Your Questions

Q

Bernard, you've told questioners there will be seven or eight books about Uthred - Is he going to become a Saxon-era Sharpe or is your tale a long one with a lot of ground to cover? CP

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

It is a long tale - and it will take Uhtred well into his 60's - which is a very long life for someone in the 9th and 10th centuries, but not impossibly long. I don't really see him as a Saxon Sharpe, but rather someone whose life shadows the reconquest of England and so tells that much larger story. Still, like Sharpe, he is a warrior, but in time he is bound to get muuch more involved in politics than Sharpe ever would.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, When I wrote you last I forgot to ask a question that has been eating away at me, will Sharpe ever get even with Captain Murray? If you know I would be grateful to know. Many thanks Patrick.

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

Sharpe hopes so (and so do I!).

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I was just reading the messages of others and must know this new Sharpe's that's coming out - what is it going to be called? where does it fit in the timeline ex between Rifle and Havoc? and most importantly when will it be avalible in the US? Damn I hate living on the other side of the Atlantic. PLZ I must know thank you. Ian Stratton

I got into your books watching the series of Sharpe, but then I started reading the books and got even more addicted.I love reading of Sharpe in India, but will you be writing any more books with him and the rifles? I drive for a living and love reading about Richard Sharpe & Patrick Harper. What I really enjoy about your stories also is the way you give the enemies of Sharpe a strong character especially people like Major Dodd in India. I love your books and cannot wait for more - it is a shame we were not able to see more of Sharpe's life with Lucille. Duncan Blackwood

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

The next Sharpe will follow on from Sharpe's Escape, and I don't have a title yet, and I'm pretty sure it won't be published until 2007 - which is a long wait, I know, and I wish I could do it sooner, but there's some research that has to be done first and the next Uhtred (after The Pale Horseman) to finish . . .

Q

Hi, just finished The Last Kingdom today and CANNOT wait until The Pale Horseman comes out...just how does one get an advanced reader's copy?? I've looked on ebay and no luck...again, I beg you to never retire!! --Darlene Campbell

Submitted May 21, 2005

A

You don't as far as I know. The advance copies are sent to the trade.

Q

Good evening, Mr Cornwell I'm a Monsewer, Froggie or any other name, and a compatriot of Lucille, as you may guess, and I have read all Sharpe's books, but Sharpe's Escape. Busaco is not an inspiring event, not yet! I congratulate you for such a well drawn character, and so pleasant to read. Now I have some questions: a)Sharpe enlisted in 1794. First book starts when the 33rd is in India. Do you plan a book on the first years of Richard Sharpe in yhe Army? These years are quite often neglected... b) Have your book been translated in another language? Surely not in French! c) At the end of Sharpe's Devil, you say that Sharpe and Harper will never march any more. Still true? d) Any descent from Richard still living in Normandy? e) In the series , Sharpe seems to be always in full dress. Have you seen "Uniforms of the Peninsular War" by P. Hawthornthwaite, plate 12? May be it is a bit less spectacular! And now, two critics on details: Facings of French dragoons are not PINK only. You had the choice with yellow, orange, carmine and scarlet... Then in Sharpe's Siege (for me, one of the three bests), page 125, Frederickson says "frigates aren't Post". Horror! Frigates, being 5th or 6th rate, are under a Post Captain!!! See Hornblower in the Atropos and Lydia, Jack Aubrey in the Surprise, after their promotion to Post Captain. Please, see it as only the pleasure I had to read Sharpe's adventures to the last detail Thank you for the happy hours I spent with your heroes Christian COMPAGNION

Submitted May 18, 2005

A

a) No plans at the moment, but you never know...

b) My books have been translated to many other languages, but there are no Sharpe books available in French translation

c)I suspect it's still true that they won't march any more after 1821, but I've changed my mind before, so who knows?

d)I would imagine so!

e)Sharpe is usually incredibly scruffy and very like the Haythornthwaite illustration!

Do I only use pink? I wasn't aware of that and see from my notebook that Dragoons could wear scarlet, crimson, rose, yellow or orange, so obviously I know that, but perhpas I don't consult the notebook often enough.

So Frederickson gets it wrong? I am surprised! You're quite right, Merci.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just want to say how much I enjoy the Sharpe books. There seems to be something particularly fascinating (for me) about the Peninsular War. Even at school a very long time ago and with an extremely dull teacher I found it really interesting. Then recently I discovered that two Irish great great uncles of mine had fought in it, one is supposed to have died at the battle of Corunna. I would love to find out more about them but don't know how - would there be muster rolls? Anyway, thanks very much for great stories with so much period detail superbly and so naturally woven in. Hope you won't be offended if I say you are on a par with Georgette Heyer. Marion Gracie

Submitted May 16, 2005

A

There are muster rolls - where are they? It depends, of course, which regiment your relatives served in, and the fate of those regiments. If you know their regiments, and if you know what happened to the regiments in all the various amalgamations, etc, then it's worth approaching the modern regiment and asking if they have muster rolls in their archives, or where they might be - or you could try the National Army Museum in London which might be able to tell you. Sorry - I'm not being much use here, but I don't need to look at muster rolls to write the Sharpe books so I've never gone searching for them. If all else fails then a genealogical website might have clues to this?

Q

Hi Bernard great books, would love to know more about Obediah, what happend to him in the inbetween years? Ever thought of a book just about him? I am sure many people would love to read of his exploits. Thanks for the great reads, Chris.

Submitted May 16, 2005

A

I'll give that some thought...

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I read "The Last Kingdom". I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am from Denmark, you see. While that doesn't necessarily make me an expert on the subject of vikings, I feel that you have accurately depicted their way of living and most of all their sense of humour! I found it really amusing reading about the Danes being referred to as the bad guys! Only one minor thing bothered me and that was one of your references to the Norse gods. Since it is mythology now, I realize that it is open for interpretation but you say that Njord's wife was Ran? It is well recorded that Njord married Skade after being chosen by her in a beauty contest where she could only see the male gods from the ankles down. Ran was married to Aegir. I just wanted to know where you got your sources on Norse mythology? can't wait for the next book about Uhtred. Anders Iversen

Submitted May 16, 2005

A

I suspect this is my mistake! I see from my notes that I have Ran as an alternative to Njord (which I'm fairly certain I got from Eric Christiansen's book The Norsemen in the Viking Age) and I was simply careless when I wrote that chapter - apologies! Mind you, your gods were a complicated lot, but much more fun than the Saxons dour religion.

Q

Hi Bernard, Did Sagramor come from the french tradition? If so, does his name mean "bloody moor" Or the moor of blood? That's how I thought of him when I read your books. He was one of my favorite characters. I visited the stones a month ago, and I could not help but imagine him riding past barrows and lurking in forests for ambush. James

Submitted May 16, 2005

A

I have an idea that he was introduced into the cycle of stories by Chretien de Troyes, so if that's right then he does come from the French tradition - but of course that doesn't mean he wasn't present in stories carried to Brittany from Britain. He's intriguing - some say he was part Hungarian and descended from the emperors of Constantinople and another tradition (which I followed) insists he was African.

Q

Dear Sir, I recently read an older copy of "Wildtrack", where you commented about a possible sequel. Is a sequel in planning or maybe already published ? Thank you for your time... Dirk Lehmann

Submitted May 16, 2005

A

Did I say that? I'm not thinking of one right now, though I always say I'll write more of the sailing thrillers when I retire.