Your Questions

First of all I would like to add my congratulations on your OBE. It's nice to see them awarded to people who genuinely deseve them and not just sports personalities who haven't even won anything! I've just come back from a trip so i finally have the time to read Lords of the north. So far so good. I recently re-read the warlord chronicles, I still really love it but it's frustrating because so much stuff goes wrong in the story. My question is, despite the massive historical drawbacks were you at all tempted to change a few things, and make the outcome a bit happier? The characters didn't deserve what they got, and you know it! again, congrats. James Trethowan

Hello Mr Cornwell I have been an avid reader of your works for some time, but have read all your works (as I do 90% of my reading) on audio book. I noticed quite a few other questions posted around the subject of narrator, and I think that you mentioned that you have no control over which narrator a publisher uses. But as the narrator makes such a difference to the final experience of the book I have a more particular question about it. I have listened to almost all you books on the Chivers version narrated by William Gamanara, who I think is fabulous and has always been, for me, the voice tone and style of not just Sharpe, but of the whole book, series, and genera. I have heard some other versions narrated by Fredrick Davidson, an excellent reader, but some how all wrong. All the other postings on the your site seem to mention a Tim Piggot-Smith who I have not heard and your most recent Sharpe books (Havoc, Trafalgar, Prey, Escape etc) I have heard narrated by Patrick Tull. Patrick Tull is an amazing performer and I love the job he did on the Patrick O'Brian books, however, again he seemed all wrong for Sharpe. With his performance, Sharpe seemed too take on a much older wiser introspective and brooding air, loosing the youthful temper, dynamic dash and headstrong impulsiveness of the Sharpe of the William Gamanara readings. But it was not until I noticed this that it occurred to me that maybe the Sharpe that I was used to might not really be the Sharpe you intended. Have you listened to the various performances of your works by different narrators? (or is that the last thing you feel like doing after writing a book?). If you have, is there a narrator who you prefer or seems to you to best reflect what you had in mind when you wrote the books? Which interpretation of your characters seems to fit best to you? Or do they all seem wrong? Thanks. -Brent

Dear Bernard, Just writing in to give my congratulations to you on winning the OBE. Speaking personally your books got me more interested in historical subjects. Since at School all they teach is Roman/WW1 and WW2 and a smidgen on the Cold war and that's it. On another note in the news recently there was the story of the return to America for auction of 4 US battle flags captured by the British during the American Revolution and all were captured by Tarleton. What with the film the Patriot he has had a bit of bad rap lately (History is written either by the victors or Mel Gibson) and was he really like that or is a lot a bit of propoganda and was he just really a bit of Sharpe charachter instead? I wondered if you have considered ever writing about him and his battles or failing that if you know of any good books on him? Anyway congrats again on the award. Geraint

HI! I've just finished Stonehenge and am amazed by the book. Just one question though, are the names of the gods real? Did some people actually called Lahana to the moon, and Slaol to the sun, and rannos to the lightning god? Thank you very very much. Sincerely, Miguel (from Portugal)

First of all, thank you for being such a prolific writer! I have just found you and your books. I have been a big fan of the Sharpe series through BBC America for quite a while, but didn't exactly realize their source until I did some research and found your site. I am a huge historical novel fan, and now have plenty of reading material! I was wondering if Sean Bean as Captain Sharpe resembles at all the Sharpe of your imagination? To me he is a perfect fit, but I am a Sean Bean fan so I might be a bit biased. I can't wait to read all your other works! Very Warmest Regards, Julia Rogers

Hello! I'm 18 and was introduced to Sharpe way back when I was 10 and went through a period of napoleonic obsession!! I have read the series 3 times and am now reading the Starbuck series for the second time!! Brilliant stuff, I think your characters are brilliant! Anyway I was just wondering if maybe you were going to follow up on the story of Patrick Lassan who I am assuming is Sharpe's son. It offers so many opportunities for another great adventure story and it would carry on the Sharpe legacy!!Keep up the good work, I can't get enough of your awkwardly heroic and inspiring characters. Tom

Hi Bernard I was just wondering if maybe Uhtred is perhaps an ancestor of Sharpe's....???! And congratulations on your OBE, I speak for everyone when I say it's well deserved. But do you think Sharpe would've accepted such an honour?! I like to think that he wouldn't want to, but Lucille would make him go, and that he would be wearing he's rifleman's jacket and sword. Dan

I am not a great reader, In fact I am 28 and have probably read less that 10 books outside of education. I picked up the Winter King in Belfast International airport and was hooked. I loved the story and I am reading it for the second time. I am looking forward to reading another series by Mr Cornwell. What I would love to know Is there any chance of the Arthur books becoming a film? It was would make a great film. I was so disappointed when the film of Arthur came out recently. It was so poor in comparison. Bring on the film trilogy! Scott

I would just like to know when Lords Of The North Country is suppose to be available in Canada? I thought books in Canada were suppose to be available on the same date as in the UK but, none of my local book stores have the new novel in. Thanks, Jeff Rogers

I must start by saying how much I enjoy your books, I have only recently started to read the Sharpe books, but I have been side tracked by your Saxon stories, as it's a real passion of mine it has captured my imagination completely. I myself have heard that I can trace my bloodline back to those tumultuous times through my mother's and father's Saxon side and from the Norwegian and Danish side of both my parents yet again, so I am as I would class myself 'half Anglo Saxon and half Danish/Norse'. My father is from Scotland and is from the McDougall clan, who are originally descended from Norwegian Royal blood, and my mother is from Brighton and her Scottish side are from the Campbell clan as well as a few others clans I can't remember off the top of my head and apparently can trace their origin back to some of the first Danes who came over in the Viking raids. But both their sides of Anglo Saxon can be traced, one from the north of England from around Northumbria and the second from around Mercia/Wessex. How they can trace that far back I am not exactly sure so one day soon I shall find out . Anyway back on topic, I have been captivated by these books and my imagination has gone wild, I know you based Uhtred of Babbanburg on an ancestor of your own and that got me thinking that some of the people you mentioned in your books people like Ubba Lothbrokson and Ivarr the bonless and some of the Anglo Saxon characters in your books who actually existed, could in theory be an ancestor of my own. And because of your Saxon books I am actively searching for more information on my own family history hoping to find some detailed information, hopefully I can but if I can't myself I will go to a family history specialist. May I ask how you found your family history? And how much were you able to actually find out about your ancestors? Oh and one last thing, have you started to write the fourth book in the series? If so how far have you got, no pressure! Hehe. I hope this email gets to you, I am very much looking forward to your reply. Ben Pilley