Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I came across your Sharpe books quite by accident, but read on the cover about your early influence from the Hornblower series. That series I had read from beginning to end, mainly because my son and I had tired of watching the Hornblower DVDs by A&E over and over and I needed more. I instantly became engrossed in the Sharpe series and, of course when I found out that movies had been made went out and purchased one- Sharpe's Rifles. But I must say it was a very disappointing production. My wife and I (who I turned onto the Sharpe series and enjoys it as well) found the movie hard to follow, acting was mediocre and there was very little character development. Are you pleased with these productions? Did we pick a bad one to start with and are the others better done? I am sure you have watched the A&E Hornblower series and can relate to the comparison. At this point I am looking forward to continue reading Sharpe, but would not recommend the movies. I'd be interested in your thoughts on the Sharpe productions. Sincerely, Dane Roberts

Submitted June 22, 2006

A

Sorry to hear you were disappointed. I'm very happy with the way the actors portrayed the characters, especially Sean's portrayal of Sharpe.

Q

I'm a 13 year old kid who doesn't read a lot. That all changes with your books. I see it, I read it, I can't stop. I read the Pale Horsemen with glee. I love the Arthur series and the grail quest. Truly magical. I have one question - were any of your characters made up in the Arthur series? You inspire me sir, I daresay you get that a lot but your books take reality away and I imagine I am Uhtred and Thomas. People make fun of me at school because I can't put your books down but I'm not bothered as long as I am reading true masterpieces. I love the way you pull off short and long sentences and describe the enemy as fearsoome, making me sweat. Your work is the Dickens of the 21st century. Andy

Submitted June 22, 2006

A

Thanks for your message Andy! Characters made up in the Arthur books? Lots of them! You can more or less tell which ones - if they don't have famous names (Lancelot, etc) or if they're not mentioned in the Historical Note then it's a pretty sure bet that I invented them. But I wrote the series too long ago to remember any specifics now.

Q

What ever happened to Nathaniel Starbuck? I'm eagerly awaiting the new Sharpe book. hope we can see you at the cape. thanks, Kay Johnson

Submitted June 22, 2006

A

Starbuck's still on vacation.

Q

Dear Sir, I am a new fan and have really enjoyed the Saxon books and look forward to the next one. After just finishing both Last Kingdom and Pale Horsemen, I don't want to wait until the US version of The Lords of the North comes out when I can just order it from the UK. Outside of jacket covers, are there any real differences between the version launched in the US and the one currently available in the UK? Also, I can't wait to read some of the other series and saw where the Arthur books were your favorite. Should I start there? Where do you recommend I start next? Thanks in advance for taking the time to read comments and questions from your readers. Mike Corbett

Submitted June 22, 2006

A

No difference between the US and UK versions.

Start with The Winter King.

Q

dear Mr. Cornwell, do you have any more images for the gallery? p.s. I love your books my favorite are the grail quest books (even though I haven't read Heretic yet) Sharpe's Tiger, Regiment and Enemy p.p.s which one of your books would you recommend for a high school girl to read next? thank you very much for your time. Kathrine

Submitted June 22, 2006

A

More pictures for the gallery? I've thought of it, but there are plenty of pictures already available in books such as Julian Paget's Wellington's Peninsular Wars and Ian Fletcher's Fields of Fire - two good sources available at libraries. Osprey's book on Bussaco has wonderful pictures of the ridge before it was covered in trees. The Lines of Torres Vedras are more difficult - they've been allowed to vanish under the plough, or erosion, but there are plenty of pics of the Fort of San Vincente which was one of the showpiece bastions. Pictures of the Indian battlefields are much scarcer, which is why we show them.

Perhaps you'd like to read The Last Kingdom next.

Q

WHEN IS THE NEW SHARPES BOOK COMING OUT ON BOOKS ON TAPE? THX DAV

Submitted June 20, 2006

A

An audio CD of Sharpe's Fury put out by HarperAudio will be available on September 6th. I don't know what Books on Tape has planned?

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I just started on the Starbuck Chronicles, and ,like all your books, love them. Being from Kentucky, I was wondering if you had heard of the Civil War outlaw Champ Ferguson, and was wondering if he might appear in the later Starbuck adventures? Also, I know it is cheap, but was wondering if you might use my last name for a character in one of your books? Thanks for the great stories and characters, I can't wait for your next installments. David DeForest

Submitted June 19, 2006

A

DeForest? A good name - it will go on the list! I'm afraid it's quite a long list, but you're already on it. I fear I am very ignorant of Champ Ferguson, but I shall repair that ignorance very soon. Thanks.

Q

Starting The Pale Horseman, I saw your dedication to George MacDonald Fraser, whom I too admire greatly. Three of his McAuslan books were never published in the U.S. I bought copies on a U.K. trip. If you are not familiar with them, I'd be glad to lend you copies. In U.K. as you are, I imagine you may be familiar with them. They are totally unknown here despite Fraser's popularity. Like to borrow? Just let me know. Jerome Gillman

Submitted June 19, 2006

A

It's extraordinarily kind of you - luckily I have all three McAuslan books, and for those of you who haven't had the fun of reading them, McAuslan was 'the dirtiest soldier in the world'. George MacDonald Fraser told me that McAuslan was based on a real character who he commanded after the war. I've always thought the stories would make an absolutely terrific TV series.

Q

I must say I am a big fan of yours, your research is thorough and I love learning the general details of a period while being entertained. I was curious about something, and please understand that I am not a writer so if this is an obvious question/answer then please excuse me, why is it that your main characters (Thomas, Derfel, Uhtred) all have such weakness in them? Is it something you think the character should have to make them more real/human? You will find it quite amusing to know that I got so angry at Uhtred last night reading The Pale Horseman that I threw the book into the Thames...now I have to order another one. What made me angry was when Uhtred, having just saved Alfred's life on a march swears allegiance for nothing. Hopefully I get a chance to hear from you, which I would love. Many kind regards George

Submitted June 19, 2006

A

They're not super-heroes! Though come to think of it even Superman is a mouse when faced with Kryptonite. And the oath Uhtred gives in The Pale Horseman is very conditional - but remember (and this is my fault for not making it clear) theirs was a society bound together by oaths - Alfred would insist on an oath, as would any other monarch or lord at that time. Whatever, I'm delighted it irritated you enough to chuck it away and then replace it. Do it more often! Keep buying!

Q

hello. I have been a avid fan of your work for many years, and you have given me many, many hours of reading pleasure. I have a question about your main characters in your books. They all seem to share a common characteristic, in that they are all people who stick out like a sore thumb in their surrounding, for want of a better expression. Sharpe is a officer who has jumped up from the ranks, and doesn't belong in that sense, Derfel is a Saxon but is brought up to be a Briton, Uhtred is similarly a Saxon who is more at ease with the Danes, and Starbuck is a northerner, fightin for the south. Do you purposely put your characters in this situation to add to the story, or is it a sub-conscious detail that has crept into your work? I know some authors draw on their own experiences, when writing characters, and with some just for the purpose of making a more interesting character.thanks. Richard Jones

Submitted June 19, 2006

A

I'm sure it's sub-conscious, though I do have a conviction that heroes as outsiders make for more interesting characters (though I can't say I've invested a huge amount of thought in that). Rider Sandman of Gallows Thief is fairly normal? But you're right, most of them are square pegs in round holes. There's probably a psychological explanation involving my childhood, but as I try very hard not to remember that period of my life, I'm not going to look for that explanation!