Your Questions

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, A much younger, more immature version of me wrote you a few letters about 10 years ago and you where gracious enough to sign his copy of "Sharpes Company". The older version still treasures it and hopes he wasn't too irritating... :-D A quick note to congratulate you on your OBE. Well deserved! It must be a great honour to have the Queen as one of your fans. I'm presently re-reading the Arthurian series, which are my favourites of your novels, along with Stonehenge. Do you have plans to write more novels on ancient British history? The Roman Invasion might be interesting. Chris Horry

Submitted July 1, 2006

A

Roman? Probably not - Conn Iggulden does such a good job with it, best I leave it to him.

Q

Hi firstly I first saw the Sharpe films when I was little and they were on Tv I think I was around 8 at the time. Now I have bought the DVD's and read all the books, and am awaiting your new one. I was just wondering, are you pleased with all the actors that played the chosen troops? I am, that wasn't meant to sound like I think they were bad, of course I don't I loved the films. Secondly I was rather hoping to see more of Harris and the other chosen ones who aren't "dead" yet. I have read that it isn't possible due to age, but still it would be nice. It's sad knowing that the Sharpe films are coming to an end. By the way, I was reading the FAQ on the site and it had this. Cei pronounced Kay. Well me being welsh and knowing a Cei. Assumed that Kay is pronounced as in Peter Kay I believe this to be wrong. (Not trying to be rude, more helpful). It's pronounced Cai if that helps. Well keep up the good work. Hope to buy some more American Civil War books soon, as I am really into that period of history. thanks alot for your time. matt davies

Submitted July 1, 2006

A

Pleased with the actors? Enormously pleased!! And I'm glad to know you enjoy the films. Thanks for your help with the pronounication.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, Congratulations on your OBE. I believe you throroughly deserve it. Just wanting to know if you will bring back Rifleman Turner from the 60th? I really liked the idea of having a patriotic American fighting for the British against the French, then caught in the turmoil of the War of 1812. I just thought that was superb storytelling! If you don't bring back Turner, I beg you to put another American (Kentucky!) in Sharpe's ranks. Thanks David DeForest

Submitted July 1, 2006

A

I think Turner will return! I had not forgotten him.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, Congratulations on the award of your OBE. I have just finished reading Lords of the North which I very much enjoyed. I think of the three books so far I enjoyed The Pale Horseman the most, mainly because the story and in particular because of your description of the battle of Ethandum. This leads me to my question. The character of Svein (which I note was made up) dons a horsetail plume on his helmet and has a white horse on a green field as his emblem. Was this borrowed from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings? I couldn't help noticing this attachment is the same as that worn by the Eomer character in this book (indicating a Marshall of Rohan) and the emblem is the badge of Rohan. I am now half way through the Winter King but I am eagerly awaiting the next in the Saxon series! Regards, Peter

Submitted July 1, 2006

A

Um, no. The white horse on a green field is a fairly common heraldic symbol, so while I won't deny that I might have been subconsciously influenced by Tolkein, it's more probable that we both used a common motif.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am currently reading The Pale Horseman. I was surprised to read the part where Alfred asks to be burnt on a pyre, sword in hand, as a pagan. Is there any truth in this, or is artistic licence on your part? I found this a great development! Tom Sharp

Submitted July 1, 2006

A

I don't even remember that! Wow. And I didn't write it that long ago. I must have made it up, because it certainly isn't historical. Perhaps I was drunk when I wrote it? Actually I wasn't, because I never drink and write, but I confess it's vanished completely from my mind.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell I'd like to compliment you on your books which I have read avidly but I am puzzeled by something at the end of "The Lords of the North". You have Uhtred cross the Wear at Houghall according to the book turns south from Durham but Houghall is upstream from Durham (though it is south of the city) and the river flows North from Durham. I have an unfair advantage in that I live in Sunderland work about 300 yds. from Duram cathedral and my family have had a caravan within sight of Bamburgh castle and the sights are something I've grown up with thanks again for the fantastic work. John

Submitted July 1, 2006

A

I know, it's terribly confusing, isn't it? I walked it all, but the upstream, downstream, south, north gets horribly loopy because of the Wear's course. I think I got it right, but I'll take your word if I didn't. Nice place to live!

