Your Questions

Q

Mr Cornwell, First of all, thank you for providing me with many hours of high quality reading. The title 'Storyteller' is truly the definitive description of you as a writer. In fact your work (and your advice on your site) along with some other really fine authors, have inspired me to embark on an ambitious yet exiting project which I have considered for some ten years- writing a book. I believe my entusiasm and my research to date is sufficient for a first attempt, although I do have a question that needs to be answered prior to commencing. How much world history, buildings (even supposedly existing ones) can I make up without going too far? E.g. if I wanted to create a secret society that have existed for 300 years for the story, should I use the name of an existing society, or can I simply make one up? Or, if in the story I wanted to place this society's sign on real buildings (where in reality those signs do not exist). Will making all this up take away some of the mystery for the reader? Although I do not care for his style of writing, I note that part of Dan Brown's success is using 'real' buildings, names existing societies and organisations, etc. Your view on this will be greatly appreciated and will be taken into serious consideration prior to proceeding with more research. Respectfully, Patrik B Nilsson

Submitted May 22, 2006

A

I'm not sure I know the answer to that one! If in doubt, my advice would be to make it up! Of course you can use real buildings, and real organisations, and the example of The Da Vinci Code shows that you can get away with an extraordinary amount of invention . . . but if, say, you feature the Illuminati, a secret society, then I think you should do all the research on them . . . . but again, The Da Vinci Code shows that ignorance is blissfully profitable! So in the end I think it's up to your instincts - this has not been a helpful answer, and I apologise.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have read and enjoyed all of your wonderful Sharpe books and was very happy to see a new adventure out this october. But I was reading the synopsis on Amazon.co.uk and I was a bit puzzled, is says and I quote ""Sharpe's Fury" is based on the real events of the winter of 1811 that led to the extraordinary victory of Barossa, the battle which saw the British capture the first French eagle of the Napoleonic Wars." but the book is set after Sharpe's Eagle, is it just a misquote? Kind Regards Alec

Submitted May 22, 2006

A

No, it isn't a misquote - Barrosa was a real event, and Sharpe's Eagle is fiction! I sort of stole the episode for my first Sharpe novel, and in the new one I make reparations to the Irish regiment that really did capture the first eagle (and it's a most astonishing battle!)

Q

Hi Bernard, Recently you have repeatedly hinted at another Starbuck adventure... ideas for another Starbuck... Something by now you must realise I am obsessed with reading. However, on reading your site tonight, you describe brief plans for your next 3-4 books after Sharpes's Fury, and to my sad distress, :( Starbuck is not mentioned in it. At 2 to 3 books per year, that means I'll be waiting at least another 2 years, if not forever for Starbuck to "march again" Would it simply be better for me to just give up on this hope forever? Yours Faithfully Hoping Nate Will Awaken, Michael Campbell

Submitted May 22, 2006

A

Never give up hope.

Q

Dear Bernard, In regards to your going back and filling in the gaps of the Sharpe novels will there be more novels of the fighting in Southern France will Sharpe be at the battle of St-Pierre on the Nive which was a near run thing in which Hill more than made up for his own defeat by Drouet while Wellington was beating Soult at Souaren?

Also will you ever go back again and write about Rolica and Vimero you kind of left them out and the fascinating convention of Cintra?

And finally in the past you have mentioned writing a novel on the American Revolution will that be next after the Sharpe novel or in 2007 at all??? And being as you live in the US Masuechettus have you ever considered writing about the battles of Lexington/Bunker Hill/Siege of Boston from the British perspective??? All the best in regards to success to the Last Kingdom regards, Tony

btw I do not know if you have read it or not but Justin Marozzi's book on Tammerlane is worth a read.

Submitted May 22, 2006

A

I'm fairly cerrtain there are two or three novels to be had out of that period, so yes!

Not sure.

I've not thought much about it, mainly because I'm still planning and researching another revolutionary story - once that's done then perhaps I'll think more on it.

I haven't read it, but I will. Thank you!

