Your Questions

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. How many novels would you estimate the Starbuck Chronicles will eventually run to, assuming that you get him all the way to Appomattox? My guess is about fourteen novels total. Does that sound about right to you? Alan Kempner

Hi Bernard Re: Silver Pyx Just read The Pale Horseman. Great stuff. Liked your dedication to GMF: one of my greats too. However - re the silver pyx or plate which is featured. As a certifiable word nerd I'd been researching the origins of the verb to box and found it possibly connected with the ancient Greek word for fist- pyx - which seems to have come directly down to us as a small fist sized box used to house religious items. So I wondered, where did your use of the word pyx for a plate come from? Best wishes Steve Ainsworth Halifax West Yorks

Dear Bernard, After reading your comments in a previous post on the intention of more archer stories I had to write in ask if you if you considered writing about the battles of Maplins Moor and Halidon Hill and the wars against the Scots. They seemed a far more deadly enemy and after reading about your description about Nivelles Cross they seemed a much more more interesting and its seems more dangerous enemy than the French ever were. BTW Since your are like me a fan of George Macdonald Fraser have you read the Steel Bonnets on the border wars if not I can recommend it. Yours sincerely, Tony

Sorry to hear that you were in ill health. Hope all is better now. I will probably get booed off the website for saying this, but would you consider putting Sharpe in retirement? Not that I don't love the guy, but he's had a great run. English history is so rich I would love to see you write about other eras. Agincourt perhaps, or who some consider the greatest monarch Elizabeth. Michael Calkins

Hi, I'm from Brazil (another one!) and as you can see, your book really is famous in here. My question to you is, what would it change if Arthur had helped Tristan ? I mean, would king Mark certanly make a war ? couldn't Arthur make a deal ? Another question is, why did you had to kill Cuneglas ??? Is that historical or you invented ? Have you ever considered writing the history of Arthur when he was a boy, created by Merlin ? Or writing a continuation of the history, of Derfel and Ceinwyn ?? I know you must be very busy, from your very short anwsers, and I will absolute not blame you for doing as well for me. As for many others, your book really touched me, because I'm from Brazil, I don't really know the history of Arthur, but from what I've heard or seen in the movies, your version is without a doubt the best one ever. I really encourage you for taking Arthur to the big screen and I hope you can come here for autographs. Before finishing, I would like to apologize for every grammatical mistake, or whatever mistake I make in English, as you can see, I'm very young, but still a big fan of yours. Thankyou for giving this great experience (you must be tired from hearing all this, but it is really true) and I apologize once again for my bad english. Another one of your big fans, Michel

I am just writing to ask when the follow up to The Pale Horseman will be published? Thank you for any information. Andy

I have never read your books before as i tend to enjoy historical mysteries,like the ones written by the late Bruce Alexander. I just finished your Gallows Thief and very much liked it. I liked the way you wrote it, the measured opening chapter becoming so important later. Do you plan on bringing Rider Sandman back in another book? I hate to whine but I would love to read another but thank you for writing this one. Mary Bennison

Hello Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for so many wonderful tales, I especially enjoy both the historical aspects of each book and your knowledge of sailing. Have you ever considered writing a pirate tale based in the 18th century Caribbean? I'd love to see what you could do with it. Eric Schott

Mr. Cornwell, I have read almost all of your books and have especially enjoyed your King Arthur Trilogy and your latest on King Alfred. Have you ever thought of writing a series on Robin Hood and place it in a more real world than the traditional comic/romantic world that Robin Hood has been done in? I feel that you did a magnificent job of telling King Arthur in a realistic manner that brought the legend to life. It would be wonderful to see the same done to Robin Hood who is such a tremendous legend. Thank you and keep up the good work! David Bliss

Hello Mr. Cornwell - I am a member of the Bean Box Board and I was posting an answer to a fellow members question regarding my husband's brain aneurism and told the ladies the story of how I became a Sean Bean fan, they are urging me to send it along to you because they thought you might find it interesting to know. Here is the full un-edited message: Yes, Nancy, my hubby had a brain aneurism - he's had no lingering problems at all, and it is a direct responsibility for me becoming a gushing Sean Bean Fan! Trev works shift as a power engineer - he needs to have a bit of entertainment before heading off to bed on day shifts and tv is still stuck in the family viewing mode, so knowing he was a great fan of historical movies - I bought him the complete set of Sharpe -as he complained that he'd missed a few episodes due to work back when the series was only available on video (5 - 6 years ago I bought them, and very pricey indeed!) After returned from the hospital, when his thinking was still fuzzy and memory was just not there - (he at first assumed it was 1988 when we were first dating - and didn't know who our sons were - but thought they were really nice boys!:heart )Trev sat and viewed Sharpe episodes over and over again - totally fascinated by the historical fact behind the series and rebuilding his brain pathways as a result (his aneurism was located very deeply inside his brain and there was a very big worry that he wouldn't be able to recover some memory). He couldn't read at this point - so his collection of history books were not too useful. So, I sat and watched the episodes for the first time with him two years ago - and got hooked! Trev had a follow-up CAT scan a few weeks ago - and it turned out perfect - but he also had a fasting glucose test and his now eating a diabetes diet (not truly a problem, compared to how close we came to losing him - except he insists on saying at least once a meal - moo and baa due to the high veggie total of his diet!) So, even though I don't wish to meet Sean face-to-face, if I did, or if someone I knew was going to meet him, I'd like Sean to know the impact of Sharpe on returning my hubby back to me as his true self. Sean gave me my most priceless gift back - and doesn't know he did a thing! (Getting teary, dang!). Wendy Andres