Your Questions

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

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I Just started reading your grail quest series after reading all of the Sharpe and Saxon Books. I have to say I love them all. I noticed that both Thomas and Uhtred seem to have a strong belief in fate. Is that your personal beliefs coming through or just a coincidence? Thanks of for taking the time to read this. Brooke Morey

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

It was a very common mediaeval belief! Uhtred keeps quoting wyrd bid ful araed, which is a quotation from an Old English poem, while Thomas would have firmly believed in the Wheel of Fortune, a very pervasive mediaeval idea! I believe in genetic predisposition!

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.

Q

Hello, I am writing to you with a question about the language in vagabond. Robbie Douglas uses the word grolick, now I'm not sure if that is the correct spelling, but me and a friend have been having a rather heated argument about it. Is it a word based in truth or is a word that you invented. I am convinced that it is factual but we can not find a reference to it anywhere. so the essential question is what dose it mean if it is a real word. Thank you for any reply. Sincerely, Tyler Warburg

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

umm, grolick? I don't remember it, and a quick flick through the book can't find it. Sorry. I suspect it's real, but if you can find the right spelling and a page number I'll tell for sure. Sorry . . . .

Q

Hi Bernard, I was wondering when we shall hear whatever happens to the welsh rifleman, Parry Jenkins? I think the last time he's mentioned is in Sharpe's Honour. Kind regards, Dave Cook

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

I shall try to find out! And tell you!

Q

Dear Bernard, In regards to Sharpe you have said about not taking him back again but could you ever change your mind since you left out the battles of Rolica and Vimero and the convention of Cintra admittedly Junot was a poor opponent (and mad) and pretty much it seemed every french soldier besides him knew they were not going to win at Vimero but Delaborde put up a good fight at Rolica and seems a decent foe for Sharpe???

btw just curious but what happened to Fredrickson in Sharpes Waterloo it said he was in Canada and had served in the war of 1812 I just wondered where you would have had him end up as the war stretched from Fort Mackinac in the far west to Lundy's Lane inn the middle to Maine and Washington/Baltimore in the east????? Regards Geraint

P.S Can you give a clue on what setting the next book post Viking will be around????

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

Probably not, but never say never!

Fredrickson? Lord only knows, as I haven't written that book!

Too early to say.

Q

I came across "A Fuga de Sharpe A Companha do Buçaço,Portugal 1810" in a local library here in Portugal, translated into Portuguese. Being a translator I am keenly aware of the subtle nuances destroyed in the process BUT I was most impressed with what I read and congratulate the author (unknown to me at the time) for it's very lively and fascinating account of daily life in battle in addition to the most loveable creation, Sharpe. My particular interest in picking up the book is historical. Of course this book required historical research. I would be grateful for any, but ANY, pointers in the direction of HISTORICAL SOURCES on the British military presence in the Lisbon area (especially Oeiras and Carcavelos)during the Peninsular war. Wellington was stationed in Carcavelos, I believe, in what is now St. Julians school. And of course, Beresford's presence. With thanks, Andrea Cravinho.

Submitted March 6, 2007

A

Wow, so many! How about Wellington's Peninsular despatches? You'll find them in handsome editions in second hand shops. Almost any memoir of the Peninsular war will yield a huge amount. Wellington's headquarters changed with the progression of the war . . . . so you'll find more than one. Wellington's Peninsular War, by Julian Paget, has a lot of good stuff in it. So do the standard histories! Don't know of any one source, but you'll find plenty of references in any decent book!