Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, Greetings once more from sunny Dorset.Just a quick question for you.Are you still writing the Agincourt book,and,if so,when can we expect to get our mitts on it? Kind Regards Dave A Wimborne Minster

Submitted October 27, 2006

A

Haven't started it yet so can't say when it would be available.

Q

Dear Bernard I am a school teacher and have read most of your books which are all outstanding and really make the history of each period come to life. I particularly enjoyed 'Stonehenge' and it made me think deeply about that whole period. It is easy to imagine the impact of the sun, moon and stars on our ancestors and the power that the shamans had over political leaders. You can also see that the secret knowledge of plants and fungae etc would give them an edge in both medicine and 'religious'experiences. However, do you think that some of these people could actually see into the future or were they able to make shrewd guesses based on experience, information gleaned from traders and knowledge of human nature? You seem to suggest in 'Stonehenge' that there was possibly a bit more. I am not asking you to comment on your own beliefs, but were you assuming in stonehenge and some of your other books that there is a mystical/spirtual dimension which some of your characters are able to access to some degree.
Andrew Moore

Submitted October 25, 2006

A

They believed in magic, and if you believe in magic then it's possible it works. We don't believe in magic, unless we're small children or idiots, because the questions that magic answered are increasingly satisfied by science. So no, I don't believe that early Bronze Age man had powers denied to us, but I do believe that society was willing to ascribe certain people such powers, and that trust and belief flavoured their reaction to predictions, cures, etc. It's well documented that certain primitive people die if they firmly believe they have been cursed by a shaman, but no one with a satisfying grasp of science has ever been so afflicted. Times move, and we change, and religion dies in the light of knowledge. All religion is based on miracles, but to my knowledge no miracle has ever been proved.

Q

Dear Bernard. Was Arthur an Englishman or was he from Danish/German/French heritage? I noted your comment at the end of 'Last Kingdom'.

It's also time for Sharpe to fight the Zulus and Boers in South Africa!!! Regards.
Kevin

Submitted October 25, 2006

A

Arthur? None of the above. He was Welsh - though that was not their name for it. He would have called himself British. He resists the Saxon invasion, and long predates any Danish, Welsh or German incursions. Welsh!

I really, really doubt it.

Q

I expect you get thousands of these emails a day. What is conspicuous in your responses that are posted online is that you dont seem to bathe in all the glory. Are you motivated by the adulation? How do you interpret it - is it just reward for the hard work you put in? What drives you to keep researching and writing - has your motivation changed from when you first started to now, when you must just be trying to keep so many people happy (as they seem to be asking for more books the whole time)? Nikolai K

Submitted October 25, 2006

A

Motivated by adulation? I'm old, tired and past that, thank god. I enjoy what I do, what greater reward could there be? And I write, primarily, to amuse myself. If I wanted adulation I'd get a dog.

Q

Hello. As I understand it, your short stories are only available via the Internet (website), but I see from your bulletin board Oct 12 another short story is possible (in the works??) Will the short stories ever be available through book stores in the future? Chris.

Submitted October 25, 2006

A

Another short story is a possibility...The current short story books are available from some booksellers, especially in the UK.

Q

Dear Mister Cornwell, I am deeply indulged in the Sharpe series and wish to tell you I am currently reading Sharpe's Devil. It is wonderful. This is the 6th time I have read the series and find it brilliant. I wish to expand my library but can't afford it because I'm too busy buying Sharpe. By the way I am 15 and love your books and loath over people who try to copy you, like my brother. By the way, does Sharpe ever go to Donegal to see Harper because I'm from Donegal and wish to know if Sharpe ever visited. Craig Dunne

Submitted October 25, 2006

A

I have no idea! I should, I know, but until I write the book I have little idea of what's in store for Sharpe. I'm sure he'd love to visit Ireland, so of course it's possible

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I would just like to say a big thank you for signing my books in Plymouth last Wednesday - you might remember me, I had an old edition of Sharpe's Eagle, and I think you said something along the lines of "I can't remember this one at all". I also have a question. I have just finished Sharpe's Gold, where Sharpe meets his old friend, Tom Garrard - is this the last time we see Tom, or is he killed in the destruction at Almeida? Many thanks.

