Your Questions

I just picked up your book, Stonehenge . I was hoping to know from you, how you picked the name Saban? I was amused,because, I named my son Saban, (he is 5). He was named for a friend I lost, and yet I never have found an origin, or meaning. Well, I guess I should get reading, will let you know what I think. Hope to hear back from you as well. Shelly

I love the new-look website. Not sure how long it's had the new look, our computer's been playing silly buggers for ages, but still, I like it. I'm glad to see (on looking through the Your Questions/FAQ's archives) that at least four other people want more of Sweet William. If it's not too late, PLEASE put him in the next Sharpe book. Even if Sharpe doesn't get to meet him face-to-face, it would still be great for all us Captain Frederickson fans to see his eye-patched face again. On a similar note, any idea when we can expect the next Sharpe in the shops? It's been awful, a whole year with no new Sharpe. I've been having withdrawal symptoms.. Maybe there's a support group somewhere I could join....! All the best, Keri

I'm sure this question is frequently asked, but I have been unable to find the answer. When might we expect a new entry in the Sharpe series? Thank you. Lea

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have been reading some of the letters on your web site (actually I'm more interested in your answers)and , for the first time in my 61 years I have decided to act like a fan. I have, at sometimes great expense as you pointed out, obtained in hardback every book that you have written. This has been my personal "grail quest" over the last 3 years and I am delighted with all that I have read. If I may be so bold as to make a comment - you get better as you get older but my main reason for this missive is to ask when will your , and his, many fans be able to read a new Sharpe adventure? Of all your characters he is MY favourite but this could have someting to do with the fact that I spent 42 years in the British Army myself having just retired in September 2004, the last 11 years wearing Light Infantry uniform! Perhaps I feel that he and I have someting in common. Apologies for the waffle but sincere thanks for the many hours of reading pleasure that you have given and long may you continue. Kind Regards, David Barnard

Greetings from Portugal, Mister Cornwell. The main porpose of this e-mail, is to thank, and to congratulate you, for writing my favourite books of all time, the Warlord Chronicles. I never thought it could be possible to get so involved in a story, or even developing feelings for characters who don't even exist! It also elucidated me in some History facts, that I did not know. At the present time, I am taking the History Course in University, and I advise everyone I can, to buy and read your books. The question I would like to do, is somewhat unfair, and probably does not have an answer, but, can't blame me for try: Which one of your books/series you enjoyed more writing, and/or reading? Thank you, and best wishes to you and your family, Mister Cornwell.
Duarte Alves

Bernard, I am a history teacher at a prep school in Worcester, and as an unashamed fan of your fiction,as well as the likes of Stockwin, Mallinson and O'brien, frequently recommend your books to the older children to enthuse them in the subject. in fact the school library contains all of your books, and they have become extremely popular. the children have thus come up to me demanding to know where you are going to strike next (chronologically speaking), and whether there are any plans for a properly budgeted movie of any of your books? I think that we would all like to see a properly realized Napoleonic or medieval battle on the big screen. Many thanks, Andy Collins

Dear Bernard, After reading that the next Sharpe will be at Barrossa I had to ask which attack Sharpe will be facing and whether he finally finds out about Pumphery's murder of Astrid that's kind of been left hanging. I also wondered how many more books do you see doing with Sharpe and after Barrossa will Albuera be on the cards??? And in regards to the Hundered Years War series you have written about the early years do you think you will write about the final years and the battles say against Joan of Arc or the battle of Frombiy (Very bad spelling I know) from the English perspective. How did the French who got decimated by battles like Crecy and Agincourt manage to win battles against the Long Bow?? Anyway cannot wait till the next book. Regards Geraint P.S Have you ever been tempted to write about Richard the LionHeart and his battles with Saladin in the Crusades???

Hello, I am french and discovered your work by pure chance, through "l'affaire du tableau", (would that be "gallows thief" ?), which seems to be one of the very few among your books to be translated in my country. I think the Arthur series also has been translated, though I never saw it in bookshops. To be honest, your very name seems to be quite unknown, and -having just swallowed the three "harlequin" almost in one gulp- I keep wondering why. I can't believe the only reason for this non interest is because your heroes are anglo-saxon... I mean, CS Forester's captain Hornblower has had his success, and speaking of the middle ages the "pillars of earth", by Ken Follet, is doing well in France too... I have thoroughly enjoyed these XIVe century's adventures of yours, specially because of the many small details that don't often show in such books, such as how archers keep their arrows in a bag, etc. The only reproach I would venture to make is about french names, especially towns names, which to a french eye, or ear, seem sometimes ill chosen. I mean that Berat doesn't sound too much like a south western town, while Béziers is, and was at the time, one of the important real towns of the area. Not a tiny hamlet in Picardy ! even Astarac does not sound really convincing (maybe Estarac would do best), and I am midly convinced at the possibility of a low born girl named Geneviève at the time. I may be wrong but to me that name would probably be more upper class... But these are really very small détails indeed, and the bottom of it is that I really think it would be great to publish these books in french ! As for me, I stilla have to discover your other series, and that is a thrilling perspective ! Sophie Bogrow

Mr Cornwell, Congratulations on your newest book. It was fantastic, the last part especially, I could picture the fyrd and shield wall. One question though, was it coincidence that Father Pyrilg in some ways resembled your greatest character from your best series ever: Derfel, or was it intended? Uhtred was probably the only main character of yours who really got on my nerves though, although I did warm to him later on. Do you know of any authors who have written about this era, as I would like to read more about it? Thanks again for your great story telling, Lewis Young

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Both I and my son have become avid fans. I was curious as to where you found the name of John Faircloth, seeing as he is my ancestor. A member of my family has traced the Faircloth name to England where many of my forbears were ministers, as am I. A Samuel Faircloth was reputed to have served as Archbishop of Canterbury. Do you have any information? Thanks for your time and keep up the good work. Sincerely, Sean Faircloth, Savannah, Georgia

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a french PhD student in organic chemistry and I do like reading novels especially in english in order to continue my training of your language. Thus a few weeks ago I was looking for a new book to read, in the books in english department of my favourite bookshop in Montpellier (France), when I found your novel "The Last Kingdom" in paperback edition. Your novel is absolutely fascinating and absorbing and it was hard for me to put it down, I even read it while walking back home in the evening after my day in the lab...So then at the end of the novel I was relieved to see that the sequel "The Pale Horseman" was already available in hardback and I ran to my bookstore to buy it... I just finished it and I am now already impatient to read the next adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Could you please tell me if there will be a sequel of "The Saxons Stories" and if when? I have read some historical novels before both in english and french (among them some of James Michener ones ) but few of them were as gripping as yours. Moreover thank you for the map and the place-names and historical notes. During a year I spent in England I visited York, Londres, Bath, Winchester and I found fascinating to visit those places thanks to you in the ninth century. I also saw a white horse in Wiltshire... As a french I have some vocabulary gaps in english, so could you please explain me the meaning of fyrd (is it another word for army??) And I would like some reading advices while waiting the next adventures of Uhtred... Thank you very much. Gwenaëlle SIZUN

I would like to ask you to clarify the reference in Sharpe's Battle and in the Grail Quest series of the use of "English bowmen at Agincourt, .... invented the tauting gesture to show .... who were the better soldiers." I am guessing it was the first two fingers of the right hand, but I'm unsure. Could you better explain the 'gesture.' Thank you for you time and for storytelling. James D. Cummings, Canada