Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard, I am just writing in to ask on the release of Sharpe's Fury whether you will be doing any book tours in Chester at all ?? On another note while just finished reading Lords of the North and while it was enjoyable and reading your plans to continue the series it did make me a bit glum that Starbuck will again be left out in the cold. At the moment he seems like a calm lake since all the other series stones since they all seem to skim over him. Surely he deserves one more time in the sun at the very least! Anyway as I said before LotN was a good read and I look foward to Fury. Geraint P.S This is really cheeky but If you do write about Albuera and the famous charge of the Fusilier Brigade please/please could there be a chap called Geraint in the 23rd Welsch fusiliers that Sharpe could meet I would be eternally grateful!

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

Don't have a book tour schedule yet, but it will be posted to the Diary page as soon as we know.

Eternally grateful? I like the sound of that, but I'll have to try and remember if I ever do write about Albuera - I'll try!

Q

Hello Mr. Cornwell! I picked up 'The Last Kingdom' on a whim after reading a recommendation for 'The Pale Horseman' from George R. R. Martin (author of the 'Game of Thrones' series of books). I devoured the book and quickly bought Pale Horseman, and promptly devoured that one. While waiting for the third one (why is it released in England already but not in the US until Feb 2007??!??) I bought 'The Winter King' and and reading that now. I am enjoying it thus far, and I, unlike others it seems, have actually enjoyed the slower beginning. I have an obscure question though...the character Morfans, is he also known as Morvran? I'm familiar with a man/diety called Morvran who was so ugly, and fierce in battle, that his enemies thought him a demon. I believe he was Welsh/Celtic. Anyway, I'm happy to have found your work and look forward to reading more. Regards, Fletcher Cartwright Washington DC

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

If I remember rightly it's simply an alternative spelling - so yes.

Q

re Sharpe I've seen the Tv series, bought full set of cds and read Sharpe's skirmish, christmas,triumph,tiger, fortess,trafalgar and could not put them down until they were finished. Now my question is when and where did Sharpe get his promotion from the ranks. Was it in India as in the book saving Wellesley life or in cd version in france/spain? Would be grateful for your response. still will carry on reading the rest of great books please give us sharpe books. many thanks Norman now a Sharpe collector. Norman Scott

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

I take the view that the books are the Authorised Version of Sharpe's life (well, I would, wouldn't I?) so it's the book what got it right - the film-makers wanted to include the event, bit couldn't set it in India, so invented the sequence - which worked very well, but I still prefer the book.

Q

I don't mean to pry, but I was wondering if you were a Christian? (I understand if you don reply). You write about people who don't belive (Sharpe) and people like Uthred who hate the Christian religion. If you are then I have even more respect for you as an author, and if not I still love your books. I started your book "The Archer's Tale" or Harelquin as it should be called yesterday and I can't put it down, I have twenty pages left. Every time one of your books end I feel sad and when I got to Sharpe's Devil I felt a pang of dispare for a week. I'm sorry if this is too long, But I want to be a writer and I am always writting, but I can't ever think of names. I always reuse the name Charles, Alex, Sara, Amy and Ashlee. Do you have any other suggestions other than a phone book. and I was wondering if you had the same problem, I noticed you used the name Sandman in Gallow's Theif and Wildtrack. Thanks for 6 months of reading so far. Calder

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

I hope you won't be offended if I don't answer your first question.

I do recycle names I like - phone books are best for surnames, while a glance at the daily paper should throw up a dozen forenames. It's not something to worry about - you can happily write the story about Charles, Sara and Alex, then, when you decide to call them Justin, Philomena and Obadiah you simply use the Find and Replace on your word-processor to change them!

Q

Mr.Cornwell, Is there a chance that we will find out what happen to Sharpe in Normandy with his new family, new adventures, finding out what happen to his daugther with Teresa? Love the Saxon Stories cannot wait. Thank you, Rene

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

There is a chance, yes. But not for some time. The new Sharpe is set in 1811, so it'll be a few years before I get back to post-Waterloo, so there is a chance.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, If I am not mistaken, I have read every one of your books. I took profit of a sailing trip around Australia ( Which I strongly recommend) to start translating Sharpe's Waterloo into French.This book is in my opinion your most achieved work writingwise. I am about halfway through. Even with my poor writing skills , I feel that being translated professionally the book could provide a vision of the end of the Napoleon era that could be a useful counter weight to what Victor Hugo or Stendhal have written in their times. It could probably even stand as an independent novel. I was just wondering if you were interrested in informing Sharpe's recurrent ennemies for whom he obviously shows little liking, an english facet of this decisive battle. Merci de votre reponse, A Huurneman

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

Merci beaucoup! I'm flattered . . . I do know the first three Sharpe books have just been bought by a French publisher - I'm not sure which, because my agent is handling the details and hasn't sent me all the paperwork. Those, of course, are set in India, so might be more palatable to the French? But I shall pass your message on and see what happens.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell; At the risk of being redundant vs. other correspondents I do wish to tell you that I enjoy your Sharpe series immensely. As a student of military history I find the accurate detail very satisfying. Now the question: when will the Sharpe books not currently in MP3 become available for purchase in that format? Best Regards, Judah Lando

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

I don't know when exactly, but I do know there are plans to make more available (hopefully soon?).

Q

I just started "Redcoat" and just ran across a problem I'm hoping you can help me with. Page 84 is completely missing. How did Caroline get away from Woollard when he had her cornered at the warehouse? It jumps from him jerking his arm away from her to the Brittish parading through the street. Please help!
Tina Beshears

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

As far as I remember (don't have a copy to hand) she pretended to submit and, when he was off guard, slashed at him with a knife, he lost his balance and fell into the creek - it happened behind the warehouse, I think - not sure, but I remember a creek or ditch. Sorry about your missing page.

Q

Hi I have been reading your Saxon series of late (very good by the way), and became intriged by the story of Alfred and how he united England. However I saw on television not that long ago in answer to a question as to who was the first King of England, the contestant replied Alfred the Great. But that was given as incorrect and the host stated that Alfred was not the first King of England merely Wessex - do you subscribe to this view? Or was he really effectively King of England in all but name? James Wright

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

Alfred did call himself King of England, but he wasn't. By the time he died he ruled Wessex and, through his son-in-law, all of south-western Mercia. It was his grandson, King Athelstan, who completed the reconquest and so could be called, rightly, the first king of England.

Q

I think you Warlord series is wonderful, and after doing some research for a writing project of my own, and reading the Da Vinci Code I have some questions for you; Is Ceinwyn's Star a reference to the goddess venus? Is Defel and Ceinwyn's Daughter Seren a reference to the Holy Grail? Thanks, Dale Parker

Submitted June 14, 2006

A

No - the Holy Grail hadn't been invented then (it was made up by Chretien de Troyes in the 12th Century) Seren is just the Welsh for star.