Q

Hi, I just wanted to say thank-you for writing the Sharpe series. I've never enjoyed a series of books more and never have I finished a series more quickly. I think it was about two weeks from the time I started "Tiger" to the time I finished "Devil." I have to say that "Devil" is my favourite of the bunch. Cochrane's rant against the priest in the church of the smaller Chilean town (sorry, I forget the name of it now) had me in stitches on the floor. It is hard to pick a favourite though, they are all excellent. I'm going to go to the library or bookstore this week and try and lay my hands on the Arthurian series of yours as well. I was also wondering where you get your hands on all of the fascinating books you use for research and often mention in your "Historical Note" section of the Sharpe novels. Many of these sound very interesting and hard to find. Well, thank you again for your time and I hope to hear from you soon, Alex MacPherson Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Submitted May 17, 2006

A

Some are hard to find, which makes Abebooks.com so hugely useful. It has a database of second-hand book dealers world wide, and they've never failed me yet - I've found editions in the US, Australia and the Uk - all on the one website (and no, I don't have shares in them).

Q

Dear Bernard, just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed the Sharpe books recently and I'm chuffed to see a new one on the way. Just curious but Wellington is a bit of a hero of mine and I was wondering if you had any plans to write anything about his time as PM? I know this isn't really Sharpe and Harper territory but still an interesting point in history with Catholic emancipation and the Mexican-Spanish war etc. Maybe the passage of time could give birth to the title "Sharpe's Tired"? Anyway, congratulations on well deserved success and keep the books coming. God bless, Paul.

Submitted May 17, 2006

A

The books will keep coming! Wellington as Prime Minister? I've thought on it, but it's probably a long way off. Thank you.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, First of all let me say how wonderful your books are and that I'm huge fan, especially of the the Warlord Trilogy. I'm very curious to know do your fans ever send you gifts? I know some authors receive items in the mail from fans relating to their books such as drawings made of characters, objects created based on descriptions in passages, or songs and poems written about certain stories. For example, I'm very curious to know has a fan ever sent you a drawing of what he or she thought Sharpe looked like or made a sword for you resembling Derfel's? If you have received such gifts from fans, what has been the most unique or unusual one ever sent to you. Keep writing your fantastic novels. Ellen

Submitted May 17, 2006

A

I do receive a few. I've a very handsome doll (a rifleman!), I get pictures, and someone went madly over the top and made me a falchion (it's a brutal thing, ideal for clearing undergrowth). I am, of course, very touched and grateful, but really don't encourage it! Probably the unique gift was an East India Company issue bayonet from the Napoleonic period, which, with the falchion, I treasure. But I really don't need any more gifts!

Q

Mr. Cornwell, First of all I wish to thank you for the brilliant stories you write for us readers. Now my question is; which character in all of your books resembles you most? It would be very interesting to know! And I also wish to ask you if you're going to write a novel about the Great Siege of Malta 1565. Thanks a lot. Luca

Submitted May 17, 2006

A

Obadiah Hakeswill. A picture drawn from life. A noble, long-suffering and admirable man!

It's on the list. The list is horribly long. If I live long enough, yes, if not, no.

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell. In Sharpe's Trafalgar, he is still an ensign. Then in the next book, Sharpe's Prey, he's a lieutenant, and it's a real rank, not brevet. How did this happen? There was no war between the two books. Did he perhaps buy the rank using some of his money from the Tipoo's Sultan's gems? Alan Kempner

Submitted May 17, 2006

A

No - it's simply that the Rifles didn't recognise the rank of Ensign (because they didn't carry a flag into battle). so ensigns were called lieutenant.

Q

Dear Bernard Will you be doing a UK book tour for the launch of the new Sharpe book in October? Best Wishes, Sarah

Submitted May 17, 2006

A

No, almost certainly not - I think I'm in danger of doing too many UK tours! I will be in Britain next week for Lords of the North and thought it over-egging the pudding to come back for Sharpe in October . . . maybe next year?