Your Questions

DEAR MR. CORNWELL, I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE SHARPE SERIES BY MY BROTHER A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN A HUGE FAN EVER SINCE. QUITE HONESTLY I WASN'T VERY INTERESTED AT FIRST UNTIL MY BROTHER INDICATED THAT SHARPE REMINDED HIM OF ME. NOT SURE WHY! ANYWAY, MY QUESTION IS THIS: I FIND MANY CHARACTERS IN YOUR NOVELS VERY INTERESTING, ESPECIALLY THE NONFICTION VARIETY. I FIND SIR ARTHUR WELLESLEY ONE OF THE MORE FASCINATING PEOPLE I HAVE EVER READ ABOUT AND FIND MYSELF ADMIRING THIS MAN VERY MUCH. CAN YOU RECOMMEND A BOOK THAT TELLS MORE ABOUT WELLESLEY? HIS MEMOIRS? ALSO, I REALIZE THAT RICHARD SHARPE IS A FICTIONAL CHARACTER, BUT IS THERE ANYONE WHO PARALLELS THIS CHARACTER AND HIS ADVENTURES EVEN IN THE SLIGHTEST? IF SO, I WOULD LIKE TO READ ABOUT THIS NONFICTION PERSON AS WELL. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL BOOKS. LOVE ALL YOUR CHARACTERS AND THE WONDERFUL DESCRIPTIONS OF THEM AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACHOTHER. ESPECIALLY SHARPE AND HARPER. WHAT AN AWESOME PAIR AND SO BELIEVABLE. SINCERELY, RYAN HIGGINBOTHAM

About two months ago, I came across an intro offer on Sharpe's Eagle. I took it up, and enjoyed it immensely. I have been mulling over checking out your books for some time, but no longer reading fiction, I passed them by. Since that first book, I have read six more. My question is about Wellington, was he much like your portrait of him, in style, demeanor, and tone? I am referring to his personal character, not just his military skill. Moreover, were you to go into Barnes and Noble, or Borders, and looking for a biography on Wellington, there are not many to select from. But were you to check out Bonaparte, there are many selections, and most of them are recent publications. To what do you account for the discrepancy? Kind of odd, so much on Bonaparte, little of Wellington? What is the best bio to explore his full career, including India? I would love to know. Thanks, and keep up the excellent work. I hope you are hard at it, someone so talented has no business doing anything but WRITING! Dan McCuen, Esquire

Hi Bernard I am rereading Excalibur and am loving it. When Cerdic's spearmen row away they sing a song that repeats the word "hwaet" - for your mom, for your girl, etc. What does it mean? Thanks, James

I thoroughly enjoyed The Warlord Chronicles and was fascinated with the character reinterpretations. I think the musical, "Camelot", got it partly right when Lancelot sings "C'est Moi!" My wife considers your Arthur books heresy since she prefers "The Mists of Avalon". The book, not the mini-series. She liked the emphasis on the female characters. I tried to tell her that you feature strong male characters but do not neglect the females. Like most people who are offended by a book, she won't read it. Any chance for Derfel having any more adventures? The period between the Battle at Mount Baddon and the return of Mordred was several years and it would make interesting reading. Not to beat a dead horse, BUT, I wrote to you several months ago regarding the relatively small armies in the Arthur Books. I suppose the collapse of the Roman economic structure and decline in agricultural production meant that they did not have the capacity to sustain large numbers of warriors in the field. You are right and I yield the point. As to Boadicea's army, I checked in my copy of Michael Wood's "In Search of the Dark Ages" and he states that her army substantialy outnumbered the Roman forces. I realize that Roman chroniclers such as Tacitus and Dio vastly overestimated the size of the force but the number of Roman Legionaries were usually accurately reported. According to Dr. Graham Wesbster, the backbone of Suetonious' force was the 14th Legion. He also had elements of the 20th. The Romans numbered around 7000 or 8000 legionaries and 4000 auxilaries and cavalry. That's about 11 or 12 thousand. If she outnumbered the Romans what is a good "guesstimate" as to the number? Did Celtic society/economy operate at a higher level before the Roman invasion? Not meaning to nitpik just interested. Guy E. Orr

