Your Questions

Hi - just finished the Pale Horseman (or Dervel rides again, as my Dad calls it...) What always strikes me about all of your books is the celebration of being a warrior, or perhaps just the celebration of manhood... If you had your time again would you ever consider a soldiers life? Just to feel that battle song yourself perhaps? Do you feel that you've missed out in not living that life (I do - much more so when I read your books!) Also the (totally understandable) revulsion to organised religion. Too many wars fought over that. And finally the celebration of the Celts. Can one be too Irish?? I wish you well - you opened my eyes to a history or Britain I never imagined, and now actively persue. Look after yourself. Martin

I have one comment and two questions. My comment is that I loved The Pale Horseman as much as I did The Last Kingdom which so many times isn't the case with second books in a series. My first question concerns the time period for the third book. Will it follow directly after The Pale Horseman leaves off or will it be moved forward in time. I guess I'm anxious for Ethelfleada to grow up and be the herione you said she would be. My second questions is why the West Saxons had no queens. You made a point of this in both novels and I'm curious. Does anyone know why? Again, I thank you for writing such exciting books. Ann Madonna

Dear Mr Cornwell. May I start by saying how much I've enjoyed your books over the years, I've read all of your work with the exception of the Pale Horseman which I'm half way through. Do you have any plans to do a series of books based around the English civil war with maybe the hero being a Royalist and therefore on the losing side?? Many thanks, Jonathan

Hello there, out of curiosity I thought I would ask: How early on in the writing process had you named King Callyn, and do I owe you a pint considering my earlier request? Or perhaps it was a coincidence and there is a more clear-cut naming in the works! That would be fantastic, many thanks in advance! Thank You for Uthred, he's the perfect antithesis to Derfel. Allyn Mills

Dear Mr Cornwell, apart from enjoying reading your novels, I usually giggle much about your communique in the SAS Bulletin. Well, this time it was different. It was very sad to read about your experiences with cancer, but luckily it turned out not to be that bad. I wish you all the best for your full and speedy recovery (and not only because I want the next Sharpe novel), and that the new engine for your boat will arrive in time and fit! Greetings from Munich, Evi Finsterer. PS: Out of curiosity: Did you give any ideas to the screen writer of the new Sharpe movie, that he used? Or only the names and features of the main characters?

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have been avidly devouring your historical novels for the past three years and I must say that you are, without a doubt, my favourite author. I love it how you often have your main character experience great times then destroy it for them in just a paragraph or two. It strengthens the plot and makes it a better novel always. I just finished Sharpe's Regiment last night (up past two in the morning) and found it to be one of my favourite Sharpe novels. Have you ever thought of making a novel where Sharpe doesn't succeed in exposing Fenner and Simmerson and winds up fighting in the War of 1812? As a Canadian I would find it exiting to think of Sharpe fighting in my country, even if it was only fiction. Thank you so much for your novels, they are brilliant. Awaiting the next novel anxiously, Tyson Smith

This is a bit free thinking but as you are an expert on both the Longbow and musket do you think that a 1000 English Long bowmen in their prime could have caused havoc at Waterloo as the Longbow was not eclipsed as a weapon until the the late 19th C? Geoff

hi Bernard, i wanted to congratulate you on another great book in the pale horseman, and also the warlord chronicles which i finally got round to reading. i wondered if you could answer me two questions. 1, I have read all of your books on this website, and the three that you wrote as Susannah Kells, are there any more books out there? 2, When will your next book be on sale in the UK, and what will it be about. Will it feature Sharpe, or do you have a new series in mind?
Neil

Hi I've been reading your books for four years now and read some of the questions before about the Starbuck chronicles. I won't ask you how is it coming and all that but you said that he meets Lincon. How would he do that? Does he get captured? In the Sharpe books why does Sharpe's ensigns alway's die tragic deaths? P.S Can't wait to read the Pale Horseman, it should be coming from Amazon soon but they seem to have messed it up. Keep writing, Andrew Wright.

Am just in the pocess of re-reading Sharpe's Enemy (for about the 4th time) and something as stuck in my head since I just got through Sharpe's 1st meeting with Rifleman Taylor. Taylor makes that boast that he's a better shot than Hagman. Obviously there's never an opportunity for Hagman to put him in his place (a shame) so I need to know who you think would've won? My own belief based on Sharpe's Havoc is that Hagman would've won but it would've been close!! Lee