Your Questions

Hello Mr. Cornwell! You mentioned recently that you have a story for a post-Waterloo book - any chance that Sharpey will fall from grace, wind up being sent to Australia and end his days founding the great Australian spirit? I've always thought Sharpe reminds me of the Australian grit and determination in all things. One last question, what is your pick for the Ashes series later this year? Keep up the great work mate! Luke

Hi Mr. Cornwell, As you can tell from my name, I'm a French speaking person. However, I must be redeemed somehow since I married a lassie from Edinburgh :). I must say I really love your books which I discovered a few years ago when I bought Sharpe's Tiger. Since then, I have read all of the Sharpe's book and enjoyed them tremendously. I must say, I have a good laugh at your description of the French characters. I wonder if you spent too much time in Paris at one point? At the moment, I'm reading "A Crowning Mercy" and a couple of questions I would like to ask you: first, is Faithful Unto Death Hervey a pun intended at Allan Malinson's Hervey? Secondly, Do you plan to write more novels about the Lazender family? Thank you very much. Denis

hello Mr Cornwell! Many thanks again for replying to my letters. Just a quick one? in Sharpe's Fortress you mention that Captain Torrance has an uncle Henry? is it Sir Henry Simmerson? & I loved it when Sharpe finally gets his own back! love the series & keep up the good work! Gary Beadle

Hi Mr Cornwell, I have just discovered your books and simply cannot put one down until finished. I have just read The Last kingdom and The Pale Horseman, however was disappointed to find the first chapter of The Lords of the North at the back of the book encouraging me to go out and buy the hardback. Is this a capatalist move? Hardbacks are more expensive than paperback (I assume the paperback will not be out for a while)?

Also I have a query, Is the plot more important than the time in which the historical novel is written? In-terms of the characters do you think about them first and then come up with the time and place? PS: will let you off the hardback issue. Amanda Pursglove

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

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

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

Mr. Cornwell, I have studied the US Civil War extensively and thoroughly enjoy historical fiction and have enjoyed the Starbuck Chronicles. Will there ever be another one in the series that takes us through Appomattox? Jim

I am brazilian, and my english is weak, but I would like to say that I read all your books that were published in Brazil. Unfortunately, there are many books to be published yet. Now, I am reading Sharpe's rifles ( in Brazil,"Os fuzileiros de Sharpe". Is it possible for you hurry the publication of the other books in Brazil ? Thank you Carlos

Dear Bernard, Recently just watched Waterloo (with Christopher Plummer as Wellington) again for the first time, in a long while and have a question about it, I hope you can help with. It's the bit where the British or allied troops are lined up just before the battle starts ,drinking their gin (and no doubt crapping themselves!) and start singing a couple of songs that go a bit like this:- One goes, "Who's the fella with the hooky nose...our (something) ... who's the fella who etc etc. and the other one goes, "Boney fought the prooshians aye, aye, aye." It's a great bit of the film that puts you in soldiers boots so to speak, but the question is do you know if these are authentic songs (that were sung at this or other battles), and if so how they go exactly? Hope you can help. Thanks, Paul.