Your Questions

Dear Bernard, I am writing in because after recently hearing that in the Maori wars in New Zealend that the famous British Bayonet met its match as a combat weapon and we were given a beating. 1)This interested me but I confess to be rather ignorant of the Maori wars and wondered if you knew any good factual books on them and whether you yourself have thought of doing a book on them???

2)On another note one of the major controversies of the Peninsular war was Beresfords conduct at Albuera which was due to the high casualty rate with Napier attacking him in particular.With your knowledge of the war why did Napier hate Beresford so much and was he right that the battle was won in spite of Beresford rather than because of him?? And will Sharpe be with the die-hards or the Fusilier brigade at that battle???

Anyway look foward to the next book btw I can recommend Richard Holmes book Sahib on the life of British soldiers in India as worth a read. All the best Tony

P.S you said about the 88th being the best regiment of the British during the Napoleonic wars but how about the 49th Nicknamed the Green Tigers the defeated not only coloums but Line attacks and faced down riflemen as well that's quite an achievement albiet in the war of 1812 not Spain.

Mr Cornwell, good afternoon. Having well tried to read your Sharpes book according to the list in your books I am puzzled. Sharpie having knocked off the Tippo in Sharpe's Tiger gain a few pennies via the jewels he borrowed, like wise in Sharpe's Triumph and Sharpe's Trafalgar Officer Sharpe is still affluent but reading Sharpe's Rifles poor old Sharpie would appear skint so I am puzzled as to what happened to his financial back.... Please please please do not say something happened in Sharpe's Prey because it's the only book I can not get my hands on..... I am a late starter reading the Sharpe's series and I will confess I never watched the tv series. It is only because I have rejoined a .. okay a Bonfire society of Lewes and I have chosen to wear a Green Jacket costume that I began to get hooked on to the books and videos, and glad that I did. If you are wondering about Bonfire check the web out under LEWEBonfire celebrations 5th November. Any way if you can help me over the question of poor skint Sharpie and also let me know if Sharpes Prey is in print I would appreciate it. You are a good writer and certainly can put a story together. Keep it going and very best and sincere good wishes to you. Richard

Dear Sir, My name is Jens Thomasen and I live in Denmark at the town Hobro. I have just started to read your book 'The Last Kingdom' and I'm much excited for the book. It's so interesting to read about my own country's history written by an English man! In July my wife and I will be in England for nearly two weeks. When we are in England I will go to a bookshop to find 'The Pale Horseman'. But what about the third book 'The Lords of the North'? Will that be in the bookshops in July 2006? For your information I can tell you, that near my town we have a great Viking castle (Fyrkat). With the castle the town had build up a Viking town. The town has open in the summer time and in December there is a Saturday where the Viking town has open for the old ceremony of Christmas 'winter solstice' ( vintersolhverv on Danish) They also have this website http://www.fyrkat.dk/. I look forward to read much more from you hand With kind regards Jens Thomasen

I am really curious what you thought of Sharpe's Challenge? I understand if that you don't want to ruin the story for everyone, but is it on par with the originals? Does Sean Bean pull it off? thanks for your time, James Trethowan

I have greatly enjoyed your books since day one. I purchased my first title back in 1985 when I picked up Sharpe's Sword. Since then, I along with many other readers, have traveled many a mile throughout history. In fact, I have learned even more History thanks to you and your work. Your writing and ability to describe characters and historcial events simply have no peer. I would like to know if you have any plans to do anything on the American Revolution? As we Yanks refer to the War of Rebellion in 1775-1783. I have read and re-read your title, Redcoat, and enjoy it tremendously. I would like to see you take "a shine" as we Yanks say to the period of the Rev. War. I know that many of your readers would enjoy the effort greatly! I long to see where Richard Sharpe marches next.If you have no plans to do so, I understand, but can you recommend anyone else who might have titles available on the period? I have read Kenneth Roberts work. Thanks again for taking the time to communicate with we readers and keep the pen wet!Much success and prosperity to you. Best of Everything, Terry Martin

Dear Bernard, I'm not sure if you have yet seen the new Sharpe film. Even if you have, can you explain what it's like for an author to face the prospect of his beloved characters, hither-to existing only in his imagination, appearing in glorious colour and sound. You have been through this before obviously, with the previous Sharpe films. It must be exciting, but surely an excitment tinged with uncertainty and nervous expectation? I do envy you. What a triumph to see one's own imagination being presented in flesh and action and music. A well-earned reward for your hard work and countless hours of application. I know I will be glued to ITV those two nights, and God knows I won't be the only one doing so. Are you excited? Paul Reid, Cork.

Hello, I've just read on the amazon UK site that there was a new Sharpe novel to be published. It'd be the 21st Sharpe novel, its title being "Sharpe's Fury". Yet I can't see it anywhere on your site and the S.A.S makes no mentiion of it. Could you tell me more about it? I can say that I am not the only one to be looking forward to reading Sharpe's new adventures. So any luck for us this year? Yours ever, Brigitte

Dear sir, I love your Sharpe novels, and have also been offered sponsorship to the green jackets, to be amalganated as the rifles regiment, Sharpe was one of my influences behind looking for that commission, so thank you for that. I am curious to know if there will be any more Sharpe novels in the near future at all, I dearly hope so, I'm in despair that I have no more new Sharpe adventures to read, yours gratefully Alex Cape

Dear Bernard, Now and then you give reviews of certain books in the Sunday Newspapers and it must be said they are nearly always worth listening to to get a book (Your Juliet Barker/Agincourt was spot on) I was just curious as to whether you will be writing anymore reviews in the future especially in regards to US civil war books to read??? ...Geraint

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

Serendipity brought me The Heretic. Among other good things, it was great to read an author using wide-ranging vocabulary. Thank you. While reading the book, I had the thought that you may contribute to the Prince Valient strip series. Do you? Doreen Michele