Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell. I am an enthusiastic fan of all of your writing. In the US we are taught that the American Civil war was the first "modern" war. Factors such as railroad supply and troop movement, Ironclad steam powered ships, the first submarine, and Grant's and Sherman's tactics are usually sited. I wondered if English history makes the case for the Peninsular war as a "modern" war because of the use of the rifle, improved artillery and Wellington's tactics. Steven Hall

Submitted October 29, 2004

A

I think it would be a hard case to make! The rifle wasn't used in sufficient quantity to drive men to ground (i.e. take cover), the artillery wasn't rifled, and the tactics used would have been very familiar to Marlborough's men of a hundred years before! I think the American Civil War is far more revolutionary in nature.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell- I am a great fan of your books, especially the Warlord chronicles and A Crowning Mercy. Have you ever considered writing a story set in Ancient Egypt? It was such an amazing period in history and there is far more to it than just the mummification and death rituals. Another question- how do you find the sheer strength of will to persevere with chapter after chapter of novel after novel? Phillip Pullman has said something about pigheadedness in a writer being the difference between an amateur and a professional- what's your take on that? Sophia

Submitted October 29, 2004

A

I do sometimes think about ancient Egypt, then lie down until the temptation passes. I doubt I'll ever do it, though it is fascinating - truly fascinating - but so far off my radar screen that I'm not sure I'll ever do the necessary work. Strength of will? The alternative to writing the next chapter is to go out and get a proper job, so I never think of it as a chore. It's a pleasure! Honest! I do think it's a matter of luck - many 'amateur' writers would be succesful professionals if they got the breaks. At first - writing the first book - some blind pigheadedness helps because you have no idea whether it's going to work. But I'm really glad Philip Pullman is pigheaded (if he really is) because I like his books.

Q

Hi, I first stumbled upon your books when I was given a gift voucher for a local store here in Northern Ireland. So of course I bought the last in the Arthur series (typical), so I read them backwards and still enjoyed every minute. Since then I have read your Starbuck series, Stonehenge and Grail Quest series as has my Dad. Family members keep buying me the Sharpe ones as gifts and I just wish there was more time so I could get to read them all. I have ordered my husband to buy me your new book for Christmas so I eagerly await this as does my father. I keep telling him if he buys it he will get to read it faster but I think he gets satisfaction from pinching my copy. Anyhow we were discussing your grail quest novels the other night and were interested to know whether there is going to be a fourth. I would just like to congratulate you on the historical masterpieces that you have supplied the wrld with and hope they keep coming. Olwyn McClure

Submitted October 29, 2004

A

Thank you for your kind message. No plans for a fourth Grail Quest book.

Q

Exactly how old is Richard Sharpe after Waterloo? Are there any conflicts he could have go onto as I have found this snippet and wondered if this could be another area for adventure 1808. 13th Foot. They arrived from England in March, 1808, but left in November to help attack Martinique in the French West Indies. Keep up with the great Sharpe stories, any chance of coming to Carlisle to do a signing?? Ian Winter Carlisle

Submitted October 29, 2004

A

Sharpe is 38 at Waterloo. Martinique? Probably not, because it would mean going backwards again, and once is enough! Not sure Sharpe would have liked the West Indies - nice beaches, nice people and all that - but the deaths from yellow fever were horrific. No plans to be in Carlisle right now - but maybe someday!

Q

Have enjoyed all your Sharpe books! It appears "short books", i.e., Skirmish and Christmas came out o/a the holiday season. Will there be another for 2004? Best regards from a fan. Dennis

Submitted October 27, 2004

A

No, no new short story book planned for this holiday season.

Q

I am currently reading The Last Kingdom and wondered if you could tell me where you got the name Brida for one of the characters? My Grandmother was called Bryda but I have not been able to find out anything about the name. MERVYN LEDBURY

Submitted October 27, 2004

A

I haven't a clue! Sorry! Some time ago - when researching it all - I made lists of names as I came across them, but I never bothered to note what the sources were (because I don't need to know that) - so it came from a good source, but which one? No idea!

Q

I haven't been reading you for long but I am already enthralled by your books. I loved "the Grail Quest" books but I agree with you saying that Thomas's story has really ended. I have also read a couple of the famous Sharpe novels and have just started up on "the Winter King". I just want to ask if you have been offered the chance to have any of your books (apart from Sharpe, which is already a TV series) turned into movies? I know the a movie of books such as "Heretic" will never be as good as the book but maybe if people like the movie then they will start to read your books, which is what often happens when movies based on books are made. Also, do you know if it is true that ITV are making a second series of "Sharpe" based on the India books? I know this email is getting a bit long so I'll end it with why do you deem it nessecary for your main characters to always be able to read and write? I do hope you will continuously produce books on historical events twisted to go along with your character's adventures for History has never been so interesting. Robert Eyre

Submitted October 27, 2004

A

No movie plans at the moment - although a new Sharpe film has been talked about. Reading and writing? Sharpe had to if he was to be promoted. Could Derfel? Can't remember. The new one? Because Alfred insisted on it.

Q

Mr. Cornwell, As my favourite living author, I would be interested to know if you've read the works of my favourite non-living author, James Clavell. If so, what's your opinion of them and him? (I've read that he was a bit, well, I suppose efficacious is the word you would use!) Regards, James Moore, SC

Submitted October 27, 2004

A

I like his books - and I hear much the same!

Q

Greetings, I was just wondering why you decided to turn the character of Lancelot on his ear so to speak personaly I thought it was a nice take in the story..though the 11 year old boy in me was heart broken. Also I was curious as to whether the druidic rituals described in the Arthur series were based in reality . your faithful (and avid!) reader Michael Adair. p.s just to say that the Sharpe series really got me interested in the Napoleonic wars ,an era of history I had previously ignored. thanks again.

Submitted October 27, 2004

A

I never particularly liked Lancelot - thought he was a bit of a bore...The rituals? There is almsot no known reality. All we know of the Druids is what their enemies (the Romans) told us, and the Druids themselves left no written records of any kind, so most of it is invented - or at least embroidered on the very thin evidence available.

Q

Mr Cornwell Absolutely love your Sharpe series , and I would like to ask the following. Do you ever regret making Harper 8 years younger than Sharpe, thus making him illegible for the earlier books set in India? He would have been great as Sharpe's constant sidekick throughout. Nick R.

Submitted October 25, 2004

A

No - because the books worked well (says he) without Harper. It would have been nice if he could have been there, but there you go!