Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, Thanks for marvelou, exciting reading! I have just seen the special "Sharpe's Challenge"and was enthralled. You mention more books following with the India locale. Any idea when these will be available? Or are they still in planning or unfinished form?? An avid Cornwell reader in Florida

Submitted September 15, 2006

A

Don't think I said more Indian books - and if I did I was wrong! There will be more Sharpe books, but I think his visits to India are over.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I am a big fan of the saxon stories and getting ready for the Lords of the North...I was really wondering about the qoute in the first book that translates to destiny is everything...what language is it in? It's probably a stupid question but I really need to know, thank you very much. Matt

Submitted September 15, 2006

A

English! Very old English. The English that the Saxons spoke at the time of Uhtred.

Q

I have read and enjoyed all your books. My favourites were the warlord series but the Uhtred books are beginning to rival them. Which of your books are you most proud of and are there any that you were disappointed with or would like the chance to change something within? Many thanks, Pete

Submitted September 13, 2006

A

Would probably change them all! But the ones I like best are the three Arthurian books, probably because they were the most fun to write. I'm also inordinately fond of some of the Sharpe books. My least favourite? Probably Sharpe's Devil, because it never worked properly.

Q

Hello there, I have read all your books at least twice with the exception of The Starbuck Chronicles and have just finished "Lords Of The North". I then felt compelled to read the two previous novels in the series and was surprised just how much I had missed. I will not bore you with my inane natterings but before I sign off would you be able to tell me when the next installment in the saxon story's will be available and whether that will be the final one? I live on the Suffolk/ Norfolk border in England if that is any use to you regarding release dates. Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to reading more of your incredibly detailed novels in the near future. Jason Thorley

Dear Bernard Cornwell, Over the last year I have been, the best way I can put, addicted to your novels I have read all the Sharpe novels, Read the Grail Quest Novels, The Arthur Novels and also Stonehenge but I have just finished reading the Saxon Stories and Would like to know if there will be a a fourth book to this series? Yours sincerely David Robinson

Submitted September 13, 2006

A

There will - and a fifth and sixth... as well. The fourth book of the Saxon series should be available by October of next year.

Q

After having read 20 of your 21 Sharpe books back-to-back I know now that Sharpe became something of a reader courtesy of Lady Grace and Madame Lucille but that his writing was somewhat hesitant. So when I stumbled across a penciled note left in a mid-19th-century volume on Wellington's Peninsular Wars in an ancient book shop in a back alley in Greenwich, signed 'R. Sharpe, wondering if his elder daughter still looked like him and who his father might be, I thought I would ask you if it could possibly be a note from one Richard Sharpe?

I also read the fascinating book by Linda Blandford on the making of 'Sharpe's Challenge' and she mentions that a character in your Starbuck Chronicles, Patrick Lassen, is Sharpe's son. Is that true? If so, I'm going to have to broaden my reading schedule as I am now suffering Sharpe withdrawal until 'Sharpe's Fury' finally arrives from amazon. Yours in history, Susan James

Submitted September 13, 2006

A

Must be - man now has a separate life from me.

It is true that Patrick Lassan is Sharpe's (and Lucille's) son. You will find him also mentioned in the short story 'Sharpe's Ransom' (found in the Sharpe's Christmas booklet).

Q

Dear Sir, I have just completed Lords of the North and am very impressed by your understanding of Norse thinking and religion. But would you please refrain from using "Valhal" in the genitive case, i.e. "Valhalla" and which spoils a little of my pleasure reading your novels. And I wonder if there is a fourth novel coming on Uthred's coming home at last(?) Year and Peace A Valiant Viking - Henrik Mortensen -

Submitted September 13, 2006

A

I'm truly sorry it spoils your pleasure. There's a problem here. I don't doubt what you say, but nevertheless Valhalla is the usual English form, and that's the language I write in, and it's sanctified by the OED. The vast majority of readers know it as that, and would find the form Valhal a bit odd, which isn't necessarily a good reason not to use it, but I chose to go with the English form and I fear (oh dear) that I'm going to stick with it. The Old Norse is Valhall, but in German it's Walhalla, similar to the English, so I'm not convinced that I'm way off course with it. Sorry.

Q

Just finished The Pale Horseman (Great!)and was wondering where the back cover photo was taken. My wife and I both think the land in the background looks like Great Island in Wellfleet. I'm guessing the photo was taken off Chequesset Neck Road or near Mayo Beach in Wellfleet. Am I close?? Thanks - I'm looking forward to Uhtred's next campaign. Garrett Moynihan Eastham. MA

Submitted September 13, 2006

A

That picture was taken on Pleasant Bay in Chatham (that's Strong Island in the background).

Q

Dear Bernard After noticing a lot of the debates about the Baker Rifle and US rifles. In Donald Hickeys book Don't Give Up the Ship The myths of the war of 1812. He did compare The two main rifles (Sprinfield Rifle and Pennsylvaia rifle) used by US forces against the Baker. Cannot remember the conclusion. But the gist was while the Sprinfield was essentialy a poorman's version the Pennsylvania could shoot further than the Baker but was not as tough under combat conditions. btw You have said you will not bring Sharpe to the war of 1812 but have you considered bringing an American rifle unit over to fight Sharpe in Spain/south france and so bringing the war to him. All the best Geraint

Finally is it likely that a future Sharpe book will cover the battle of ST-Pierre on the Nive a very near run thing??? Geraint

Submitted September 13, 2006

A

I would if they had, but they didn't so I won't, is the quick answer! It's a nice idea, but a bit out of left field for me. The frogs are bad enough without adding a group of vengeful American riflemen!

More than likely!

Q

Greetings Mr. Cornwell I know you get this alot, but thank you for the many, many hours of enjoyble reading. I have read them all at least once, if not twice. In the next year or two, I want to travel to Great Britain and visit the sites you have written about. If you would be traveling there for the first time, knowing what you know now, what would you want to see if you had maybe a week worth of vacation? Would you use, or could you recomend, a touring company? Thanks for the help and hope you and your family have many enjoyable years to come. Jim J.

Submitted September 13, 2006

A

I probably wouldn't recommend a touring company, but that may be because I know the place too well! It isn't difficult to hire a car and do it yourself (driving on the left is easy, though the gas (petrol) prices are horrendous!). I'd recommend hiring a car at Heathrow and heading away from London. Do a week in the west country - Stonehenge, Avebury, Salisbury, Maiden Castle in Dorset, Corfe Castle, Sherborne - dozens of other things to see down there. Get a good guidebook - the Michelin Green Guide is good, and have fun!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell: I, like so many others, am a huge fan of all of your novels, but what interests me is what is that motivates you to choose the periods of history and the conflicts that you do. Have you ever considered basing novels around other conflicts, such as World War I? I think your style would so suit a novel set around Flanders, Ypres and the Somme! Many thanks, Mike Taylor

Submitted September 13, 2006

A

I think you have to be interested in a period to write about it, and for some reason the First World War has never engaged me, and I doubt it ever will. Perhaps our engagement with history, or my enegagement at least, is romantic - and I find the Napoleonic and early mediaeval much more appealing.