Your Questions

Having been re-reading the Sharpe books, I have to say that I think Fortress, or possibly Triumph are my favourites at the moment - possibly because there are so many turns in the plot. Any chance you'll set another book in India? If you write another Sharpe book, I guess it's not so easy to find a large battle amongst Wellington's campaigns you haven't covered yet. Any particular historical gaps you might set a Sharpe book in? David Camidge

Hi Bernard, I was just wondering why the Uk and US covers are different? Ive noticed with afew of my other fav authors that the covers are different too. Personaly in most cases I think the UK versions are always better. Do you have much say in what goes on the covers?
Heather

I love your book, The Pale Horseman, but I don't love Uhtred. He is having all the fun, and Iseult, the one cool woman besides Aethelflaed gets killed. Further, he's a total pr___. Sorry, but that's what he is. It would be great to see him get humiliated, and also to see you create some great, womanly characters who can fight well, and kill, but also are a bit more moral than Uhtred. Give us a woman who really rocks! Thanks. Boys shouldn't be allowed to have all the fun. Surely there were some Danish or Saxon women who broke the mold! Tx.
Julie

Dear Bernard, I have read and enjoyed every book in your brilliant Sharpe series (as well as most of the others), thanks for writing such a brilliant set of books. However as someone from the north of England there seem to be very few characters in Sharpe from there, any chance of adding one perhaps, you could even use my name, or not. Not a complaint really, just a bit of a shame I feel, you might well disagree, they are your books after all. Also what is your greatest regret in writing the Sharpe books. Warmest regards from a devoted reader, Matthew Hitchen, Lancs.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Congratulations on the wonderful achievement of the Saxon Stories. My wife and I have both loved them and are eagerly awaiting the next installment. I have been writing on Alfred for years, so it wasn't long before I was saying to myself, Wow! He has done all the research! The rendition of fighting in the shield wall was tremendous, Homeric in intensity, and in my experience unprecedented. If you care to recommend any further reading in the period for us to divert ourselves while waiting for Sword Song, we would appreciate it. Best wishes, Bill C.

Mr. Cornwell I must say youre the only author I have ever been compelled to write to. The first book I ever read of yours was Stonehenge, and then I moved on to The Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur. I just finished Lords of the North. Shame on me for not reading the first two but it was the only one on the shelves of the series. It was a good three day read and I am (as usual) disappointed that the story is over (thus far anyway). Was that your clever way (in your authors note) of hinting at another story to come for Uhtred? I hope so& I must compliment you on your intricately written battle scenes. Few writers have had me on the edge of my seat during a written fight scene. Lately I have been wondering if maybe you possess a bit of a psychic streak with certain news articles that have appeared in the last year about villages near Stonehenge and a (Persian?) mummy with a golden eye. Though Nimue wasnt Persian I still found it uncanny. I am a 24 year old aspiring novelist not born, but raised and living in the middle of Alaska since I was two. My first book is being published a chapter at a time on the web. Its a Drama/ Sci-fi. Probably not your reading preference. Though its not mine either so who knows! I prefer historical fiction, mostly from the European area. But I dislike the study that goes along with writing the genre. Why I find astrophysics easier than untangling the web of history I will never know. Some of the other authors I enjoy are Rosalind Miles, (I have read her Guinevere series, which wildly contrast your Arthur series) Margaret George, though Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles has failed to capture my interest, Memoirs of Cleopatra, Mary Called Magdalene and Henry VIII were incredibly written. Perhaps I should save these comments for their authors, though if you have read them, youll understand. Now that I have realized that I am rambling and havent actually presented you with a question I suppose the only thing Im really curious about is this: So far, in the novels I have read you seem to favor the Pagans and the Christian monks/priests are almost always evil in nature but for the one key good guy priest. Arthur converted, or at least entertained the idea. Derfel converted, though it wasnt really a willing submission. I sense that sometime before Uhtred ends his tale he will convert as well but also secretly revel in his memories of the good ol days as Derfel did. Who do you favor? If either& One of your many enthralled readers, S.G. Sea

Hi Bernard Just wanted to say that I have only just got into the Sharpe books via a mate who allowed me, graciously as I now understand, to borrow Sharpe's Tiger to 'see how I got on with it'. Well, I have now swept through most of the series and it has been a real treasure to have discovered such a wonderful hero such as Sharpe, and equally, such a rich and historically relevant backdrop. I find myself unable to discern now between the separate books as the series seems to have blended into a glorious epic story. I am blessed, in a way, to have come to these books late, so I can read them in narrative order! I came to the series ignorant, mostly, of Wellington's achievements through out the early 1800's, and have discovered a real desire to discover more of this era of European history. I wondered if you could suggest a few books to help me understand the person of Napoleon more. Most of your work has to concentrate on the British side of the story, but I would be interested to read accounts from Napoleon's inner courts of their perspective of the era. Thanks once again for picking up a pen, and writing such riveting stories, with such contemporary relevance! cheers Jonny Tokyo

Dear Bernard in regards to the American civil war during the battle of the wilderness Northern troops came across Lee and then withdrew if they had captured/injured or killed Lee do you think the war would have been shortened and who would have taken command of the army if both him and Longstreet were incapacitated??? BTW Any plans to get Starbuck to the Overland campaign where Lee and Grant go head to head it was a horrendous slug fest but some historians consider it to be Lee's best generalship holding off Grant as long as he did would you agree????? On another note in regards to your Archer series have you ever considered a PREQUEL to those books since Thomas farther seems a really interesting character and would have a great story to tell. Besides Mapplins Moor and Halidon Hill are before Harlequin and you have to write about those fights???? And finally in regards to Sharpe if he does get to Albuera will he be with the Die Hards holding on or charging with the Fusilier Brigade???? Geriant

Dear sir, I have discovered your books a few years ago only, through one of their very few french translations (I am french actually). So I'm glad to say I still have a long way to go before I experience the frustration of the reader yearning for your next writings. I may even say that you cost me a lot, maybe not in money but in time and room on my bookshelves ! My question is: why are most of your stories not published in french (except I think the Arthur series ?). I find it hard to believe that french publishers simply don't go for non-french heroes. I'm sure the wounds of the Guerre de Cent Ans, and even of Napoleonic wars should be healed by now... As far as I know, the maritime adventures of Horatio Hornblower did well on our shores ! Or is there maybe a more financial explanation ? I am really at a loss and the more I read you, the less I understand... Hope you announce a coming french version before I feel compelled to translate you myself for the benefit of my own family ! Thanks anyway for the past and coming fun, and the many sleepless nights. Sophie B

Dear Sir, I finally got through a marathon read of Sharpe -not all the books, just Rifles through Waterloo, in order, and I am exhausted and thrilled. Just wanted to say thank you for such great reads. I had to tell you that the three later books just gave me a heartache. Hogan's death, the falling out with Sweet William, and just about anything about Waterloo... Did you really, really, have to kill Hogan? Are we ever going to see Sharpe reunited with his old friend Frederickson? (I hope so!) Also, any plans for Sharpe in the big screen? No offense to the BBC, but it's hard to picture Waterloo with a few extras, when we were supposed to see thousands of men. Is it hard for you to watch the BBC series? I would assume that it would be hard to have your characters twisted in story lines you didn't create or may not agree with. I apologize for the mindless ranting. Thank you for being so accessible. Dan