Your Questions

hello once again Mr. Cornwell, first of all i hope you and your family had a good holiday season. Now my question; I am reading Sharpe's Fury and you mention Harper's Volley gun once again. I was wondering, with a British musketman firing 3 times a minute, how fast could Nock's gun be fired and reloaded a minute? Happy New Year, Ryan

Dear mr Cornwell, I am Italian and I have just ended to read The last kingdom and find him absolutely fantastic!!! Make you my most sincere compliments ... would like to wonder whether you know when he will go out in Italy "The Pale Horseman" and "The Lords of the North " and the other Sharpe novels .... hope as soon as possible! you cordially say hello to a big fan of yours& you excuse my English Ciao Giovanni

I premise that my English is not good... I would want to know when "the pale horseman" it will arrive in Italy.. compliments for his job "the last king" it's a fantastic book and the book series of "excalibur" it's mythical!! Riccardo

Dear Bernard, I have read all of your books, and credit you with my newly-found appreciation of historical fiction. I have one question and one comment. Question: Is there a site where one can find a listing of contemporarily-written historical fiction? Particularly around the Napoleonic Wars ( a favorite haunt for yourself as well as Forester and O'Brian). Comment: In "Sharpes Eagle" Harper is introduced as a comrade of Sharpe's for three years, when they seemed to meet in their famous brawl in the winter of '09 in "Rifles". Is there some yet-unearthed history between the two, or is it a misprint? Regards Rick

Dear Bernard, I have just finished reading Sharpe's Trafalgar, and have moved onto Sharpe's Rifles, which if I'm not mistaken, is the next book time-wise in the series. It has come to my attention that in the first 140 pages or so, there is no mention of Lady Grace, whom Sharpe was what I thought, destined to be with forever after Trafalgar. What ever becomes of Lady Grace?
Pim P.

May seem as a silly question and I could be totally off, seeing as I haven't researched everything you've done in your life (forgive me =P ). But (knock on wood) if there ever comes a time you decide to stop writing, or postpone, or none of the above, have you ever considered teaching? I can only imagine the lectures and class atmosphere, since I've never personally met you. But the thought of attending, and debating intrigues me (as I'm sure it would others). If it has crossed your mind, and you had the choice, where would you go? Thanks for taking time to answer. Matt

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Were you by any chance in South Essex just before Xmas? I was travelling in to work from Chelmsford (on Thu 21 Dec I think)and someone who got on at Ingatestone or Shenfield saw my copy of Sharpe's Fury and struck up a conversation. He asked if I liked the Sharpe series and if I'd ever visited any of the battle sites. I replied that I was indeed a fan, and had read all of them except Trafalgar, but had only read the Arthur trilogy of your other books. The only time I nearly went on a battlefield tour was when I was on safari in South Africa with my daughter Yas (then 12). By the time we reached Natal she was getting a tad lazy or over-safaried. On the way back to Jo'burg we drove into the Drakensbergs to Giant's Castle, but because we'd just missed a tour and it was a 45min walk, she declined visiting the World Heritage Site San rock paintings. Maybe zulu war killing grounds wouldn't have been top of her things to do list anyway. We did visit the fort at Eshowe where John Dunn was the only ever white zulu chief. Not sure whether this was 100% true, as the same was claimed at the of Portugese trader Albisini at the Albisini Ruins in Kruger Park. I told my new companion that I enjoyed the History Channel's Sharpe's War and I'm sure I've seen a few other documentaries where Sharpe or yourself have been mentioned in dispatches. I'm not sure I'd be able to make the past come alive just from being in a field and would probably need a professional guide. He said a good map was essential anyway as they are often difficult to locate with a couple of centuries' changes. The Napoleonic war was definitely his period and he mentioned someone who did tours in Spain & Portugal. I asked whether it was anyone you mention in some of your Historical Notes or even the Sharpe's war series. He did look a lot like yourself, although perhaps not so elegantly trimmed as the jacket photo in Sharpe's Fury and not wearing glasses. He got off at Liverpool St with a folding bike. I just thought...South Essex...(maybe)? Best Wishes and Happy New Year anyway, Nigel Lawton

Hi Bernard, My friend Adam and I are visiting 200th anniversary penninsular battlefields from 2008 - 2015 - do you have any advice for trips such as these? Regards and all the best for 2007. Dave Cook.

Recently I read one of your Starbuck books about the Civil War. It was wonderful how you made General George Maclellan come to life for me. I have read so many contemporary accounts about him but could never rally fathom the man and his personality. Your account of his interaction with Pinkerton and how he took counsel of his fears rang true. He must of had many sources of information but somehow always believed his huge Army was outnumbered and needed reinforcement. He dithered when decisive action could have brought victory or at the least heavily attrited the Army of Northern Virgina. Did george Maclellan really che tobacco? It seems so unlike this fastidious man. I would be interested in a similar fictional portrayal by you of US Grant. I see him as someone who had no fear about his army's destruction by the enemy. Bob Long

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I been a long time fan of all your books especially the Sharpe's series. Just wondering are you going to write more stories about Sharpe and Harper adventures after Sharpe's Devil? Thanks for your time and cannot wait for your next book. Gordon Davies Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Dear Mr Cornwell. May I first start, if I may, by wishing you a happy new year and hope you had a Merry Christmas. It might sound odd, but the thing that attracted me to your Sharpe books was the firearms. That's sort of my thing. My passion though are black powder firearms. My question, if I may trouble you is: In Sharpe's Sword. Where Sgt. Harper is looking through the warehouse on page 202 for a sword to replace Sharpe's broken P1796, he finds a new rifle. Your book states that the rifle was new and made in carbine bore. Harper didn't want the new rifle because it would be hard to get a decent supply of ammunition. I may be wrong about this so please forgive me. I referred to my copy of 'British Military Flintlock Rifles 1740-1840' by De Witt Bailey. In this book it stats that the Pattern 1800 Baker rifles were made in carbine bore, so was the P1805. The only rifle made in musket bore were the P1810 Baker rifle. The P1810 Baker was only made in limited numbers though. Wouldn't the Baker rifles issued to Sharpe's lads already be in carbine bore? Please don't take this as criticism, I don't mean to offend. It was just something I was hoping you could clear up for my simple mind. :-) P.S. Sorry to go on but out of interest. For research, have you ever sent a couple of rounds down range with a Baker rifle or India Pattern musket? Maybe just to get a feel for it. I'm sure you've had a go with the Nock Volley Gun :-) Many Thanks for reading. Best wishes. Your fan always, Andrew.