Mr Cornwell, In the Sharpe books whenever Lawford or Sharpe talk about how long they have known each other they always say since 1799 when Sharpe was a sergeant but I'm sure Sharpe wasn't promoted until the end of Sharpe's Tiger after Lawford taught him how to read and write. Please could you help with these? One more comment, in Sharpe's company Lieutenant Price's first name is Harold yet later on it is Harry are they 2 different people? Thank you very much your fan, Chris Horgan

Mr. Cornwell, Re: the Sharpe Series. I am no expert but I recall that the Claymore was a two handed broad sword carried over the shoulder by Highlanders. The Basket hilt one handed double edge sword carried in the 18th and early 19th century was called the "Claithbeg" (Claybeg) or something like that. Am I worng? Thank you for all your work. It is positively brilliant and I hope HM the Queen recognizes you for all you have done for Britain. John Lapin

Mr, Cornwell, In your research for the Sharpe series did you have an opportunity to fire a "Brown Bess" musket, either replica or original? Did you also try an early flintlock rifle musket? If you have not, one would never know from reading your books. I was just curious. John Lapin

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm a huge King Arthur fan and in my opinion, your interpretation of the legend is extremely inspiring. I happen to be of Irish descent and wonder if you are familiar with the story of Brian Boru and what you thought of the parallels in Boru's story and those of our favorite legend. Also, just out of curiousity...have you read "Lion of Ireland" by Morgan Llwellyn. Who do you read for inspiration??? Thanks for your time, Brian Hanley

Dear Bernard, Just bought a copy of Sharpe's Christmas and was pleasantly suprised to find it was signed, thank you. I recently finished readng Dan Brown's Da Vinci code and having also read your Grail Quest I found myself comparing both books,. I feel the Grail seems more trouble than anything else, a big white elephant (I know they're only fiction) and what do you think of the opinion regarding Mary Magdelene as the Grail? Finally having done a lot of research into my family name I believe it relates to Cheshire poachers, abit like Dan Hagman (Stealth fox) a worthy character name I believe. Thanks for your time, Alex

Dear Mr Cornwell, I'm currently working on the first historical battle to feature in the Napoleonic novel I'm writing. I'm using several books to guide me along, including the relevant Osprey, which has good maps and diagrams but I'm finding it hard to get into, certainly a lot harder than the fictional battle/fight scenes that have gone before, because I have to bear in mind what actually happened and can't let my imagination run wild! I was wondering if you found historical or fictional battles easier to write and whether you have any advice on writing them? You don't mention it in your writing advice section, which incidentally encouraged me to keep going during a bad patch when I was just starting. I wondered also if you had read either of the new Edwin Thomas stories fearing Lieutenant Martin Jerrold of the Royal Navy? I have read The Blighted Cliffs and enjoyed it and finally found Chains of Albion today. The cameo appearance by Arthur Wellesley was one of my favourite scenes in The Blighted Cliffs. Someone asked what happened to Tom Garrad. He survived the destruction of Almeida in Sharpe's Gold. Sharpe believes that he dies in Sharpe's Battle, I think in an explosion, but never finds his body. Marie

Mr Cornwell, I have just finished the Starbuck Chronicles and I was pleasantly suprised by them. Do you know when you will write another of them? I have started reading Redcoat and was wondering, how old were the lads when the wealthy parents sent them off to be Ensigns? Its just that Trumbull is 13 and I was wondering, did they ever have younger boys as Ensigns? Also, why is it that some of your most brutal villains are Sergeants (Hakeswill, Case and Scammell come to my mind)? Thanks for the hours of pleasurable reading and I can't wait until the Last Kingdom comes out, it sounds excellent. Lewis

I just re-read C.S. Foresters "Rifleman Dodd" and I was wondering just how much this book influenced you to write the Sharpe books and will Dodd return in other Sharpe books. I know he made it back to his company. (Captain Forthingham's Company). Jim Bundstein

I've read and enjoyed many of your books, especially the Sharpe series. A question: In "Sharpe's Escape", what happened to Corporal Matthew Dodd at Bussaco? On page 112, "Sharpe reckoned Dodd would rejoin later", but I must have missed his reappearance. Any clarification would be appreciated. My wife and I really enjoyed your visit a couple of years ago to the Vancouver library. I love historical fiction, so thanks for all the great writing! John