Your Questions

Firstly I would like to thank you as the Sharpe books (it took me less than four months to read all 21 or so) were what got me interested in History, which I started at the begining of this year for GCSE. I am as Sharpe suggests very interested in the Napoleonic Wars, and I have begun to visit the battlesites them-selves in Spain and France that is, I was awestruck by many of them especially Almeida. So thanks. (Also I fear to say I have now been a member of the SAS for a year and half) I have two questions first, is the next Sharpe Book going to be the last?, and are there going to be any more books in the Starbuck Chronicles? thanks, Alex

Mr. Cornwell, I need to sart off by saying how much I completely love the Sharpes series. Some friends and I have been discussing Sharpes Tiger on a message board, hookton.com and we all thought it was fun to choose who WE thought would make the perfect cast for the story becoming a feature film. We are all very curious, if YOU were given the opportunity to cast Tiger who would you choose? Christine Wood

Dear Bernard In reply to your reply about not being sure about Albuera I had to write in because that Battle was the toughest and most bloodiest of the whole Peninsular war. And it ranks alongside battles like Malpaquet/Innkerman as one of the famous soldier victory's of the British army. And from a pyschological perspective it must have been one of the decsisive battles for the french in there defeat in Spain. After all from there perspective they had done everything right They were not fighting Wellington or being commanded by unimaginative or unlucky commanders like Jourdan or Victor. They were not attacking an impregnable position like Bussaco which everyone but Massena knew was going to fail but was on reasonbly flat ground (no reverse slope) Soult's flank attack was a brilliant move and really befuddled Beresford and Co. They were not using just a simple coloum but a mix of both Line and coloum to give extra firepower and there Artillery and Cavalry played huge support roles which caused great damage themselves. Yet inspite of all this and how close they did come to winning they still lost! That had to have had some effect on if they cant win when they do everything right how could they win when things are against them.How could Sharpe miss playing a role in that!! Yours sincerely Tony

wonderful! with Patrick O'Brian the best! Dick Sharpe's saga is really fantastic... at least the books I can read in Italian... when do you think the editors will translate in Italian all the books? and the Starbuck's chronicles: I'm very interested in civil war! and in saxon stories too.... best wishes! Lorenzo

Hi Mr. Cornwell. You've mentioned a couple of times that you might some day write a Sharpe story occurring immediately after Waterloo, leading up to France's surrender two weeks later. I really was not aware that anything worthy of your writing or our reading took place during that time. Without giving too much away, what all went on? Alan Kempner

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a keen reader of the Sharpe novels as well as pretty much every other series you have written. My name is Ross Jones and I am currently in my second year studying History in the University of Glamorgan, Wales. Due to your Sharpe books, I have gained a large interest in the Napoleonic Wars and am in the process of research for an Independent Study for my course that I am completing on popular portrayals of Napoleon Bonaparte,including both fictional, and academic views. I have included Balzac's Les Chouans and would, by your leave, include the Sharpe novels as examples, and case studies if you will. I was hoping that if you could spare me a few minutes of your time, you could possibly share with me the sources you used in your portrayal of Napoleon Bonaparte, and your characters' attitudes towards him. Thank you very much for your time, yours most sincerely, Ross Jones

Hi again Bernard I am compelled to write again in praise of your Arthurian trilogy. Armour of God is turning out to be even better than Winter King. I really like the way you have woven the 'Round Table' elements into the Brotherhood of Britain. Also, the tale of Tristan & Iseult was so intriguing and alas, so sad. Merlin's 'apparent' deterioration leads us to believe he has had it, but there's life in the old druid yet. The rift between Derfel & Arthur, and the tragedy of Dian have made compelling and heart-breaking reading. I have another question...there appears to be two places with the name 'Isca' - one in eastern Siluria (where Lancelot stays for a while), and another on the Exe in southern Dumnonia. Is this correct? Best Regards.........Darryl Potter

A couple of questions. 1. You've mentioned the promise Sharpe made about not going to America in 'Sharpe's Siege'. I looked and for it and can't seem to find it. What was the promise and who was it to?

2. You've written before about the characters dictating how their stories come out regardless of how you want them to be. Is there an event (like the death of a character, or story change)that shocked you the most? One that totally came out of left field? Thanks, Jonathan Mullins

Thank you very much for authoring all of the works you have had published to this point. Each has been immensely enjoyable. As the world's foremost writer of historical fiction, I'm hoping you have plans to write about the life and adventures of Owain Glyndwyr. I feel you are singularly qualified to do so. Brett P. Morrical USA

Dear sir, the question I would like to ask is what you think may have happened had the British joined the american civil war (for the cnf) but understand it would be impossible to write a long answer on this website ( though if you would take the time to email an answer to me I would be eternally thankful. But instead I shall try and refine it. 1) had the british joined (with a serious efort) do you think the cnf would have won? 2) do you think other Euro powers may also have joined? (after british) 3)do you think after a cnf/brit victory (if you think they would have won) America and Britiain would have become close allies and trading partners, perhaps stopping US isolationism after WWI, or making the Us join WWI earlier and perhaps preventing WWII ever breaking out or if you think history would have played out quite similarly (im sorry that question is getting near the original) and finally do you think the US would have become a very differnt place with southern ideas entering the north or do you think the cnfs would simply have ensured states always retained the right to decide over laws such as slavery?
Joe Boller