Your Questions

Q

I have just finished reading Stonehenge, and I loved it! I just picked up your books A Crowning Mercy and The Fallen Angels, and I noticed both books have a same character: Toby Lazender. My question is: Are these two books a series? Which order should I read them in? Or does it matter? Thanks, Jenna

My husband & I are both Sharpe devotees, but I have to say that A Crowning Mercy & Fallen Angels are my all-time favourite books. My copies are nearly falling apart and I re-read them yearly. On the front cover of Fallen Angels, it states that you were working on a 3rd novel in the series - did that ever eventuate? There is something so different and so haunting about those books; they are beautifully written. Thank-you, Leanne Montoneri.

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

The books are connected in that the characters of A Crowning Mercyare ancestors to the characters of Fallen Angels. Read A Crowning Mercy first. The third book written under the name Susannah Kells is A Coat of Arms (renamed The Aristocrats by the American publisher). There are no plans to re-release this title, but the book can be found in second-hand bookshops.

Q

hi Mr Cornwell, just a quick question for you, have you ever tried writing two books at the same time? cheers, Andy

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

Never! And I don't want to try.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I'm writing to you again to ask two important things: 1) I think I could manage to come to England during your book tour, so I wanted to know if it was possible for me to meet you there. 2)Lately I've been thinking a lot of a project I thought of some months ago, which would be creating a fan site mainly focused on the Arthur Books and secondary to all the rest of your bibliography. Obviously it's just a project and I cannot ask you to make it the official Italian fan site (I'm a member of another big forum and I know how these things go...) but I would like to have your assent for this project before I begin working on it. Thank you in advance for your time Yours faithfully, Italo

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

I'd love to see your website! Good luck (Fortuna buona??). The difficulty about coming to England is that I'm going to be horribly busy - normally we do two or three signings a day and there really isn't much time in between - and what time there is will be spent travelling, so much as I'd like to meet you it's going to be hello-goodbye. For instance - I'm one and a half hours in Hatchards, London, and there will be at least three or four hundred books to sign, then it's straight off to Canterbury . . . so I'd hate you to come all that way for nothing.

Q

When you started writing Sharpe did you have any idea how big he was going to become? Also, how much of the series had you already planned? Please keep on writing- I love your books. Max

Submitted September 13, 2005

A

I did no forward planning at all, which, in retrospect, was a mistake, but I thought I'd be lucky to have the first book published, let alone twenty. I've been playing catch-up ever since.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, It is only in the last few years that I began to read the Sharpe series of books and I am still working my way through the list. Most enjoyable! Although a Canadian, I have visited Scotland many times, and last year I stayed in a castle near Inverness. What is interesting is that the woman of the house whose family comes from a strong militiary background claims to have the Tippo gem from his turban. Is this of any interest to you, or another 'wild goose chase'? Let me know. Thanks Scott Braid

Submitted September 9, 2005

A

Who knows? A terrific amount of the Tippoo's treasures are in Britain, and spread very widely - mainly because the senior officers of the army shared out the loot. I suspect your hostess was telling the truth, but it probably wouldn't have been the turban that the Tippoo was wearing when he died, because all the jewels he was wearing disappeared. But he must have had scores of other turbans. His treasure, which was captured intact, was enormous.

Q

Sir, Thank you. Thank you for bringing the pleasure of reading the exploits of Sharpe and his compatriots to life. Thank you for teaching people some of the history of life in the Infantry. But especially, thank you for portraying life and war as they are, warts and all. I have one question...having read most of the Sharpe novels (and intending to purchase ALL of them, en masse) have you devoted a book to the period of time when Sharpe first joined the Rifles, the "train-up" period? As a former NCO in the United States Army Infantry, training was an important part of my life and I'd love to read how it was done by the men who scared Lord Wellington. I look forward to seeing you at any Atlanta-area book signing you might do and urge you to "carry on". Best wishes, Jeffrey Knotts

Submitted September 9, 2005

A

There isn't a book that deals with Sharpe's 'train-up period' - and I'm not inclined to go back in time again to write it - but who knows? Never say never!

Q

Firstly, thank you for your wonderful books, my wife Pat and I have read all and treasure them. You will see from my name that my family arrived from France (about 1860) but the name is derived from Regenbald the priest who was chancellor to Edward the confessor. Have you ever come across this name in your research? Thank you again. Brian Regimbeau.

Submitted September 7, 2005

A

A new name to me! But I'm delighted your family went home, even if they took their time!

Q

Hello There, It's horrible, I'm trying to put it out of my mind but there it remains like some blue-mould on a sandwich you're halfway through...page 161 Sharpe's Devil: "Sharpe, seeing his very first sea fight,". Would you forgive me for defacing my copy just so that Sharpe's Trafalgar doesn't seem like a dream or an ad-lib! Also, I was wondering if the spelling of my name (pronounced Alan..despite years of childish "Olwyn" taunting) stood out when you signed my copy of Heretic (thank you muchly for that)? I am born and raised in Northern Ireland but it seems the name is Welsh. Any chance of naming a character for me, go on, I'll be your best friend and promise not to claim any likeness rights! Thank you for taking the time to read this, I have spent years enjoying your work (have read everything except the thrillers and Redcoat and my collection holds 22 first editions of your works) Your grateful fan Allyn Mills

Submitted September 7, 2005

A

The problem about Devil and Trafalgar, of course, is that I wrote the books out of order. It's a lousy way to write a series - but think of it this way, if I took Devil as gospel then there wouldn't have been Sharpe's Trafalgar, so I think the discrepancy is worth it! I'll think about a character called Allyn!

Q

Mr Cornwell Let's suppose Richard Sharpe's triumphant return to England after Waterloo is rewarded with the full rank of Colonel and command of the South Essex. What happens next...... does the scoundrel Sir Henry Simmerson get his just deserts and does the Lady Jane finally get her wonderful and final come-uppance? Does Sharpe, prior to retiring to an idyllic lifestyle in Normandy, put down an Irish rebellion (with the help of Harper) that was masterminded by Simmerson thus saving the Prince Regents life?&&. No? Ok&.can I please know what happened to Simmerson and the Lady Jane after Sharpes Waterloo (loose ends you know&.) Cheers Paul Dixon

Submitted September 7, 2005

A

One day I might - might - get round to all that, but I honestly haven't thought much about it (and won't till I get to write any such book). I'm sure Siimmerson gets his just deserts, but probably in hell.

Q

first I have enjoyed many of your books the Arthur trilogy being my favorites. I was wondering if you know of any novels about the scottish jacobites? Mike

Submitted September 7, 2005

A

None that I can think of . . . . anyone else know any?