Hi Bernard, I'm a great fan, just finished reading "Lords of the North". Brilliant!! When are you going to write the next in the series?? Best Regards - Max
Right now.
Hello again Mr Cornwell, I would first like to say a big congrats on your OBE! Well deserved I think! & may you long continue! I read on this site the other week about your relative who stayed at his post although under heavy fire but sadly died, it was quite a moving story, as I had a great, great uncle who died in the first world war, under heavy fire! & my mum has a photo on her wall, of his family , which he was carrying when he died, such brave men. With the anniversary of the battle of the Somme the other week, I was told when the British advanced on the German lines the tommys were told to walk because the Germans had supposedly fled the trenches! But sadly they were told wrong & were cut down in there 1000's but the officers still told them to walk on - why? When they knew the orders they were given were misleading? Surely good officers don't follow orders blindly? I know it was near on a 100 years after Sharpe's day but did pomposity cause many a death back then also? I'm still reading the Sharpe books at mo & they get better & better! Thanks for your time & I caught the mini series Sharpes war on the history channel (at last!) but missed the first installment (bugger!) but found it informative & enjoyable, I'll keep a beedie eye out for the first episode. thanks again! Gary Beadle P.s good luck with the scotish play! I've been in the play myself a couple of times & I think you would make a great Duncan - is there just the one night?
I'm no expert on the Somme, but I do know there's a great deeal of revisionist history being written at the moment which would suggest that the pomposity quotient wasn't quite as high as Blackadder would have us believe. There's a fascinating book by Norman Dixon called On the Psychology of Military Incompetence which I'd recommend. It's been an age since I read it, but I seem to remember that his thesis is that the military attracts a certain kind of personality - authoritarian, rigid thinking and fear of failure - which almost guarantees stupidity. It also attracts some splendid folk too, but I suspect military incomeptence has always been with us and always will.
Dear Bernard Cornwell, I have just read A Crowning Mercy and am looking forward to the next Lazender story. Was Kit Aretine inspired by Kit Marlowe or what Kit Marlowe might have been if he had not (probably) been gay and died young? I am also enjoying the Sharpe series very much and thought you might like the following account from my bookseller. Apparently a local history teacher was having trouble getting her class of teenage boys interested in history. She bought the whole Sharpe series which engaged them and when they asked 'But how do we know it's true?' she pointed them in the direction of the various sources and they were hooked. Keep up the good work! Elizabeth Smith PS: congratulations on the OBE! Nice to see one going to a writer!
I borrowed the name, but nothing else - at the time I knew almost nothing about Marlowe. I know a bit more now, which makes me glad I did borrow his name!
To Mr Cornwell, I am in the process of re-reading The Pale Horseman before I read the Lords of the North for the first time. I like to read them as a set, (which yes, means I will read the first one far more times). I am thoroughly enjoying it for the second time and love the hard edge of Uthreds character that sets him apart from previous characters like Sharpe and Derfel. I don't like him, but he is good, and god he knows it! I was wondering if you would ever go back to the early history covered in Stonehenge. It was the second of your books I read, the first being the Warlord Chronicles (which I still consider my favorite novels)and I loved the period, before law and order and Christianity. So would that be a period you would delve back into? Or do the lack of significant events and historical records make it a difficult period to explore? Thanks David Wilcock
I found it a terribly difficult era to explore, so I'm not sure I want to go back to it - it really was sailing in a fog without compass or chart. It didn't even feel like writing an historical novel because, as you say, there really is no history, and the danger (for me, not perhaps for the reader) is to veer into the world of fantasy - so I'm sorry, I'm going to stick to recorded history!
When you are writing your novels do you have the endings planned in advance? When I was in college and writing stories in my Short Story writing course, I always had good stories, and characters, but when it came to ending them, I just fizzled out. Could never figure a way to end them. My teacher told me that more than once. So, how do you know when your story is over. Also, just read the post about 'Boy' Cornwell from June 29. The note from the captain, I thought, was beautifully written. Made me wipe my eyes and clear my throat. Thanks. Jonathan Mullins
The general answer is no - I don't know the ending, except that most of the Sharpe books are leading up to a battle, so I know that the battle is the ending. Outside of those books I don't usually see the ending coming until I'm about three quarters of the way through. It's really all intuitive, which isn't much help. In essence, though, every story sets out to answer a question . . . if, in chapter one, Harry meets Anne and falls in love, then the question is whether he'll be successful. If he's already married to Katherine, then you have a plot. The ending, surely, is when Harry and Anne sail off into the sunset? I think that's probably as concise as I can get - but it's something I rarely think about - I just keep writing!
