Your Questions

Q

Hi Bernard, my name is Tane and I live in a small country called New Zealand. I really really enjoy your books especially the warlord chronicles and the holy grail series. I have just finished reading the Last Kingdom and I loved it. I was wondering if you had any idea when "The Pale Horsemen" will be coming out in New Zealand? I'm really eager to read it. Cheers Tane

A

New Zealand is on the same publication schedule as the UK so you should be able to find the book right now. If you are having problems finding a copy, please let me know.


Q

If Alfred was so pious, why did he have a dragon flag instead of a cross? You mention at the start of The Last Kingdom that Uthred's stepmother Gytha wanted his father to replace his flag with a cross because the wolf head was too pagan, and I would have thought that if Alfred was so pious, he would have done this. Can you tell me a bit more about Alfred's flag please and was this the genesis of the Welsh dragon flag on green and white? When did the St George cross finally become England's flag and why? On that point, it's interesting England Scotland and Wales all seem to have two flags - the cross/saltire and lions/dragons. Can you tell me why that is? Ingriguing game of rugby this morning - but the All Blacks showed they can graft when they have to... Chris

A

The dragon flag was the historic flag of Wessex and I suspect Alfred feared changing it - but I'm also 100% certain that he used religious flags as well. The Welsh dragon is quite different - not related at all as far as I know. And the flag of Saint George wasn't adopted until the fourteenth century - partly to cock a snook at the French who believed themselves to be the heart and soul of chivalry and St George was the patron saint of chivalry.


Q

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I am sure that for you, as for many of us, the Internet must be both a blessing and a curse. It enables your readers to write to you with impunity, and I shudder to guess how many emails you must receive. I apologise in advance for adding further to that well-stuffed Inbox. I have only recently been introduced to Richard Sharpe - my husband and I moved to Spain in 1992 and somehow managed to miss the surge of interest that was stirred up by the television series. About this time last year, whilst flicking through the vastness of channels picked by the satellite dish, I caught part of a Discovery programme in which you were participating and outlining the hardships that were suffered by our soldiers during the Peninsular wars. Christmas was not far ahead, and with our knowledge of Spanish history very sadly lacking, I decided that a couple of books describing some of the events of the wars in Spain might make an acceptable gift for my husband. I subsequently visited our local English book shop (Bookworld España) and there on the shelves were two Sharpe novels: Sharpe's Havoc and Sharpe's Escape. Having no prior knowledge of how the series flowed, I snapped up the books, wrapped them in Christmas glitter and thought no more about them. The books lay untouched for the first few months of the year - both of us expecting that they would make interesting, but probably dry and heavy reading. Finally my husband read Sharpe's Havoc. He said he enjoyed the book and that I should read it, although his praise was not over effusive. Therefore it was not until several months later - May of this year - that I was plunged into the world of Mr. Richard Sharpe. I am an avid reader and am never without a novel by my side. I have devoured the works of Wilbur Smith, Daniel Easterman, Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Alexander Kent, to name but a few, but I had never before encountered a series of books which were so exactly attuned to my emotional wavelength. These were the books that I would have written if only I had the talent, and I could not believe that someone had done it for me, and done it so perfectly. I am a slow reader, savouring every word and phrase, but on average it has taken me 3 days to complete a Sharpe novel - an unheard of swiftness. On finishing a book I go back through it, searching out the passages and events that I have enjoyed the most, and re-reading them. Then I return to the previous book in the series and re-read it, before plunging forward onto the next instalment. I have to confess that for me 2005 has been dominated by Richard Sharpe, and also that I find myself not a little in love with him, a fact that I would never admit to my husband! I have just 2 more books to read and I am dreading reaching the end, not only because I will be bereft of reading matter, but also for fear of what unknown fate awaits him. He has endured all manner of suffering throughout the series, but at the end of every book I have been left with a feeling of contentment and perhaps a little sadness. I am holding on to the trust that you will not treat him cruelly in these final years. The real reason for this mail, therefore, is basically to thank you for the pleasure, entertainment and wealth of knowledge that I have gained from the Sharpe novels. They have also inspired me to learn more about history in general, an area of study in which I am sadly ignorant, having always been a future orientated person and a lover of Science Fiction. Equally importantly they have inspired me to try my hand at writing again - something I began 30 years ago, but then the family got in the way! I hope you have time to read this mail, but will understand if it's fate is to land in the Trash box unread. I hope it will give you a moment of pleasure to know that you have acquired one more loyal reader who has been thoroughly won over by your unpretentious and infectious style of writing. With many thanks and hopes for even greater things to come, Best regards, Sandy Fawle PS Thank goodness that wretched Jane is out of the way PPS How could you have let Hogan die so carelessly?

