Your Questions

hello Mr Cornwell, I have read all of your Sharpe books as well as some others of yours. I was wondering what the role was of the RSM in a Regiment, and who had more influence with the men, the RSM or the officers? Thankyou for taking time to answer my question. Josh

Just a fan letter I'm afraid, nothing world shattering except...I remember reading a novel years ago set in the Peninsular war and I remember really enjoying it. The thing is it featured an episode in which a character used pages from (I think ) a bible as cigarette papers. Something similar happens in a Sharpe book I think...did you read that same novel yourself ? Was the use of such papers a common thing in the army? did I imagine the whole thing? Just keep up the excellent books!
Mark Tomlinson

I enjoy your books very much, especially the Sharpe series. How would you describe the type of sword that Sharpe is given by the wounded officer in Sharpe's Rifles? I recently started watching the video series and I haven't seen another weapon like that one. Thanks again for the great stories. Leon Schnabel

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have read many of your novels and you were kind enough to autograph one for me. Is there a possibility of writing something about the Crimean War? michael calkins

I'm just starting "Sharpe's Siege." I've thoroughly enjoyed all the preceding volumes and although I look forward to finishing the series I'm sure there will be a sense of loss. There's just one thing. In every volume, it seems like there's one word, or one reference, that's a little jarring -- a word that's not quite right, or a reference that's anachronistic, etc. It's occurred to me that perhaps you do it on purpose just to see if we're paying attention. I'd have to go back through the books to find most of the examples. One example is the reference to "siamese twins" in "Sharpe's Regiment." It was my understanding that the term was coined to describe Chang and Eng Bunker. Although they were born in 1811 (in Siam), and the novel is set in late 1813, it seems doubtful to me that the term "siamese twins" would have been in use in England that early. Any thoughts? Bill Nourse

Hi Bernard, a couple of years ago I saw the Sharpe series on Dutch tv. I always enjoyed watching them, but wasn't familiar with your other works until a friend of mine recommended me The Last Kingdom. The both of us are huge George Martin fan, especially his A Song of Ice and Fire Series. So this friend found your book in the "what I'm reading"section on George's site. He described it there as books in which the battle scenes are vividly and detailled described, and that just happens to be the thing we like. So, two weeks ago I ordered The Last Kingdom and The Winter King, in these 2 weeks you have become my favorite writer (besides George of course). Reading one of your books feels like being emerged in history. A part of history that has already attracted me since my early childhood. So what I actually wanted to say is: keep up the good work and I"m looking forward to The Pale Horseman. P.s. I was thinking about writing a paper about the transition from paganism to early Christianity in Northern Europe. Maybe you have some suggestions on further reading on this subject? Cheers, Dennis

Dear Mr Cornwell - I loved The Last Kingdom and cannot wait until the Pale Horseman is published. I will definetely be at one of your London book signings, a real shame you are not doing a talk at either of them. I particularly liked the parts of the book set in the north east of England - I often visit Lindisfarne as my family are from up there. I just had a couple of questions. 1) was the Bamburgh Castle of the 9th century a substantial building or was it very small in comparison to todays huge building? 2) a really small point but in the book it said that Uhtred gallops along the sea to Bamburgh Castle after the sacking of Lindisfarne and the sea was crashing on his right hand side. Would it not be on his left left hand side? This may be a typo or did he set off from elsewhere? 3) Will you ever be going to Lindisfarne for more book research? All the best, Nick

I have read several books in your "Sharpe" series and just finished "The Last Kingdom" which I enjoyed very much. After reading your disclaimer on this web-site I'm disappointed that you are not going to provide me an agent and publisher. I suppose I can also forget about a birthday present. Naturally, I am looking for all three. A number of agents have stated that historical fiction is difficult to sell. Has this been your experience? I have been attempting to find marketing data on recently published historical fiction. Un fortunately historical fiction is not a literary class like mystery, science fiction or romance. Any suggestions of where to even look? I'm looking forward to the sequel to The Last Kingdom. Ward Harris

Hello again Mr Cornwell. Having been an avid follower of Sharpe since finding Eagle in 1996 I have more recently taken to reading factual histories of the same era. The history degree that I studied for rarely allowed me to enjoy military events so it is now fantastic to read the gory details. I previousely asked your advice on writing a factual book of the Napoleonic era, I very much appreciate your response, but I did wonder if you had an opinion on why Wellington has never really made it onto the silver screen? Surely the great man's life would make for a fantastic film, although perhaps the British version rather than Hollywood. Matt Patrick .Belfast.

Love so many of your books. Enjoy learning something new (miliyary tactics) in such an exciting atmosphere. Am going to London soon (9/24/05) and plan to see the Tippo's tiger. Is the Eagle in London, too? Claire Neumann