Q

Bernard, I am working through your Sharpe series, currently reading Sharpe's Company, and think they are fantastic. I can't help wodering how you structured the entire timeline, writing books out of chronological order but keeping them back to back when read in the actual historical order of the battles? Thanks. Geraint Roberts

Submitted June 29, 2006

A

I didn't, and that's the problem! I should have worked the whole thing out from the very start - but back when I began writing (when the world was young) I thought there would only ever be ten books, so I began with Talavera (1809) and worked my way through to Waterloo. That was the wrong thing to do, because there are now 21 books, so I'm basically writing a second series on top of the first, and that's awkward and all my fault for not beginning at the beginning (1799) as I should have done way back when. It's all a bit of a muddle, to be honest, but Sharpe survives it.

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell! I'm an your Italian reader, I'm from Palermo, Sicily, I read all Arthur's book, the Grail Quest and I waiting for the next Saxon story... I'm so impressed with the realism with which you write and for the incredible characters that you've created... probably you're one of my favourites writers. I've also read your rules for the post, and I hope that what I'm going to write is inside of them. Do you know Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, the Albanian hero? Yes, I know. You're a Britain's storyteller, and probably you're the best, but have you ever thought to write about someone out of the U.K.? I'm real exited to imagine an answer where you tell me your opinion about this incredible and charismatic historical figure... because he is my favourite one! Hoping that you can understand my not good English, I send you this question... also hopingto hear you expert opinion about Skanderbeg. Goodbye, Antonio.

Submitted June 29, 2006

A

Dear Antonio. Your English is excellent. Much better than my knowledge of Skanderberg. And that's the problem - that I would have to do so much research and I'm not sure I have the time. It is a good idea, and I shall do some reading, but I have so many other ideas I want to write that I suspect Skanderberg would have to wait . . . . we shall see! But thank you for a good suggestion!

Q

A quick question; I don't want to waste your valuable writing time. What comes after the next Sharpe? Lee Menzies

Dear Bernard, I was fortunate to attend one of your Pale Horseman book signings fairly recently (Methevens,Canterbury). I am very pleased to see the 3rd instalment having just arrived. It is clear you have a great love for the Saxon Chronicles and that period of our history in general. I am sure people suggest various plot-lines constantly to you and so will not attempt to do so. I am curious as to whether you have any more Dark age/Saxon tales queing up to be told? If you keep writng, I'll keep buying them! Regards Matt

Mr. Cornwell, I was just wanting to know what new books that you were developing but hadn't started to write yet? Thanks David DeForest

What do you have planned for 2007??? Joshua Selig

Submitted June 29, 2006

A

First off - another story of Uhtred to follow The Lords of the North, then a one-off, not telling you what, but set in the middle ages.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I just wanted to drop you a note to say congratulations on receiving the Queen's Birthday Honor. What an incredible sense of achievement you must feel. I am a great fan of your work and consider myself a student of your writing philosophy. What you've written so far about the business of writing has been invaluable to me. I have been floating my first novel around to the literary agencies- but so far no takers. Hopefully, with a little spark of luck, that will change. I wanted to also ask you if you had some researching tips for a writer- I find myself hitting a wall lately- I fear I have been reading too much work by historical non-fiction writers who intrude their theories and points of view into the periods they write about. I would like to approach the matieral in a more organic way- how would you solve this problem? How much of your research matieral is taken from recently published books? I feel I need to go back further to get those unique details and historical quirks that make historical fiction so lively and interesting to read. R.Kulb

Submitted June 29, 2006

A

The only way I know how to do this is to start writing the book. You're a story-teller, so start telling a story. If, in your research, you're faced with conflicting theories about an event or period, then I fear you'll have to decide which you think is right, and the only way to do that, I suppose, is to read more (groan) or use your intuition as to which feels right. As a story-teller then the second approach (intuition) is probably a better guide. Recent publications? Some research comes from recent books, and I try to keep up to date, but I use lots and lots of very old books too, often they have details which more modern scholarship leaves out. The advantage of recent books is that the writers have probably weighed up all the conflicting theories and so might have done your work for you. But basically I suspect, from your question, that you've read too much! It's time to stop reading and start writing! Good luck!