Your Questions

Q

Do you regret killing off Sgt Hawkeswill so early in your books ? Might you feel tempted to write another Sharpe with that wonderful anti hero included ? (He says hopefully.) I have enjoyed your books for many years, with particular reference to Sharpe and The Grail quest. But I can`t help wondering what Sgt Hawkeswill might have got up to. Graham Smith

Submitted October 15, 2004

A

I do regret it - perhaps he has an evil twin?

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I've been a longtime fan of Sharpe, Derfel and the rest and, as a result of this site (and quotes on the book jackets), I've been introduced to a number of other authors who keep me constantly entertained. I'd simply like to ask whether the quotes on Conn Iggulden's 'Gates of Rome' and Simon Scarrow's 'Under the Eagle' were really your words? I'd kind of like to think that they were; particularly as they were probably the determining factor in my purchasing these excellent novels and there sequels. I'd also be interested to know what, if anything, you think of Matthew Hervey, Allan Mallinson's officer of Light Dragoons? Dominic Mulholland

Submitted October 15, 2004

A

The words are mine. What do I think of Matthew Hervey? Terrific!

Q

Hi Bernard, I'm a big fan of your work and also Manchester Utd football club , and as such I've heard that Roy Keane is Alex Ferguson's version of himself on the football pitch. Would you describe Sharpe as Wellington's version of himself on the battlefield? Regards Mark Tate

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

Anything but! Wellington disliked soldiers like Sharpe - first he was up from the ranks ('they all take to drink') and second because he preferred men who quietly did their duty in a steady, unflashy way. Sharpe is not unflashy, but that's what makes him (to me) an interesting foil to Wellington.

Q

Hi Bernard. Firstly may I say how much I enjoy all your books. I have a question about the longbow. I watched a documentary recently about the battle of Agincourt where they did a test on the longbow and stated that it couldn't possibly have pierced armour. How they arrived at this was they filmed someone shooting a longbow, used that to calculate the speed the arrow was travelling and then used a machine to drive an arrow at a piece of steel to simulate armour. The arrow just buckled. I'm sceptical as to whether the person would be shooting with the same power as a Medievel archer. They said the battle of Agincourt was won because of the muddy conditions and because the French were charging into a natural funnel in the terrain and it was a sort of Medieval Hillsborough disaster. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on this. Mark Durant

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

The documentary sounds full of rubbish, but there you go. The longbow was used first against the two mounted flank attacks, and those arrows would have been aimed at the horses. Horses don't wear plate armour, and a longbow arrow would pierce mail, leather or padded cloth. Bye bye gee gees. The retreating horsemen probably messed up the main attack (which was on foot), and the longbow arrows would not have pierced plate armour at long or even medium range, but they did force the French men at arms to fight with their visors down, thus restricting their vision drastically. At close range an arrow might pierce plate if it strikes directly - the arrow is travelling at least 44 metres a second (that's a 90 pound bow, and the Agincourt bows were much stronger). Even if the arrow didn't pierce the armour it would knock the man backwards - and few men at arms could afford full plate armour. Many, perhaps most, would have worn leather and mail, and they would have been easy meat for longbowmen. It's Hillsborough plus arrows - very nasty indeed!

Q

Question: Will we see any books focusing on Harper's life, and supposed adventures, before meeting Sharpe, and after returning to Ireland? Enjoyed all the books, thank you. Jeff Bouchard

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

Probably not.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I would like to thank you for your wonderful job. You are one of the few people who opened English language for me and made me to love it almost as much as my native language. But here is my question: In Starbuck Chronicles both Lassan and Sergeant Case have done Sevastopol campaign. I know more or less the Russian side of that campaign because I am Russian. Could you suggest for me some good book which can tell me the English side of the story? Or, perhaps you yourself are planning the book about Sevastopol campaign? Respectfully, Alexander D. New York

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

I'm not! And I don't know of a good book - though Terry Brighton's new book The Charge of the Light Brigade, does deal fairly comprehensively with the siege (as well as the battle of Balaclava). That might be a good place to start, and I'm sure his bibliography will provide a good suggestion

Q

I was wondering if Susanna Clarke's 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' is your type of reading - it has a magical account of the peninsula war. Becki

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

Haven't read it yet . . but will. Thanks!

Q

For want of something to read recently I turned to the Starbuck Chronicles. I've had them for sometime but because of comments from other readers wanting more I had put off starting them. Well they were brilliant, the battle scenes up there with the best you have written. So Mr C get on with some more PLEEEASE. Also I noticed in The Bloody Ground a mention of one General Hooker of whom I once read some trivia. General Hooker used to cart around on campaign a wagonload of shall we call them 'Loose women'. Whenever anyone asked who these women were the troops replied 'They're Hookers' hence the term came to the American language. Not sure how much truth there is in it but it's a good story. Speaking of language I couldn't but notice the American spelling in the Starbuck books. Does the language differ depending about what you have written (Sharpe, Archer Arthur etc were all in UK English) or was the bookstore I got them from ill supplied? Do you write being based in America in US or UK English and you rely on the publishers to supply the correct version to wherever? Congratulations on the award in Canada I agree you are too young for a lifetime award, much too much living and writing to do (Starbuck for instance). A Knighthood at least would be much better and much more merited than some who have had them. Changing the subject completely do you see England reviving under Captain Wilkinson? Now there's a name for a character and he must have a razor edge to his sword. Regards as ever Nigel James

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

General Hooker - It is a great story, and if only it were true! But the first mention of 'hooker' in print dates from 1845 - and in Bartlett's American dictionary (1859) hooker is defined as 'a resident of the Hook, ie a strumpet, a sailor's trull'. The 'Hook' was Corlear's Hook in New York - and alas, our Hooker came later! But still a good story.

You will find that the spelling of words in my books are often Americanised by the US publishers.

Thank you! But Toronto was probably more fun than a knighthood - I recommend the Texas Lone Star bar on Front Street.

As for Captain Wilkinson? I live in hope, but lament Martin Johnson's retirement (for US and other disadvantaged readers, we are talking about England's rugby team).

Q

I'm currently hooked on the Grail Quest series. Hsve you ever considered including an overall map for each book? a reference glossary for technical or foreign words? a detailed map for each battle? Bernard Bloom

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

I've considered all the above, and perhaps we should think about the map. I'm rather against a glossary, hoping (against hope perhaps) that the context will explain unfamiliar words (like nakerer).

Q

Bernard, I have read many of your books and I have to say that they are amazing. But I'd like to know if you have read any of the Alain Lausard books by Richard Howard and what you think of them if you had. Keep up the good work!!!! Matthew Booker

Submitted October 13, 2004

A

I haven't read them - so no opinion, alas.