Will Sharpe ever meet Hornblower and have an adventure together? Luis Lantieri
It's not likely - it would prove to be a copyright nightmare.
Dear Mr Cornwell, I would like to say how much I have enjoyed reading The Grail Series. I was educated in the forties and fifties when medieval history was barely touched upon. My interest was awakened when my daughter gained a Masters degree in Medieval History at London University three years ago. As a budding writer I take an interest in the styles of published authors; not to copy their ideas but to teach me the requirements of various publishers and editors. I am a member of several internet writing groups where I am being advised about the subtle changes in writing styles supposedly being put forward by today's editors. One being the overuse of passive verbs such as had and was. This is most disconcerting when I pick up a recently published book off a shelf and find this new style has been ignored to the point where the book has been shortlisted for some prize or other. Do I write the way I want and take these changes with a pinch of salt, or do I heed the bleatings of these apparently learned experts? I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter and whether you have come across this kind of hiccup in your past years of writing. Thanks a lot Dorothy
A pinch of salt? How about a mountain of salt!! Ignore all that rubbish!! And it is rubbish. What editors want are good stories, good stories and good stories, Just that, and the incidences of 'had' and 'was' never enters their minds. Write the way you want, write what you want to read, tell it well, have fun and remember that writing is a solitary occupation. You don't do it in groups, you do it by yourself, so ignore everyone and everything and have a good time!
Dear Mr. Cornwell, My husband and I are great fans, have read and re-read all your Sharpe Books. 19th Century British Military history has long been a favorite subject and you truly bring it to life. In several place you refer to the "foot wraps" used. In the uniform lists I've seen (granted they are not extensive) I've only seen stockings listed. Were the wraps standard issue or anemergency item? Also I've been searching for "The Sharpe Companion" and I find it listed as "Volume one, The early years" or just as The Sharpe Companion. Can you clalify for me if it is the same book with a subtitle or was more than one volume written? Thank you for the many hours of great reading. As my husband is an army veteran (of 50 years ago), he has really enjoyed and apreciated your wonderful books. Especially the references to the Riflemen. Roberta Parker
I suspect that stockings were issued, but wore out fast, so unless you were rich enough to have sufficient spare pairs you were reduced to foot-cloths or blisters.
The Sharpe Companion - Vol. One, The Early Years is a revised and expanded edition of the original Sharpe Companion. I believe a second volume is planned but I don't know if it's available yet.
Dear, Mr. Cornwell I recently just finished reading the Warlord trilogy and they have become my favorite novels. Your story was so beautiful, original and captivating and I cared so much for the characters that I didn't want it to end! Especially knowing that the story is so traditionally tragic. I have only one concern with the stroy and that regards Derfel snapping the bone given to him by Merlin to have his dream of Ceinwyn's love be granted to him. Do you think that, in a way, Derfel cheated on love? Is the love between him and Ceinwyn truly original or a work of Merlin's magic? I just want to thank you again for such brilliant works. You have inspired a 17 year-old from Dallas, Texas to do just a little more reading in the hope of finding as good a story as this one. Thank you. -Andrew McCarthy
I think it's absolutely genuine! The real, true thing! Hope you enjoy the other two books about Derfel and Ceinwyn
hello Bernard. I'll make this a short as I can. I would like to thank you for your books, they have opened my eyes to so many interesting periods of history I was previously ignorant of. I was wondering why you have never written a Sharpe book about Rolica and Vimeiro and if you ever plan to? I was also wondering if you have ever considered writing a book about Stamford bridge and Hastings? and lastly I read the other day that you have done your reaserch for Agincourt and couldnt help wondering if you will do Poitiers some day? Josh Bowen
Rolica and Vimeiro? I guess it's possible, but not in my plans at the moment. I can't get excited about Stamford Bridge and Hastings - but who knows? And I think I'll get round to Agincourt sooner rather than later - Poitiers? Don't know yet.
Hi Bernard, What promted you to base your hero in the "Green Jackets"? Enjoy ALL your books. cheers Ian
Because the rifle, being a unique weapon, makes him more interesting (at least to me), and riflemen, being skirmishers, have a bit more freedom of action which is useful to a novelist.
Dear Mr. Cornwell: Can you recommend a good book on the day-to-day life and experiences of French Napoleonic soldiers? I am looking for a French equivalent of Richard Holmes' "Redcoat." Thanks, Alan Kempner
Nothing that comes close to Richard Holmes! Nothing I'd recommend - there are plenty of books on Napoleon's army, and you'll find bits and pieces in them. I like the memoirs of Sergeant Bourgogne, but they're hard to find . . . not much help, really.
I have recently read Sharpe's Trafalgar which I though was gripping. As a huge Patrick O'Brian fan, I was interested to see how you would tackle life within the wooden walls and was very impressed indeed. I suspect that you have read some of the Aubrey/Maturin novels, how arduous a task was it going into writing about sea life of the time following the masterly descriptions O'Brian carved into literary history? I also think it's a shame that Sharpe and Aubrey never met - I think they both would have got on very well - both outsiders to a greater or lesser extent, both with a firm sense of duty and both absolutely committed to what they do! Andy Bradshaw
Thank you! And, of course, I read all of Aubrey's adventures (and Hornblower's, and Bolitho's and Ramages'). Very hard to write! You can't lose the characters 'over the hills and far away' because you're stuck on a boat, so writing it increased my admiration of the naval novelists.
Congatulations on the Last Kingdom. A very good book and comes a near third to your Warlord Chronicles and Stonehenge. You say in the historical note that you took Uhtred from a later period in history. Is this the same Earl Uhtred of Northumbria who was killed in 1016AD by Cnut? In regards to your Warlord Chronicles, I was researching the period of Arthur and Dark Age Britain and came across a predicted date of Arthur's birth and death, he was said to be about 74 when he died. Is this about the same age he and Derfel are at the end of Excalibur? And finally, I was wondering if you have read an excellent historical novel which is not by your good self called The Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Breem and was wondering if you have ever thought of writing a book based on the collapse of the Roman Empire? Keep up the good work and thanks for hours of great reading, can't wait for the second book to the Last Kingdom, Lewis.
My Uhtred is much earlier, but it is the same family.
I would have thought Derfel was in his 60's.
I've read Wallace Breem and think he's wonderful- but I'm not tempted into the Roman period, not at the moment, anyway.
As a follow up to your recent answer, what factors made Stonehenge such a blue murder to write? Stan Oakley, MD
It was the necessity to invent a complete theology, which I think I failed to do adequately, at least to the extent that I could believe in it myself. So, though the book is very accurate (as far as I can make it) on the actual building of Stonehenge, I think I never really satisfactorily came up with a reason for building it - and that's a big failure - and it stalked the writing of the book.