Your Questions

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I'm a huge fan of your work -- mainly all the medieval series. But I actually started with you way back when with your sailing adventure/thrillers (what happened with those, are they ever going to be reprinted and be readily available?).

First off I wanted to know how long you intend to make the "Alfred the Great" series, just out of curiosity. Next I wanted to ask for advice on a question I'm sure you get a lot. I'm currently working on a novel set in Britain in the fifth century. Once I have it ready, would you recommend I look for an agent or are there some specific publishers that prefer medieval historical fiction and I would be better off going straight to them? Any feedback would be much appreciated. Keep up the great work and are there any other medieval books in the pipeline? Thank you. Alex Telander

Mr. Cornwell, Thank you so much for all you have written. I have had the opportunity to read all of your historical fiction books. I have just finished "Excalibur." You left us hanging. What happens to Cerdic and Lancelot? John Eaton

Dear Bernard I was curious in regards to the Sharpe novels you of course talk about the 95th as being seen as the best in Peninsular on the British side but I wondered who you considered the best units on the French side (31st Leger maybe??)???

And in regards to Lossow in Sharpe's Sword he sort of disappears near the end of the book and is never heard of again, did he die???

Also while you have stated that Sharpe made a promise not fight Americans in the war of 1812 to Killick to help him escape.Could you not get around that by getting Sharpe to Canada where if the Americans invaded they would be fighting him and not visa-versa it would be really great to see Sharpe in that conflict if only once.

btw I can recommend Fix Bayonnets by Donald Graves on the life of Thomas Pearson who fought at Albuera for Christmas reading he and Sharpe would probably have got on like a house on fire. Merry Xmas Tony

Hello, Do you know why, in the Sharpe films, some of the calvary horses have their tails dyed red? Is there a historical reason for it? Cheers, Mina

Dear Sir, having read your Grail Quest Series,Gallows Thief,Stonehenge,Warlord Chronicles including The Last Kingdom,The Pale Horseman and The Lords of the North,any idea when the next book in the series will be available.Once I start reading them I can't put them down, Keep up the good work. Regards Colin Burrell.

Dear Mr. Cornwell. I first started reading the Sharpe series when I was about twelve years old and now, almost ten years on, am still a great fan of your work. Your Arthurian Trilogy has to be among my favourite series of novels if not the favourite series. I have recently been reading the Saxon Stories and was wondering when the next in the series might be ready. I realise you must be a very busy man and maybe this question has been asked before on the bulletin board somewhere however I would much appreciate it if you could shed some light on the subject as I can't wait to read Uhtred's next adventure. Your's Sincerely Rich Neve Devon, England

HI JUST STARTED READING YOUR SHARPE NOVELS (UP TO GOLD) BUT HAVE SEEN ALL DVD SHARPES THEREFORE I HAVE 2 QUESTIONS 1. WILL SHARPE EVER MAKE GENERAL 2. WHEN WILL SIMMERSON GET HIS JUST REWARD OF A 1 REALLY GOOD FLOGGING AS I AM SURE YOU THINK THERE IS NO ONE MORE DESERVING THEN HE. Andrew Gamble

Hi Bernard. I recently got my book signed by you up Merry Hill in Dudley. Thank you for taking the time to meet your fans. It's very much appreciated. I would like to ask you if you could offer me any ideas on how to go about studying the Napoleonic era and the time Sharpe is set in? This is because I would very much like to persue a career in being an historian and I wondered if you have any ideas or if you could point me in the right direction. Thank you.
Keiran

dear Sir, i know that iv asked aboput this before, and i apreaseat your answer (why the French collumn couldnt break the British line but the Jakobites could) but im not a partuiculaly fit bloke, but i can run 100 yrds on a matter of seconds. A British volly fired at 75 yards, then the second at 50, a charge would have been able to reach their enimy easlily before a third volly. platoon fire couldnt have realy worked as on paper a platoon was 50 men, giving a 25-man front. a collumn had a front of about 100 men. I don't get how they could not reach the British lines, even if they had supporting battalions. thankyou for taking the time for this rather long winded question (sorry) Chris G

Dear Bernard Cornwell, With your interest in sailing and in history, I wonder if you have ever come across a charming little book called A Biographical Tribute to the Memory of Trim, by Matthew Flinders? Yes, the Matthew Flinders who circumnavigated Australia and mapped much of its coastline. It is really an essay, written while a prisoner of the French on Mauritius, about his cat. Trim circumnavigated the globe with Flinders, assisted in mapping the Australian coastline, was shipwrecked with him and helped to keep down the rat population on Flinders various ships. It is a whimsical and light-hearted essay, but obviously written with great affection, after Trims untimely death. It also provides an interesting insight into life on board a naval vessel around 1800. I was surprised at the apparent affection the sailors and officers had for the cat, a human touch in the privations, even brutality, of life on board. Highly recommended. Elizabeth Smith. PS The English cricket team could do with Rider Sandman!

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am wondering if you can tell me if your description of Lt. Colonel John Shee in Sharpe's Tiger is based on any specifc document(s). I am searching for information on him and was excited to see him mentioned in your book. I have read all of the Sharpe series and Stonehenge. I am currently awaiting release of your next book with Uthred. Thank you for any help you can provide. Steve