoy all of your books equally, but if you could pick one Sharpe's book, what one would it be?

Also, I realize that your parents were both militarily employed, and I was wondering if it was this relation between the creation of your life and war that has influenced your war writing? If you're not too busy, could you post a reply to this? If you don't get the time don't worry about it, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you. Have a nice day Mr. Cornwell. One of your biggest fans: Joshua Taylor

"Reply: And windage? Ammunition was often ill made and never, of course, fitted the bore properly. My best source are Prussian tests conducted during the wars when a battalion fired their muskets at a target 100 feet wide and six feet high. These were trained troops, not under pressure. At 75 yards 60% hit the target. At 150 yards the hits were down to 40%. At 225 yards only 25% hit the target. I guess you're saying the glass is half full, and I'm claiming it's half empty! And, of course, it is the inherent inaccuracy of a musket that forced it to be used as a volley weapon, rather than as a sharp-shooter's gun. " Yes, Sir. That's it. For me the glass is half full, exactly! And of course I do see, that muskets WERE inaccurate weapons. But I don't compare them with modern rifles, not even with the rifles used in the Napoleonic Wars and therefore for me the theoretical efficiency of muskets is magnificent! I mean for a smooth-bore weapon with windage. I guess you misunderstood me, dear Mr Cornwell, as I didn't want to criticise you, not at all! Please keep in mind that I love your books and think that you are a great author! But one more thing: Is it possible that concerning those Prussian tests you talked about it isn't yards but metres? I know a Prussian test from 1810. It was done by good shooters with different muskets (Prussian, British, French, Russian). Well, summing up: At 75 metres 50-75% ; at 150 metres 40-50% ; at 225 metres 25-30% ; at 300 metres 20-25%. Well, if those results could be reached in battle the strategies wouldn't have been like they were, do you agree? Well, that's it. :) Your loyal reader Kai-Arne

Hi Bernard, I would just like to know if there is a French version of "The Lords of the North" available in bookshops in France ? Thanks, Erik

Mr. Cornwell, Are you in any plays this summer - caught you in Macbeth last year. You were gracious and formidable. Regards Eric Pederson

Hello Mr. Cornwell. I know that your not in the habit of taking people's ideas esp. fans. But for the next Sharpe book - what if you turn the tables on Sharpe. Sounds odd yes, but please bear with me. Now obviously historically the French in the Peninsula War did not use rifled firearms and thus were always harassed by our boys is green, always fired on from outside musket range etc... What you invent an elite, special battalion, or company of French marksmen - all armed with rifled arms. 'The Rifles of the Emperor's or something, and as Sharpe and Harper end up in a redcoat battalion - they would be unable to match firepower with firepower. Sharpe would then have to fight against rifles! He could learn lessons make friends etc...Now I know again, nothing like that would happen as Napoleon hated rifles. But we must remember in WWII Hitler's guys invented a new rifle (the first true assault rifle) the STG44, Hitler hated the idea. His boys made it anyway and when Hitler found out how effective the gun was he gave his blessing. Maybe Napoleon could have done the same if it was not for the South Essex giving the French marksmen a bloody nose. What do you think? Thanks for you time. Andrew

A couple of questions while I wait for Sword Song...It's not written down but in your mind, how did Derfel die?

Also, page 308 of the Enemy of God...Sansum utters the immortal words "says so in the scriptures..." any relation between Obadiah and the bishop?

Will Sharpe ever learn the identity of his father? All your main characters seem to be of "high" birth, even if they don't know it right away.

Lastly, have you ever looked at the wikipedia entry for Richard Sharpe? It seemed fairly accurate but whoever contributed seemed to be very hung up on noting everyone of Sharpe's sexual conquests... Thank you. Robert Draper