Your Questions

Mr. Cornwell, I'm an avid fan of all your books and I didn't think anything could trump Sharpe until the Saxon Stories came along. It's refreshing to hear about a Viking side to British life in fiction. The stories of Erik the Red and the voyages across the Atlantic to Greenland and (later) Newfoundland are spectacular and I was wondering if you ever considered writing about those adventures? David

Hi Bernard. I would like to take this oppurtunity to congratulate you on the best set of books I have ever read, namely the Warlord chronicles. I am an ex Marine and found the way you described the way the soldiers moved at night, their surroundings and the feel of having a friend watching your back to be all spot on. Especially down to how you described them being freezing cold on winters nights doing recconnaissance on the enemy, with it raining on them like mad! Dare say you've been asked this before, but surely it would be a good idea to put the trilogy on the big screen??? Especially as the film "Arthur" released a few years ago with Keira Knightly was absolute garbage! Is just a thought. Have just finished watching the Sharpe DVDs. I am currently working in Kabul, Afghanistan doing close protection work privately, and it has been excellent viewing out here, providing much needed morale!! Particulary the character of Capt Fredrickson. Am just gutted iI didn't read the books first. And, again, from a soldiers persepective, you've hit the nail pretty firmly on the head. The modern british forces could do with officers like that, let alone nearly 200 years ago! I am currently working my way through the saxon novels, and am thoroughly enjoying them. Great atmosphere with them, and doing what very few authors have done before and that's make me feel like I am in those pages, the scene set is so real. Please keep up the good work, and I look forward to your response. Kind Regards, Jim Whelband

I would like to thank you from your response to my last post. If i may I would like to ask you for a favor. I was wondering if you knew of any books that could give me an in depth perspective of HM Marines at the time of Napoleon. Also, do you know of any books that would give info about any of the ships at the time. particularly the HMS Victory.
Austin Callaway

I saw an episode of Antiques Roadshow, which had a gun the same as Sergeant Harpers with five barrels, they called it a Knock, or noc or something (spelling not provided). I would like to know the correct name and spelling for this gun and any place I can find the history of it? Leonard Colquhoun

Mr. Cornwell, I summer in Plymouth, MA at White Cliffs (just across the canal) and winter in Florida. Have you in your research encountered the term "quiet men" as an alternative to king's agents or watchers? Thank You, Jim Padian

Dear Bernard, The Sharpe series are excellent books and you may be intrigued by this: is it possible a sub-conscious association produced the hero's name? In the 'Battle' or 'Battle-Action' boys' comics from the 1970s there's a minor comic strip character from the 'Rifles' with a prominent scar on his face. There's also lots of brutal hand-to-hand fighting and a particularly gritty style to the stories. That's not the only co-incidence: the character's name is Sharp. There, you'll be happy to learn, the similarity ends, since the stories are very different. They're about an unpleasant World War Two coward: 'The Rat of the Rifles'. Even if there's no association, it's certainly interesting. http://www.comicsuk.co.uk/ComicInformationPages/BattlePages/BattleHomePage.asp>/a>. I'd be interested to learn if you read comics when you were younger! Regards, Dave

Hello Mr Cornwell, just finished Pale Horseman and Lords of the North for the third time. In the lords you write " when the Oak greens before the Ash it will be wet summer" Is this folklore or just writing? In the Arthur books you downplay any magic but in the Saxon books the ladies have the sight or can read the sticks well. Are your views changing about this? What do historians say of your work? Do you know of any books like yours but about China. I do look forward to your next book, regards Nicholas.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am reading "The Bloody Ground" for the third time now and I have come across the passage where you describe Delaney's closeness to his servant, George. I was wondering, is Delaney gay? I know this is random but the closeness seems too strong to be much else. Thank you, Ryan

I enjoy your books greatly. You obviously conduct extensive research. Given that, I wonder if any of your books explain how the colonial armies were able to keep from getting overwhelmed by the British armies. (I assume there is no simple explanation that you could provide via email.) Thank you. David Jones

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I would first like to say thank you for all the Sharpe series books you have written, they have been most enjoyable. I am currently working on a research paper for my History of Warfare class. The subject I chose to research is British military intelligence during the Napoleonic Wars. I was wondering if you could suggest any books or resources that may help me on my research? If not, at least thank you for taking the time to read this and reply to it. Thank you very much, Justinian