Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell! Permit me to present myself briefly. I'm a former french soldier (have spent eight years in the French Foreign Legion, leaved last month) and I've enjoied these years very well. I was born in 1974 in the Kirghizstan (former URSS), have finished my studies of physics, tried some jobs and finally found myself in this army. I'm reading your books, it was at first Arthur's series (which I consider as the most romantic books that I ever read and I have read many, I assure you), after what The Grail quest series, The Gallows thief and now Sharpe's series (I'm reading Sharpe's Regiment actually). What have impressed me first was the fact that you describe very precisely a soldier's psychology. It was in Arthur's books, and especially in Sharpe's. More, the Legion is similar to the British army of this period as you describe it. There are many people who are very far from be an angel, some came to escape their troubles, some to seek adventure, many for money, but they became fine soldiers. Very often, the characters in your books match real people, which I met in the Legion, good and bad. At first I thought that you've been in the army to know so much about, but now, when I've read your biography, I know that you haven't. I suppose that real artist doesn't need to do the thing to have the experience, they can imagine it, but I'm wondering always how could you find out how an army works and lives without having been in? Thank you for losing your time to read my message, I hope that it was a little pleasure to know that somewhere in the world there is one more reader who admire your books. Now I'll continue to enjoy Sharpe's Regiment, these books are never similar, each time I'm astonished by new Sharpe's adventure, really you aren't short of ideas! Good inspirations! Mr. Tchinguiz KAMTCHIBEKOV

Hello again, I am trying to write my 1st novel about the American Civil war (more importantly the Irish involvement) and was wondering if you could answer a few questions. (1) When I tell my friends Im writing a book they all want to be in it, but I dont know how to do that without changing my story dramatically any ideas?

(2) I know when you wrote Rebel you did quite a bit of research and was wondering if recommend any books on the battle of 1st Bull run, the Army of the Potomac or early training?

Lastly, in many of your books you mention a "fire step", what does mean and what was it used for? Thanks for your time and your knowledge.
Adam Azzalino

Your Sharpe's series was shown on BBCAmerica this past Spring 06. Love your series of Sharpe's Adventures. What a great cast and storyline. My husband and I are confused about the episode "Sharpe's Sword" and "Sharpe's Regement". We remember that El Mirador killed Sir Henry Simmerson in Sword but he appears again in Regement and then in further episodes. Can you explain? Thanks so much. Karen Beck

Have been enjoying your Sharpe books for a decade, not to mention the Arthur & Grail Quest books, am just now reading "Sharpe's Fury" having just finished the first of the Saxon books. Does seem there's an "eternal hero" (Thomas the Archer is Sharpe-in-the-14th-century, Uhthred is Sharpe-in-the-9th-century) and you've caused us to love him so. Thank you for what you've given us all. Quick question though - Is the Eric Sykes, to whom you dedicated "Sharpe's Fury" the British officer, and spy, who helped "invent" modern close-quarter-combat?
Ronald Pehr

Mr.Cornwell, I don' t know what made me pick up your book at the library ,it was the Winter King ,perhaps the title ,perhaps the cover ,so I've read it,and soon said to myself this is too good just for borrow ,so I bought the trilogy,and man oh man ,the husband has read it ,my son has read, his friends,the librarian has read it,a co/worker has read it and so on,it keeps on going. Now the saxon series. I never thought I could enjoy such a book, I thought perhaps only a man would, wrong and thank you for not bashing women and thrashing them,it' s a good clean read,thank you so much. I have to give the Sharpe series a try. My question is this: you must enjoy history it's obvious, what is your favorite time period of history?what era? and why? hope it's not too difficult to answer. English is my second language ,but I managed to read and understand it all, Michelle from canada

Thank you very much for Sharpe and Uhtred, but what has happened to Nathaniel Starbuck????? are you going to write another and when????????? many thanks for your time and get writing. Sianne Etheridge

Dear Sir, I am working my way through the Sharpe series and just finished Sword. Enjoyable as always! I was wondering when you will write Sharpe's Finale and return Starbuck from furlough? Thanks as always Michael Calkins

Hi I have just completed Sharpe's Fury, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a rule that I read one book a week, and if a book takes 3 days to read, it means the book is very good! Over the past few months I have come to appreciate you dilemma about which book to write next (Sharpe, Starbuck, Saxon Series, sequels to existing books and totally new books). How do you decide what book to write next? Finally, do you have timetable for the rumoured sequel to Gallows Thief? All the best, and thank you Simon

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have enjoyed all your books for some years and now I am happy that my sons are also starting read the Sharpe books. However, we now live in the middlea east and find it difficult to buy paper or hardback editions of books so we read e-books. The difficulty is that not many of your books are available as e-books. I have found only 6 of the Sharpe books including the recent Sharpe's Fury and from the saxon series only the Last Kingdom. Do you have plans to publish other books as e-books as we would like to collect the rest of your books. Tim Salter

I had a lot of trouble imagining the 7 barrel gun that Sharpe used in Sharpe's prey, I was wondering what it was because I can't find any 7 barrelled gun on the internet. Is it some sort of gattling gun?(a handheld one?) thanks for the books! David

Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for many happy hours of reading. I just started reading your work this year with The Grail Quest, Stonehenge, the first two books of The Saxon Stories and am now reading the last of The Arthur Books. I hope , one day, you will write a book about Charles Martel and the Battle of Tours. Thanks again Bob Schaeffer