Your Questions

Q

You have been saying for ten years that Nate Starbuck will be back. With so many of the major battles about to occur in his near future must us loyal fans wait much longer? Please, pretty please, more Starbuck. Also, the tv show did so well for Sharpe, could there not be some screen time for Nate? Phillip Knowles

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am an avid fan of your writings, and my favourite is the Starbuck chronicles, and I am wondering what happeened to Starbuck after Antietam and The Bloody Ground? I thought there would be some follow ups from these novels. Yours faithfully , Tony Denman

Submitted May 1, 2006

A

I do hope to get back to Starbuck one of these days.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I first picked up a sharpe book over 16 years ago and I have read all of them, expect for the new ones that fill the gap. I must say I really identified with the character of Sharpe. In short he was an inspiration to me. I achieved a lot in my life, leaving school, with no qualifications, then going back to studying again to gain a Masters Degree. I am not saying Sharpe did this completely, as there were other factors invovled, but your novel certainly gave me hope, a goal, encouragement and wonder at a man who came from nothing, yet achieved everything through sheer talent, good luck and meeting the right people. This is what happened to me and I thank you for producing such wonderful stories. I must ask two questions, if I may, is there going to be more Sharpe novels set after 1815- 1817 (just watched Sharpe's Challenge great stuff)? Will we see Sean Bean acting the part again in other films based on your books? I think Sean did the part really well and I hope to see him in more films. I was particualary impressed with him coming back to the role after all his hollywood movies he has done. well thanks once more Best Wishes Darren

Submitted April 29, 2006

A

I don't envisage writing any more Sharpes after Waterloo - but I've learned never to say never.

If they do film another Sharpe book, I hope Sean will play the part!

Q

Hi there I just wanted to say I'm a huge fan only 17 have watched all the Sharpe's and now plan to read them not really a question just a compliment on managing to capture the Napoleonic times so well and making it so enjoyable... and also are you still continuing books or are you thinking of putting the lid on the pen? Gareth

Submitted April 29, 2006

A

No 'lid on the pen' just yet! There will be two new books this year - the third book of the Saxon stories, The Lords of the North, and a new Sharpe book, Sharpe's Fury.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, as an ex serving soldier, I have an observation. It seems to me that apart from the obvious advances in military equipment, the general relationship between Commisioned British Officer and the NCO/Warrant Officer of today doesn't seem to have altered a lot, resulting in an Army strikingly similar to that which Sharpe served in. Did you do any research on today's army to use in the relationships that take place in your books, Simmerson comes to mind? The resemblance to some officers that I had the "pleasure" of putting up with is remarkable! or was it a conglomeration of several different people, as surely no one commisioned officer could be that terribly incompetent. Seriously though, I would be very interested to know why, apart from the great man himself (Nosey), how the recurring theme of incompetent officers came about. Surely apart from their ability to purchase their commisions they were educated men as they are today? (Apparently) The Sharpe books are fantastic by the way, and go some way to making me feel avenged by my twelve years (apart from four years spent at Bovington Camp in Dorset as DRAC's driver) of mental flogging inflicted by the commisioned nitwits of today. I am chuffed to hear that you are going to be writing a new Sharpe adventure. Will you also be novelising Sharpe's Challenge? Thanks for your time in reading my tongue in cheek comments, no offence anyone who knows me, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! Richard Anstis

Submitted April 29, 2006

A

I didn't base any of the Sharpe books on today's army! I suspect that humankind doesn't change much, and the incidence of fools is probably the same today as it was yesterday, though I fervently hope that the sheer incompetence of some Napoleonic period officers isn't being repeated! I'm thinking, particularly, of Lt Col Peacock who ran away at Tlavera at the first shot (Simmerson is based on him) and of General Erskine who was almost blind and mostly mad (he was an MP as well, but does that surprise us?) When Wellington heard that Erskine was being sent to him, he complained, and received the famous letter from the Horse Guards which said 'No doubt he is sometimes a little mad, but in his lucid intervals he is an uncommonly clever fellow, and I trust he will have no fit during the campaign, though he looked a little wild as he embarked.' Wellington got rid of him, as he mostly got rid of other utter incompetents. There were, to be fair, some terrific officers. Rifleman Harris believed his battalion's officers were 'the best in the world', and in the new book (coming this autumn), LSharpe's Fury. there's a portrait of Gen Sir Thomas Graham, who is a paragon. I suspect that most officers at the sharp end were OK, and still are - I've just finished Richard Holmes's book, Dusty Warriors, about the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment in Iraq, and the officers (and the men) come out very well - though of course the book is almost wholly about men in action and doesn't much deal with the REMF's!

Q

hi, do you have an omnibus edtiion of the Sharpe books?
Ianrip

Submitted April 29, 2006

A

No, the books are not currently available in an omnibus edition.

Q

I understand your shared a stage with Geogre Macdonald Fraiser. do you think (bit of a long shot) that you and he could one day have Sharpe and Flashman meeting?
Dean

Submitted April 28, 2006

A

I really doubt it! Nice idea, but the copyright problems would be hell.

Q

Dear Bernard, I have read the majority of the Sharpe Series and watched the film adaptations, including the recent Sharpe's Challenge which was thoroughly enjoyable (as are all the stories). I just wondered if you have further plans to write another television episode? All the best. Rick.

Submitted April 28, 2006

A

I didn't write it! It was written by a screenwriter by the name of Russell Lewis.

Q

ho sir will there be anymore tv episodes of Sharpe? Sam

Submitted April 28, 2006

A

Don't know - but I hope so!

Q

Bernard, I have been an avid fan of your books for some time now. It all started with the Arthur series, and has continued unabated. I live in South East Essex, having resided in Southend and more recently, Ashingdon for the past few years. Am I right in thinking that you also were initially 'raised' in this locality? If so, what impact did your upbringing/local enviroment have on your subsequent novels? Do you ever get the chance to return to Essex or are your ties here broken now? Kind regards, Malcolm

Submitted April 28, 2006

A

I was indeed raised ('raised' is better) near Southend - at 76 Kiln Road, Thundersley to be precise (the house is long gone). I'm not sure what influence the area had - it features quite largely in one of the Arthur books, and I suspect that Uhtred will have to campaign at Benfleet (big Viking area), and certainly I became interested in the area's history when I was a child. I haven't been back since a funeral almost ten years ago . . . everything has changed so much and I don't have any remaining ties, alas.

Q

Do you plan to continue writing Sharpe books into the foreseeable future? Thank you. Kieran

Submitted April 28, 2006

A

Yes.