A

Thank you for that very kind message Sandy. I can't even remember how Hogan died! Sorry, anyway.


Q

Good day to you Sir.I don´t really have a question for you,I just wanted to thank you for many enjoyable books and to say keep up the good work. OK, maybe one small question! Are you maybe planning to take the second series of Sharpe books beyond Sharpes Devil, or will that happen when it happens? Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. Anthony Lambert

A

Nothing post Sharpe's Devil is in the plans.


Q

Dear Bernard I am writing to you find out whether or not there is any more of the "Sharpe Series" or the "Starbuck Chronicles" on the way. I am absolutley hanging out for the latest installments as they are in my opinion the best series going around at the moment. No book stores here in Australia can tell me when we might see them here on our fair shores. By the way, will you be able to get down here anytime soon? It would be fantastic if you did. I'm sure you would find a heap of support down here. From a fan desperate to know when some quality reading is due. David Twist, Brisbane Australia

A

I will be in Australia on 18 February 2006 for the Writer's Festival at the historic Como house in Melbourne. Details should be posted to the Diary page soon. And I hope to have a new Sharpe book ready for publication in October 2006.


Q

Hi Bernard, Why is it that your publishers think an audio book should be in an abridged format? Having read both The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman and both read and listened to most of the Sharpe novels and the Arthur Trilogy I had to get the audio versions of the Saxon Books. I found a well priced version from The Audio Collection of The Last Kingdom, complete and unabridged, but can I find an Unabridged version of The Pale Horseman? No! I contacted Harper Collins and found they have no plans to release the full story as an audio book. Sacriledge! If one title can be released in its entirety, why can't they all? Would you have any influence on such matters? Andrew Moore

A

I don't know! Usually Chivers Audio issue an unabridged version - have you tried them? And I'll make enquiries.


Q

Mr Cornwell. It's winter over here in North Essex the other side of the River Blackwater opposite Bradwell Creek where Sharpe escaped back to London. I've finished Pale Horseman which I enjoyed very much and am now facing a winter without anything new from you. What is there coming? Roger Gaspar

Dear Mr.Cornwell, I am almost finished reading the Sharpe series and it is the reason I read books on my own free time. I am disappointed because I know I'm coming near the end of the series, will you be writing another Sharpe story? Simon-Paul

A

Yes, the next book I write will be a Sharpe.


Q

Greatly enjoyed the television series based on Sharpe's adventures. I just completed my first reading of one your books, "Sharpes Fortress" and the brutality of the age is more starkley depicted than in the tely sequence, then that was a brutal age. As I am now addicted I will have to read through the entire series. One question. I have just completed a Patricia Cornwell novel. As Cornwell is not that common a name, I wonder is her skill at writting inherited or is she no relation? Yours truly J. Estrin

A

She is no relation - as far as I know.


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, Where can I read your advice for new writers page? Kieran

A

Go to 'Frequently Asked Questions' - scroll down to the 10th listing and click on the link for 'writing advice'.


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a lifelong fan of all your books. So much so that we took inspiration from one of your novels and named our daughter "Seren", since its a lovely name and, although I'm Scottish, my wife is from the southwest where the book was set. It is still used in Wales but is almost unique in Glasgow. To my shame I have forgotten which series of books she appeared in. Was it the warlord Chronicles or The Stonhenge books? Thanks in advance Greg Stewart

A

Seren (Welsh for star) - is Derfel and Ceinwyn's daughter from The Warlord Chronicles.