Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am working my way through the Sharpe books and am now up Sharpe's Enemy. It, like all books in the series before it, is a truly riveting read. It is fascinating and very satisfying to watch Sharpe rise through his own merit against all the impediments thrown up by an appalling class system. I enjoy history, military stuff and a good adventure and each of these books has those things combined in spades. The stories have given me a great deal of pleasure and I thank you for that. One very minor - on a couple of occasions Sharpe's riflemen have "stood to" (and they have just done it in the Convent in Enemy) at dawn or dusk. I had understood that the British army did not adopt this practice until the disaster at Isandhlwana in 1879 at the hands of the Zulu but I can't recall where I got that notion from. So Sharpe doing it in 1812 doesn't fit with my understanding. In your research did you come across anything on the history of this military practice? Keep up your wonderful work. Best wishes - David Richardson (Sydney, Australia)

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

They did it from the earliest days! You may be referring to some more formal practice (don't know), but they certainly did stand to in the Peninsular War!

Q

Could you tell me when the next book in the saxon stories is out please? Jeremy Forster

Hello Mr Cornwell, I am a big fan and would like to know if there will be a fourth volume of the Saxon Stories and if so when can we expect it please?

John Cummings

Hi I have really enjoyed reading the Saxon stories, but am anxious to know if and when I will be able to read the next instalment which, I assume, will revolve around Uhtred's return to Benbbanburg. Many thanks, Ian Preston

I have read the pale horseman series, up until the lords of the north. I love the whole series, and even call Uhtred " my Uhtred" it's funny. any ways When is the next book in the series coming out? Sincerely, Lindsay

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I enjoy your books. I have read the Warlord Series and the Saxon series (Last Kingdom, etc). Good reads, much fun, but I must make one complaint: reading your work has put the damnable notion into my head that I might be able to write fiction myself.....I can't believe me..I've read what I've written and it is simply terrible. So,...thank you for this curse!...lol... Will you be adding any more to Uhtred's tale? Jim Walton Ottawa Canada

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

The fourth book of the Saxon stories - tentatively called Sword Song - will be available in October.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading your excellent third Uhtred novel, "The Lords of the North". However I have to point out a glaring historical mistake (p301f p/b edition). You make reference to the name of the "christian god" as being Jehovah. Despite the claims of a modern-day sect who claim this as being the name of God in the Jewish and Christian scriptures, the word JEHOVAH was a word device created by Petrus Galatinus in 1520 AD - being the joining together of the vowels of the Hebrew word Adonai and the consonants of the Hebrew divine name, YHWH. Therefore Giselda, living over 600 years before Galatinus, would not have known the Almighty as "Jehovah". On the other hand, I am not sure what alternative single name you could have put into her mouth other than "Jesus" or the "Christ". Looking forward to where the story of Uhtred goes from here. Graham Warmington

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

Well I could have used Yahweh, but decided against it. You're right, of course, that the form Jehovah was an early 16th century invention, but I decided it was more accessible that Hayweh, Adonai or any of the other names of God. Sorry it upset you!

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell. In two of your recent Sharpe novels, Havoc and Escape, you featured the character of Rifleman Dodd. I assume that you had to get permission from C.S. Forester's estate to include him. Did this take a lot of legal wrangling, or was getting their permission comparatively easy? Alan Kempner

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

Names are not copyrighted . . . . . .and Dodd is a fairly common name, as is William.

Q

Hi Bernard, I just would like to say how thoroughly enjoyable the Sharpe, Thomas of Hookton and Stonehenge books have been to both my granddad and myself. Since receiving some more Sharpe books at Christmas, I have found the books riveting. However why did you have to kill off Teresa, Sharpe's wife in Sharpes Enemy. Couldn't you have let her survive, and even if you wanted Sharpe to leave her, let her bring up her daughter? Embarrassingly I have to keep telling myself that the book is non fiction and the characters are not real!!! My hatred for Hakeswill increased rapidly at that point and I was glad to see him in the firing squad! Will you ever let Sharpe rest in peace!!! Will Teresa miraculously not really be dead? (PLEASE) Thank you for providing me with some great reads, and I wish all the best. Tom McGinnes

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a great fan of your Sharpe books, and I just wanted to ask a question: have you ever regretted killing off Teresa? As an author, you perhaps saw a need to keep things moving for Sharpe's more romantic side, but pardon me for saying that it seems none of his subsequent lovers/wives quite filled the shoes as well as she did... And as a female fan of your books, I must admit great regret that the most dynamic and engaging of your female characters got knocked off only a few books in. I know you keep yourself busy writing for your many series, but if you ever got the chance or inclination to write more of a backstory from that era, it would be greatly appreciated among your Comandante Teresa fans! Adel

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

Well, think she is dead. Sorry. Maybe she can have a twin sister? Sharpe's favourite, I have to admit, is Lady Grace from Trafalgar, and I really wish she hadn't has to die. Teresa? Yes, I regret killing her, but also regret killing off Hogan and the immortal Hakeswill. Now he could have a twin brother . . . . . .

