Your Questions

Q

How did Sharpe get promoted from ensign to Lieutenant I'm still looking for this book, what was its title please?
Des Hennessy

Submitted August 7, 2006

A

He's an Ensign in India, after that, because he joins the Rifles (who didn't use the rank Ensign) he's a lieutenant.

Q

Dear Sir, Your Sharpe books are wonderful! I have not had the privilege of reading the others yet, but I sincerely mean to. I would never ask you to read my manuscripts or any of the other things you mentioned on the previous page. I am just curious if you object to people writing "fan fiction" about Sharpe and the Chosen Men. I would never dream of plagiarising your work, it is merely for my own release of creativity. Respectfully, Paula Garlock

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

Fan fiction? I'm of the school that doesn't care. I confess I don't read them, but I think it's very flattering that they exist. I'm not sure I'd gain anything by reading them . . . that sounds pompous, and I don't mean it to be, but I plainly can't use any ideas that I find there (hello, litigation) and I spend more than enough time with the rogue without spending more, so I'm quite happy that they're out there, and I wish them joy, but Sharpe and I just ignore them.

Q

Please please please is there an anticipated date when the 4th of the Saxon books will be out in the UK ?

Lauren

hi didn't use to be a big fan of yours but after reading the adventures of Uhtred and co I became strangly fixed and I would just like to know when I can expect the next installment?

James Silverton

Mr Cornwell, I love all your books and have just finished Lords Of The North. At the end of that book you said Uhtred will need 'serpent breath' again does that mean (which I hope it does) that there will be another book, or even better, books? Thank you regards, Rob

Hi Bernard, thank you one more time for your talent. I'm a french reader of the Saxon Stories and I just finished The Lords of the North which I had ordered at my favourite bookshop.I had been waiting for this new adventure of Uhtred for months and I haven't been disappointed. Congratulations. I'm now waiting for the following book of the Saxon Stories... Have you begin to write it yet? Do you have any idea of its coming out date? How many Uhtred books are you going to write? I am now reading the Warlord Chronicle Trilogy. I began The Winter King this morning and I hope I will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Uhtred's adventures... And a more personal question : are you the husband of Patricia Cornwell? If yes it is amazing indeed like your books I can't put hers down when I begin reading one, Thank you again Gwenaëlle SIZUN

I've just finished Lords Of The North and I thought it was fantastic. I also thought before reading it that it would be the last of a trilogy. However, you intimate that a further book will follow. Is this so and when could we expect it ?

Bill Whittaker

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

Nothing's arranged yet - the book isn't written! But I anticipate that it will be published in the autumn of 2007 - probably early October - but nothing's written in stone! I'm not sure how many books there will be in the series - maybe seven? or eight?

I am not married to - or related to (as far as I know) Patricia Cornwell.

Q

Are there any plans of making the Uhtred novels into movies? Ryan Kelleher

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

None at the moment, but maybe that will change?

Q

Hello, Sorry about bothering you again but I was wondering how long it takes you to write a book, (on average)? Thanks, Calder

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

It generally takes me six months to write a book.

Q

Dear Bernard, I have just finished reading "The Lords of The North" yet another excellent read. I cannot wait for the next one. I was wondering would you consider writing about Brian Boru, as his life showed how good and prosperous Ireland could have been and his death brought about the ruin of the nation. David O'Brien

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

I truly think it's a subject for an Irish writer If I were to do it justice I would need to immerse myself in the old Irish tales, and know a great deal more about Ireland (where I once lived and still love, but learned just how little I knew about the country). The Irish have a wondrous passion and the story needs that passion as fuel, and I would fear I could never quite capture it.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I thought you might find it interesting on how this female "Warbaby" found out about you, and realized that you are by far my favorite Author. One night I was watching a Mystery on WGBH Boston and there was this young actor I'd never seen before and became quite taken with him. I found his name was Sean Bean and I thought that he should become the star of a series. Well what do you know, I read that he was to star in a Masterpiece Theatre Series. The only problem was that it was about the Nepoleonic wars and that was not exactly my "cup of tea." However, I was so delighted with the series that not only did I enjoy watching Mr. Bean, but, I decided to read more Sharpe stories and now after reading all the Sharpe written so far, and all your other books that I've been able to find and am now in the middle of "The Palehorseman" and am looking forward to all you can possibly write. However I do have to know if you ever read "Hagar the Horrible" comic strip? Now everytime I see the strip I think of "Ubba." And with you appearing to be so prolific, when do you ever find time to read and answer all these e-mails you get. Thank You, Wendy

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

I fear Hagar the Horrible is a gap in my education, but who knows? One day it might be filled. I suspect that the author, like me, took the name from the real Ubba. Where's the time to answer the e-mails? Usually when I need a break from whatever story I'm writing, because I'm not sure where (in this case) Uhtred is going, and the break gives the subconscious time to find the answer (I hope).

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, first of all, thanks for the many hours of pleasure your books have given me. I began reading Sharpe while in the Navy and he helped pass many a long deployment. What I am curious about is whether units in the Peninsula were rotated back to Britain at intervals during the war or, once a unit arrived, did it stay for the duration? Given the relatively short distance involved and Britains command of the sea it does not seem an impossible task, however given the prevailing attitude towards soldiers at the time did the powers that be think it just too much trouble? Lindsay Frost

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

They were not rotated back - it would have cost far too much money! Thus - to take some units at random - the First Battalion of the Coldstream Guards was in the peninsula from 1809 to the end (1814). The 1/5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) did get two years at home in the same period, but I don't know why. The 9th (Norfolk) served in the peninsula from 1808 to 1814, but were evacuated from Corunna (with most of Moore's army) in 1809. The poor sods went to Walcheren, suffered there, and were immediately sent back to Portugal and stayed till 1814. The 45th were there 6 years, and so on. There was no leave for the ordinary soldier, none at all, and even senior officers sometimes found it extremely difficult to get leave to visit home (Wellington disapproved, though if he thought the officer was no good then he endorsed the request enthusiastically). Really the only way to get home was to be wounded so badly that a man could no longer fight - - then he would be shipped home. It might seem fairly extraordinary to us, but back then this was all considered quite normal, and a man volunteering into a regiment knew he was likely to leave home for a very long time. I suspect, as well, that if you took a battalion home then you risked losing a fair number of men to desertion (once they were back) so it was much more efficient to keep them in the warzone - and Wellington, of course, valued their experience. Battalions were inevitably thinned out by disease and action, but there were fairly constant replenishments coming from Britain.

Q

Just finished 'A Crowning Mercy'. A wonderful book; any more 'of this ilk' in the pipeline? Joceline Morrison

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

No plans for more at the moment, although I hope you've had the chance to read Fallen Angels.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: Now that you have reassured us (sort of) about poor little Antonia Sharpe, tantalyzed us with hints about Sharpe's father (please don't tell us it's Simmerson!) and have us waiting impatiently for 'Sharpe's Fury', is there any possibility that the BBC will film another Sharpe in the not too distant future? Susan James

Submitted July 31, 2006

A

One can always hope!