Your Questions

After 60 years of reading I found Sharpy! I now have my six adult children their partners and children as confirmed fans of yours.I particularly like the historical settings of the novels.I got the DVD's from e-bay.To read that you have added to the series and that there will be other movies is grand news indeed.But I live in Queensland Australia so when will the movies be on TV here? Thanks for all the wonderful hours of reading! Jan Denman

We (my husband and I) are fascinated by the amount of research that must go into your books. Do you hire researchers? Do you do all the research yourself? Your memory must be incredible. Thanks so much--we learn LOTS of history from your books. Deborah Lincoln

Good day to you Sir, Just wanted to say Thank you for many years of enjoyable reading and for countless hours on the internet researching background info to your books(I like to know what´s going on around the characters,most of all Richard Sharpe(I am also a member of the S.A.S)).I have just noticed in the online shop Amazon that they have a new Sharpe book for pre-ordering "Sharpe´s Fury" but I see no mention of this book on your website.I would be grateful for an answer to this puzzler. Thank very much, yours,a constant reader. Anthony Morgan Lambert

Mr Cornwell , thank you for the hours of pleasure that I have taken from the reading of your books. I have two questions. Firstly,I note from the website biography that you currently reside in the US. How popular are your books stateside and is one particular series more popular tan others. Secondly, Why haven't any of your books been given the "Hollywood Blockbuster" treatment? I was a keen viewer of the Sharp TV series but feel that the subject matter of any of your books would make a seamless transfer to the big screen. Mark Pennington

Dear Mr Cornwell, I was flicking through a TV listings magazine yesterday when I saw a picture of Sharpe standing with his rifle in front of 2 elephants that had 2 turbaned riders. The caption stated that the shot was from the forthcoming new series of Sharpe to be aired on ITV2. I swiftly grabbed the phone to tell my brother the great news, and was smiling right up until the moment he asked me the air date, as I realised I had no idea and that he magazine didnt give one. This feels a tad cheeky, but I was wondering if you could enlighten us with a few more details, mainly when will it be aired? Thanks for your time, and thanks also for giving me such pleasure via your books Best Regards Dal, Cornwall, UK PS This was meant for your forum but I couldnt see away to post there, I hope this is ok. Darren Lean

Dear Bernard, one of the main reasons why I love historical novels is because the author has put a depth of research into them. A good historical novel abducts the reader and carries them back to the time in question, so that they can see and smell and hear and almost live the story being described. I think you achieve this beautifully. It's a wonderful feeling, for a reader like me to feel that they are running alongside Richard Sharpe or Horatio Hornblower or Sean Courtney or whomever. My question is: how do you manage the research? I would find it quite daunting. The general history of any period could be had from books or the internet, but what about the finer details? Things like, what people wore on their feet in such a time, how much a horse cost in such a time, what was considered good food in such a time, or bad food, or good music, or good taste in furniture, or what type of wood made the finest bow. The list goes on. There must be a million such details. It seems to me to be a monumental task, for someone starting afresh on a new book. Where on earth do you begin???
Paul Reid

Just dropped by to check on the next Uthred novel and am very pleased to see a due date and was shocked to see you have been very ill so my questions - are you better?(I hope you are and feeling much better) and Who is your favorite hero? not wishing to steer you but Uhtred rocks. Simon Whyte

Dear, Mr. Cornwell First I wish to thank you from all your hard work. I was one of those people how never really read books; I started reading books after finding one of yours 'the Last Kingdom' at a bookstore in the airport last year. Since then I have read your 'Warlord series, Grail Quest, Stonehenge, Gallows's Thief and the Pale Horseman', and I plan to read them all. I have to ask if you ever plan to write about the Jacobite Rebellion if not, do you know of any books on the subject, written like your own? Thank you, Alex

Bernard, Have you read Andy McNab's books (i.e.'Bravo Two Zero')? While waiting for the next Sharpe ;)- I'm reading his biography "immediate action" and reading his life story in the army always reminds me of Sharpe. So you must have the soldier persona spot on! Tim

Dear Mr Cornwall After enjoying a number of your books, Gallows Thief, The Grail Quest series and more recently The Last Kingdom, you have fired my interest in English history. Would you give me some advice on reading material which will tell me who ruled when,who suceeded who and what they each achieved. Nothing too exhaustive, (reading for me is so much more about escapism than anything else,)basic historical facts . I loved your character Thomas of Hookton and learning about the bow he would have used and the significance of the two finger salute!! I would so love to see the series made into a movie. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival in my mailbox of The Pale Horseman, thank you for the great reads! Kind regards...Rebecca, Perth, Australia