Your Questions

Q

hi, in Sharpe's Havoc, Captain Hogan tells Sharpe that Lord Pumphrey is a 'molly'. Can you explain this term to me? Is it used in the u.k. or something? Why can he be hung for it? thanks. Reid Ennis

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

Gay. They were not very gay-friendly back then.

Q

Dear Bernard First of all a late merry chirstmas and happy new year. Second After reading Sun Tzu's the Art of War which had a foward by the late great James Clavell he specualted on whether Napoleon himself had read the book since it had been published in France since 1784. I just wondered if you might know if that happened and how likely that might off been???

Also after recently seeing Sharpes war repeated on Tv and you mention about Sir John Moore in the American Revolution have you ever considered writing about more of the battles like Lexington/Bunker Hill Guilford Courthouse and of course Yorktown from the British persepctive??? Even if Mel Gibson and his kids managed to kill all the English (Scots/Irish and Welsh did not exist in the Patriot) . Anyway good luck on the next Alfred book, Regards Geraint

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

I don't know, but I suspect it's likely. He read very widely on military matters, but I fear I don't know about Sun Tzu.

I'm thinking of writing one book set in the revolution - telling the story of the action in which Lieutenant John Moore (19 then) fought. But after that? Probably just the one.

Q

The Sharpe novels vividly portray the British army's use of floggings to impose discipline. In a novel about the Crimean War I also noticed reference to the practice and was suprised to learn flogging was still in use in the 1850s. I was curious if you know how long this practice lasted in the British military? Looking forward to the next novel whether it be Sharpe or your new saga. Keep up the great work. Howard

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

Flogging was abolished in peacetime in 1868, but it was allowable as a wartime punishment until 1881, and was permitted in military prisons until 1907. There were other restrictions. Some soldiers had been sentenced to 2000 lashes (or even more), but in 1807 the maximum was restricted to 1000, and in 1812 regimental court martials couldn't sentence a man to more than 300. You can find more details in Richard Holmes's wonderful book Redcoat.

Q

I've only just started reading your novels (just finishing the final Grail Quest book and about to start the Arthur ones) but I'm already hooked. Two quick questions: will the Last Kingdom series go all the way through to Athelstan's victory at Brunanburgh (surely one of the most important and least well known battles in English history) and, secondly, have you got any plans to do a series on King Harold? Gregory Spawton

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

Nothing planned on Harold, but Brunanburgh is in my sights.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, It has been just over a year since I discovered your books last November. Since then I have read The Grail Quest, The Warlord Chronicles, Stonehenge, and the Sharpe series (just finished Sharpe's Devil last week). You are one of my very favorite authors and I can't wait to read more of your books! I've got a few questions for you regarding pronunciation of names in the Warlord series that aren't in the pronunciation guide in the FAQ section of this site and also names in Stonehenge. How is Nimue pronounced? (I've been saying it Nim-yoo which is probably wrong). How is the Britons' word for the Saxons "sais"(not sure if I spelled it right) pronounced? Also I had some trouble with a lot of the names in Stonehenge could you possibly write a pronunciation guide like the one for the Warlord series that's on this site? Sorry if this is a lot to ask but I want to be sure I'm pronouncing the names correctly. Another question I have is are you planning on writing any books set in Scotland or Ireland? Thank you for all the hours of great reading. I hope you had a good Christmas and have a happy New Year. James

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

Nim-you-ay, and sice. And I'll think about the Stonehenge list for you! No plans for Scotland or Ireland at the moment - but who knows?

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwall, I have read and enjoyed very much your Sharpe series. I am scanning them again to find if there is a number allocated to the South Essex regiment? I would like to know if there was, as I am unable to locate such. Thank you, David Gentry

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

There isn't. I decided against it - I obviously couldn't use one of the existing mumbers, which would have meant calling them the 105th, which is horribly cumbersome (and also sounds like a French unit!), so I just decided to ignore it. But, for your information, that's what they are - the 105th Regiment of Foot.

Q

Bernard, I am brazilian and have just read The Warlord Chronicles. I would like to notice you that your books are great best sellers here in Brazil!! Well...I loved The warlord chronicles...I want to thank you for so great history. A tiny doubt of mine : Caddwg said that he would take Arthur and the others to the place where Merlin had ordered. In your mind, what place was that? Should it be Avalon island? Thank you again for the amazing histories. Charles / São Paulo / Brazil

Submitted January 5, 2005

A

I rather left it to the reader to decide! I like the fact that Arthur goes away - to a magical otherworld - and I didn't want to pin that place down. We can call it Avalon, and hope it exists!

Q

Hi Bernard, I just read the piece in the Globe and am thrilled to hear of your plan to write about the Penobscot Expedition. I'm a Maine native, now in Mass., and have been hearing about "the greatest US naval defeat until Pearl Harbor" for years. One book you'll want to track down, if you don't already have it, is George Buker's "The Penobscot Expedition" put out by the Naval Institute Press a couple years ago. My Dad ran into the author last summer in Sandy Point, Maine, just across the river from the Bagaduce Peninsula, and picked up a copy from him. If you can't track one down, I'll happily lend you mine. It is meticulously researched. Anyhow, love the Sharpe books! --Mike
PS, I won't hold your lawyer jabs against you, though I am currently studying law in western Mass. I like that Lincoln joke. My favorite is: what do you call 500 lawyers on the bottom of the ocean? ... A start.

Submitted January 4, 2005

A

Thank you - I do have George Buker's book, well read and annotated, and very good it is as well. I do think he's very kind (overkind?) to Dudley Saltonstall, but I suppose that's solidarity among US Navy officers! He's utterly convincing, though, about how the Massachusetts politicians conspired to throw all the blame on Saltonstall so that they could fetch repayment from the Federal government - nice to know things don't change. I shall do some research to discover whether there were any lawyers on the expedition - wasn't Solomon Lovell one? I'm sure he was. Ho ho.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I must say as usually a reader of sci fi fantasy you are the first writer outside the above genre that has enthralled me. First with your King Arthur novels then Mr Sharpe. I am however most eager to learn more of Mr Sharpe's adventures in socialite London between Trafagar and Prey, any plans for such a novel? I am a struggling first time writer myself with a similar background to yourself...I am a Britain married to an American awaiting a visa to work...I hope my future is as successful as yours. Best wishes, Tairis

Submitted January 4, 2005

A

None at the moment, I fear, sorry. Best of luck with your writing.

Q

Mr Cornwell: I have been a Sharpe fan for years, having read all these books (more than once !) I decided to read the Grail Quest trilogy - I am currently nearing the end of Vagabond. As a keen longbow archer with an eye for historic detail, I am immensely pleased to read the accurate & intricate detail with which you describe the battlefield archery and fieldcraft of the medieval archer. How long did your research in this area take ? Matt Rentell

Submitted January 4, 2005

A

A long time - but I was hugely fortunate in knowing a longbow re-enactor who spent a lot of time with me and his bows. We even went to Agincourt and shot a few arrows for old times sake! Incidentally - do you know The Crooked Stick by Hugh Soar? It's about to be published (or just was published) in the UK, and it really is a magnificent book about the longbow. I wish he'd written it six years ago!