Q

Mr. Cornwell, First of all thanks for your wonderful books (have just read Sharpe's Christmas which was brilliant). I wish to know if you have any information about balls in the 19th century? From what I've read in 'Fallen Angels' it is my wish to know more about the balls during this period. thanks-Luca

Submitted March 7, 2007

A

Not a lot, sorry. Don't even know of a good book on the subject, though there must be one. I rather skate round it! The ladies would have a dance card, of course, probably hanging from their wrists, and would allocate dances to certain gentlemen. Dance fashions changed drastically - think of the introduction of the waltz which was considered by many to be a real threat to public morals! Sorry, can't really help. Jane Austen must have a good description?

Q

Hi it's me Luke again. I was just wondering two things #1 In a lot of the Sharpe books you put "And he raised the musket to his shoulder and the butt slammed back" I always thought a musket was a small hand gun like a pistol in the 1800's? Please describe. I do know my history quite well just not well enough

And in the book Sharpe's Fortress Gawilghur is that a real fortress and the "Cobras regiment" Was that all real?

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

A musket is a longarm, like a rifle, i.e. fired from the shoulder. The word seems to have come from the much older Moschetto, and Italian word for a crossbow bolt - and crossbows were fired from the shoulder, which might explain the connection, but early firearms were often named after birds of prey and the Moschetto, I think, was a kind of falcon. But it was a long barrelled gun, flintlock, fired from the shoulder!

Gawilghur is real - it's still there and you can find some pics on the website (go to Image Gallery). All overgrown now and overrun by monkeys, but still quite magnificent! I think I made up the Cobras . . .

Q

I have always been confused about a few certain things #1 What is the great conflict between the British and the Scots and the Irish in all the Sharpe books it seem as though the British always have a grudge against them or the other way around? Why is that? And one more thing if you don't mind I don't know if you know anything about Canadian History I am forced to in school but much rather learn about British history. I find it much more interesting. Anyways in 1812 the Americans attacked Canada in hope of gaining land and there was a General there Sir Issack Brock he always wanted to fight in the Napoleonic war but they made him stay there in Canada. What was so much important about the other war across the sea? Thank you for your time. Luke

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

The English were historically the enemy of the Scots and Irish for the simple reason that they were neighbours. The Scots also led the way in beating up the Irish, and the English followed, and so it went on. It's all incredibly complicated! The Scots were originally from Ireland, they conquered Scotland, more or less obliterating the indigenous people (Picts mostly), then the Saxons invaded Britain and shoved the Scots north and Welsh west, more warfare. So it went on! Mostly confined to the rugby field these days, which is A Good Thing. The significance of the War of 1812? Not a lot, it was a stupid war, fought for reasons that had really been settled before the fighting began. The main result, of course, was the defeat of every US invasion of Canada which more or less guaranteed Canada's survival as a nation.

Q

Hello sir, I am writing a novel on the American Civil War and am finding it hard to find a story within the battles I am consenting to write about. For example, in Sharpes Rifles Sharpe has to raise the banner of st. James during sir John Moores retreat. Any research you would recommend? (And where do you come up with engaging little plots like that in the mist of a bloody mess, and how do I come up with my own?) Also I am very tempted to write about the battle of Bull Run from the Union side but I finding it hard to end the book with the northern soldiers involved still having some trace of dignity. Any Ideas? I dont want to end it with wild run back to Washington, I want there to be some positive on my characters well. What do you think is the best source of research on a war? Books about the battle or in general, reenactments, memoirs of soldiers, or what? I have to do a 5-minute speech on the 9th rifles and I was wondering if they have a foundation, museum, or Website? Your reader and hopefully someday fellow writer, PS: Long live the fighting 95th first in the field and last out of it!
Adam Azzalino

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

The 9th Rifles? No idea. The 95th has a museum at Winchester - but you probably didn't mean that. The only research I recommend is to read everything, and I know that isn't helpful, but there really isn't a prescribed course of reading for novelists! You read everything and anything and hope the ideas come. There isn't a magic source! Almost all historical novels have a big story and a little story. Think of Gone with the Wind. The big story is the civil war, and it's kept in the background of the book. The little story is whether Scarlett can save Tara, and that's in the foreground. On the whole we make up the little story, but do our best to make the background big story accurate. That's probably not much help, but really you'll have to devise that little story - and hope ideas come for it from lots of reading. As for Bull Run? Well, if your main character has a personal victory at the end of the disaster it will mitigate the big story's loss. That's how I'd go about it! Good luck!

Q

I finally got to see Sharpes Challenge. I must say I thought it a very good idea to combine the three novels. It reminds me of what was done with Patrick O'Brians "Master and Commander". Its amazing how time flies. I believe it had been 9 years or so since the last episode. I'm afraid we are all a little older. Seeing a little grey on Patrick Harpers head kinda reminds you of how time does fly. I saw your interveiw in the special features section of the DVD and was wondering if you were able to ejoy the Indian countryside and everything that was going or did they put you to work as a technical advisor? You were right however, Sharpe is a villian and a rougue, but he's our villian and rougue, and that makes it all right. PS. It is about time that Sharpe went off to rescue Harper for a change. Not that he needed rescuing anyway. Don

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

The don't need my advice! No, we were tourists mostly, and hung about on set as cheerleaders. Anyone interested in the filming should really read Linda Blandford's book, Sharpe Cut (see the link on the home page of this website to the Sharpe films page). It's superb - not a puff job by the production company, but a shrewd, tell-it-as-it-really-was tale by a very good journalist.