Jamie Kearns

Submitted October 24, 2006

A

He meets him again - read on!

Q

Dear Bernard, I am writing to inquire of the United Kingdom's military ranks back in the days of Sharpe. I've been doing google searches for it for quite some time, but haven't been provided with the answers I'm searching for. I was mainly wondering what the next advancement is from sergeant. Also, I was wondering about the rank of an ensign. Would that be above or below sergeant? Thank you for the help! -Pim P.

Submitted October 24, 2006

A

Ensign: Lowest of the low, doesn't really command anything except at the whim of his superiors. In the Rifles he's called a Second Lieutenant.
Lieutenant: Still fairly lowly, subordinate in a company to a Captain
Captain: Probably one of the best ranks. A captain commands a company (each battalion is divided into ten companies, so a company will have anything from 50 to 100 men)
Major: Getting impressive now. Ostensibly a Major commands half a battalion, but they're really there to assist the battalion commander and be ready to take over if he's killed.
Lieutenant Colonel: He commands the battalion. He's god.

Those are the officers with the battalions, but above them are:

Colonel: He's a bit of nothing really. Not senior enough to be a general and too senior to command a battalion, but he might well be given some specific responsibility - commanding troops from more than one battalion to guard an outpost or attack some small objective.

Then come the Generals - in ascending order, and the higher you get the more units might fall under your command.
Brigadier General
Major General
Lieutenant General
General

and at the very top

Field Marshal - who really is god.

Hope that helps!

Q

Dear Bernard, I discovered your works only six months ago and up until now Ive been enthralled. I started with the Grail Quest series with I thoroughly enjoyed. It also prompted me do some background reading about the crucial period of common French and English history. I grew in Suth Seaxa but have lived most of my adult life in France. I bought a translation of Harlequin for French friend and he told me that I should read The White Company by Conan-Doyle. I promptly bought and I can tell you its the best book I ever read. Im now on Pale horseman and am enjoying it even more than the 100 years war series. I feel as though Im reading about my ancestors from Wiltunscir an Dafnascir. How about another Saxon trilogy during and after the Norman invasion? Just one little negative point. Your use of the word heartbeat for a short instant of time is beginning to niggle me. Have you calculated how may times its been used in the Grail and Saxon epics? Otherwise keep up the good work and I hope youll find a minute to comment. Chris BISHOP, France

Dear Bernard, Living in France I buy my books on Amazon France. Up until now theyve delivered me US editions but this week I received Pale horseman as a UK version. Ive read about 30 pages and its seems to be written in a different way to what Ive read so far. I am English, and maybe Im imaging things, but this leads me to the following question. What are the differences between UK and US versions? Different covers I suppose Spelling: e.g. Zs in &.insertion for US versions Nouns: e.g. Pavement/Sidewalk (but I doubt that youve used that word in your books!!!!!!) Are there any other differences? Chris BISHOP, France

Submitted October 24, 2006

A

Maybe, but Uhtred's story is not a trilogy - several more books to come, so I'm not really thinking much beyond those.

Sorry! Can't say 'in a second' because they didn't use it. Instantly ain't the same, and quickly is imprecise. I really am sorry - I'll try to find another form that is close to exact . . .

No other difference.

Q

Short and sweet. Avid fan, especially of the Sharpe series; got all of you books. Please keep them coming!!!! Most disappointed that the weather stopped your visit via cruiseship to Christchurch, New Zealand. Had the proverbial suitcase full for signing. 90% 1st editions. Any chance on your getting down this way again anytime soon? Very best regards Scott

Submitted October 24, 2006

A

I hope to go back to New Zealand soon, we loved it there!