Your Questions

Mr Cornwell, I can't tell you how much my father and I have enjoyed the Sharpe's series ( as well as the Warlord Trilogy ). Given that I grew up in a small town in Montana, my school experience with the Napoleonic Wars basically consisted of a guy named Napoleon and a battle called Waterloo that happened somewhere. It's been a tremendous joy to learn about the war in India and the peninsula campaign, albeit slightly modified, through the Sharpe's books. I do have a couple of questions for you, though. Given that the books were not written in chronological order, how much of Sharpe's life/exploits/history did you determine before writing the first book? These books are wonderfully internally consistant. Sharpe and others refer to battles and things they did in those battles long before the books containing those events were ever written. For example, I was reading through Sharpe's Company yesterday and found a reference to Gawilghur which is in Sharpe's Fortress ( As if I have to tell you that! ), which wasn't written until 17 years later. The other books are rich with little references like that, that's one of the things that make them such a pleasure to read. Second, when are you going to write the book where Sharpe JOINS the army? Sharpe has refered to Boxtel as his first battle several times. Are you planning to write that story at some point? And, if not, will you reconsider? Finally, I should mention that, since I saw a few of the movies before I started reading the books, in my mind Sharpe looks like Sean Bean. No matter how how often you describe Sharpe looks and his having dark hair, at the end of the paragraph, Sharpe looks like Sean Bean again. Oh well. Thank you for these wonderful books, and I look forward to reading more of your stuff in the future. Sincerely, Phil DeKoning Bozeman, Montana

I have just finished reading Sharpe's Tiger and in view of what Hakeskill did in betraying Lawford and Sharpe why on earth is he allowed to return to the ranks afterwards? As a former military officer, I would have brought charges against him had I been Lawford. This is especially pertinent given what happens later....all of it could have been prevented. Rosalee Adams

I've noticed that in all your books you refer quite specifically to how equipment, clothes etc. feel and behave in various weathers and conditions. Is this a case of informed conjecture/imagination, or have you spoken to re-enactors? I ask because as a food historian (and re-enactor; Celt,Roman and AngloSaxon) I have been asked many, many questions of that kind, "What does it taste like? How does that feel to wear?" and so on, and I know at least two of my questioners later used the information in books. By the way, I think your work is superb! Mari Hannigan

Hi, can you tell me if the music and/or lyrics to Over the Hills and Far Away as used in the movies of your Sharpe novels is based on the actual 19th century score? Darned good tune either way and as such is fitting to a darned good series of books sir! Andy Piggford

Hello Mr Cornwell. I have been a big fan of yours ever since reading Sharpe's Rifles many years ago. Since then I have read all the Sharpe books, Grail quests and the Arthur series. But my favourite series of books have to be the Starbuck series. You bring the war between the states to life and the characters are fantastic. But nearly 10 years after the last book we are still waiting to see what happens to Nate and his regiment. Does Nate survive the battles to come? I know that for those 10 years you have been VERY busy and have brought us many brilliant books but please could you continue the Starbuck series? I don't know if you are put off completing the series by knowing that in the end Nate will be on the losing side and after all of Sharpe's victorys this is putting you off completing the series. Andrew Burton

Mr. Cornwell- I am a huge fan of your books. I am an American History buff and I read the Starbuck Chronicles and Redcoat to no end. I am writing to you because I would like to know if you ever plan to finish the Starbuck works. It has come to the point that I have re-read the 4 books so many times that I now have the chronicles memorized. I admire the effort it takes to writing a novel so if time is the issue how about providing us a short story on how the story ends? Just kidding of course. I wish you the best of luck on your future novels. Sincerly Frank Yocum

Will you be doing tours here in the United states? I will fly to see you at your next book tour in the United states. I flew to the U.K .last year and SMBO and I had a great time at the Napoleonic fair . We met you at the books signing. I would like to do the same here in the US. Nancy would love to hear you talk again and see you again.

Mr. Cornwell, My husband is a devoted fan of your books...I would love for him to meet you at a book signing sometime. When will you be near Alabama? Candace Scroggins

Bernard, thanks for the great Arthur trilogy, I'm into book 2 now. it was recommended by a friend as a suggestion to fill the void after Lord of The Rings for the 'n'th time. They do this very well. I just wanted to suggest that you or your lawyers look at the recent Arthur movie as I think they may have 'borrowed' some of your ideas although the arthur story is not a single source I just wondered where they came up with the black warrior?!? Thanks again. Iain Black

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have read all the the Sharpe books as well as Rebel and Copperhead, I just am curious is the sword Colonel Lassan carries in Copperhead the same as Sharpe uses to hack his way through Spain? It was a great touch to see Lassan in Starbuck! Joshua Frost

Mr. Cornwell, Some historical novelist writers, when creating a character and time frame , choose to take their character through history chronological .When you started writing about Richard Sharpe in 1980, you started him in Spain and in later books took him back into India and then again back to Spain. Was this by design or when the Sharpe books grew popular, did you then start to fill in his army life. Also do you feel, as a writer, that this method of jumping in and out of different time periods with Sharpe is more challegning or just your style. I have always enjoy reading historical novels with military based chaeacters. Are you familiar with the American West series by the late Terry c. Johnston and his character Seanmus Donegan? Lastly, what historical novelist inspired you to become a writer and have you read any of C. Holland books. She is the only writer I've read who "kills' off her heroes in her books. Thank you. Jeff Juri

Mr. Cornwell, First of all, please, forgive my poor english. My name is Guilherme Valente and I am Brazillian who is absolutely fascinated by your triology about Arthur. Stories about that mysterious hero of Britain have always interested me, however, I didn't have a strong idea about Arthur before reading your books. They changed my mind. Though, I just can't understand why until today your books about Arthour haven't became movies. Mr. Cornwell, I'd also like to ask you if you have already read any book by a Brazillian writer or if you know something about the history of my country. Thank you, Guilherme Valente