Dear Mr Cornwell Firstly, thank you for some excellent books, particularly the Grail Quest and Arthur series. I'm currently reading 'The Last Kingdom' having started the series with book two! Given the significance and magnitude of the events captured in the Saxon Stories, my question might be somewhat obscure. I am intrigued by your reference to Alfred's banner as a white dragon (Wyvern) on a green background whereas the 'modern' Wessex flag depicts a golden Wyvern on a red background. I wondered whether you could shed any light on the significance,or otherwise, of the background colour. I understand there were some local variants. Of course, it may be that I am trying to superimpose a modern, ordered approach to what was a very turbulent period of English history and there were no strict rules applied to banners. I would appreciate your thoughts. Many thanks.
Martyn Fry
As far as I know (and sources are a bit contradictory) Alfred's banner - or rather the banner of Wessex was a green wyvern. Why do I say dragon? To stop loads of questions as to what a wyvern is (for those who want to ask it's a two legged dragon). I have one source that says white dragon (wyvern) on green. Another that it was a silhouetted wyvern cut out with no background and the two paws attached to the staff. My own view is that Alfred almost certainly fought under a religious banner, but I can't prove it, so I dragon it instead. I suspect there were no real rules, heraldry is a long way off, but green and wyvern seem fairly prominent. I'm not too well informed on dyeing techniques, which I suspect are relevant here. We have rather more information about Danish banners - triangular flags - with ravens etc. The point of the banner in The Pale Horseman (which I suspect I didn't make at all clear) is that it was a very makeshift affair - rather like this answer.
hi, I really enjoy your books and I'm throughly looking forward to the release of Sharpe's Fury! My question relates to Wellington, I'm doing a piece of work on him and I'm struggling to find analysis of his tactics, I seem only to find general info on his life. Can you recommend any books or website which could offer information about this?many thanks. R. Blundell
I think I'd start with Michael Glover's book, Wellington as Military Commander. It was published in 1968 by Batsford, and I believe there's a paperback edition (try Abebooks.com if your library can't help). There are dozens of others. Jac Weller's trilogy on Wellington would be useful (especially W in the Peninsula and W at Waterloo) - more recently there was a collection of essays by distinguished military historians published as LWellington, Commander, edited by Paddy Griffiths, published by Antony Bird, 1984, and it's probably a bit hard to find, but worth it because there's an an essay in the book called 'Wellington's Tactics', which might have all the answers you need. The book was published in association with the Wellington Museum (Apsley House in London) - so maybe they still have some in print? Otherwise Abebooks will surely find you a copy
Congratulations on the OBE, we met briefly at the Como house Readers Feast writers festival in Melbourne earlier this year where it was a pleasure to listen to you speak, I doubt you will remember me or my wife I recall the large numbers of people at the festival, however in case, we spoke of "Flashman" and that we both have roots in Essex, I grew up in Ongar. I wish you continued success, I see you are branching out into the field of acting, plans for a future calling? Best wishes Paul
I hope not. Never drink with a theatre's artistic director.
Dear Mr. Cornwell: I am in the midst of reading your Sharpe novels which I am enjoying immensely. As this reading is combined with weekly screenings of Sean Bean on BBC America, it has been doubly enjoyable. What I would like to know is why did you create Antonia Sharpe only to abandon her? Will Sharpe ever get to see his daughter again? I for one hope so. Thank-you for all of your efforts. Keep writing Richard! Susan James
I think it's possible he might see her again some day...
I am nearly 15 years old and have read 10 of the Sharpe books after my Dad said I should try reading them. They're amazing! My favourite though, perhaps is Regiment. Patrick Harper is my favourite character and I recently did a GCSE speech on him and the other chosen men. The one thing I really want to know is, what is Harris' first name? My Dad said you don't say but I just wanted to be sure. Great to hear there's another Sharpe book on the way! Annise Rogers
I don't think I ever gave him one. How about Ebenezer?