Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard,

Love all of your books but have to say Sharpe is my favourite and the release of Sharpe's Command has prompted me re-read the series in chronological order, something I am thoroughly enjoying! Having said that I do have a soft spot for Nate Starbuck and do hope one day you'll finish his story.

Anyway, my question is on the Sharpe adaptation (which I also love and think Sean Bean is the perfect Sharpe). What were your thoughts on the TV series, did you have any involvement in it? Did you agree with the castings - were there any you thought were totally miscast or in that matter any that were perfectly cast? Did you have any feelings on the changes made (particularly Sharpe's Gold) or the created for TV Sharpe's Mission and justice?  Do you know why Hogan only features in the first 2 episodes when he is quite prominent in most of the books?

Long question, I'm sorry.

Looking forward to your next book - do you know what this might be yet or is that a thought for another day or a secret at the moment.

Kind regards,

Rob

Submitted February 29, 2024

A

I take the view that the less I’m involved the better!  The TV producers know their business (and I don’t know their business) so I let them get on with it and don’t ask questions.  I worked in television long enough to know that I know nothing about producing TV drama, and any input from me is liable to be either a distraction or an obstacle. If they have questions then they can ask me and I’ll answer, but otherwise I leave well alone.

Next book will be another Sharpe!

Q

Do you ever look back on any of your books and wished you'd written them differently?  I personally wished you'd planned your Arthur series so it went on for another 10 books or so!  Why did you limit yourself to just three?  And have you ever been tempted to tell us what happened at the end of the last book.  You've imagined it at least, even if you've not written the tale!

Keep up the good work, I'm loving the Last Kingdom books at the moment!

Dave Tuck

Submitted February 29, 2024

A

Given a chance I'd rewrite the first third of The Winter King to give it more pace....but  I never anticipate my characters' lives beyond the limits of the books and I have no plans to add to the Warlord Chronicles.

Q

Hello, Mr Cornwell.

 

I hope this finds you well.

 

I'm currently reading 1356, and a line caught my attention. It was the chapter where Roland of Verrec is bringing Genevieve to Labrouillade.

 

When Roland's group encounter some soldiers on the road, they run for an abandoned church tower.

The line states: "Roland arrived at the dark tower".

Is this line a reference to Stephen King's The Dark Tower?

 

I'm sorry if the names aren't correct, I'm not reading the original in English.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Carlos

Submitted February 16, 2024

A

‘Roland to the dark tower came’ was a really a homage to Shakespeare who uses the line in King Lear!  It was then used by Robert Browning in a poem called Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came (which is the exact Shakespearean quote).  So I suspect Stephen King and I both borrowed from one or the other or both.

Q

Hi Bernard,

 

Thank you for your stories they have become a big influence on me. I listen to the audio records daily. I listened to all the Saxon Stories, Warlord Chronicles, Grail Quest, Stonehenge and Azincourt.

 

Do you plan on doing a sequel to 1356 or revisiting Thomas of Hookton?

I find the grail quest series fantastic and would love to hear/read more.

 

Regards

 

James

Submitted February 16, 2024

A

I am considering it!

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell,

Firstly thank you for your efforts to entertain me over the years which I have to say have been quite successful.. I am an avid reader and have read all your novels and and enjoyed them immensely with the exception of two (which I'll refrain form naming, you can probably guess). Having recently acquired "Sharpes Command", of course I had to start the series again from book one, which apart from the time involved is no hardship.  I then decided to revisit the Starbuck Novels, having forgotten that series ends in 1862 with many unanswered questions.

What happens Nate after Sharpsburg? What happens to Sally? Why does Lassan leave? (he has to) Do Sally and Truslow reconcile? does Belvedere Delaney get caught? How does Nate find Billy and inflict Rothwells revenge. How does Potter (my favourite) get back to his wife etc..........

I surmise that you have no plans to write another Starbuck, after so long a break.  I would love to know why. Didn't you like the characters? the story? the time period? didn't sell well? Or was it case of Uhtred taking over your life, he does have that effect.

best regards

 

Chris

Submitted January 17, 2024

A

I don't think I could blame it on only one thing.....I had always thought I'd return to Starbuck, but there are many things I'd like to write and time seems to be slipping by....

Q

Dear Bernard, greetings.

I hope this message finds you well.

Firstly I would like to thank you for sending me an autograph. I never believed I had an autograph from someone I admire immensely. I put it on a board next to the your books.

Having said that, I would like to ask you if it ever occurred to you to write a story set in one of the Great World Wars?

I wish you peace and good health. As our great friend Uhtred would say, destiny is all.

Smith Gomes

Submitted January 17, 2024

A

I have no plans to write about WWI or WWII.

Q

Are you planning to write your autobiography?

Steve Ainsworth

Submitted January 6, 2024

A

No, I have no such plans. I did write an essay for Granta once called 'Cakes and Ale' (also included in Sharpe's Story) which was mostly about my adoption and childhood, and, frankly, it was a miserable experience to write it.  So no more!

Q

Hi, just finished gallows thief, great read. Whilst I begin to investigate your catalog wondering if you ever considered making Rider Sandman into a series? I used to work close to the artillery cricket ground; brought back memories.

Best

Matt Williams

 

Mr. Cornwell,

As a longtime fan I enjoy your successes--Uhtred is on NETFLIX!! --nearly as much as you must do.  Were I you, I'd have long since retired on my laurels.

However, I suspect I'm not alone in wondering what happened to Rider Sandman.  Had you written him as a two-dimensional goody two-shoes I'm sure I'd be content to imagine him safely married to Eleanor and avoiding drama with his horrible mother-in-law.

If spared, I hope to revisit Captain Sandman's fascinating life.  He seems a perfect bridge between Arthur Wellesley's (KG GCB GCH PC FRS) England and yours...

v/r,

Mike F

Lt Col, USAF (ret)

Submitted January 2, 2024

A

I have considered more for Rider Sandman, but I'm not sure I'll ever get to it.....

Q

Hi Bernard  .

First let me say how much enjoyment I've had off your books over the years. I'm just wondering  if you have any plans for more sea going adventures in the near future.

Regards

Tony

Submitted December 18, 2023

A

Not at the moment ...

Q

Hi,

I just watched the new Ridley Scott Napoleon film and came away with mixed feelings towards the depiction of Napoleon and of The Duke of Wellington. The experience had me asking myself if you have any plans to see the movie, but also have you seen the 1970 Waterloo movie and if yes what do you make of the interpretations of both Napoleon and the Duke in that movie? Finally, do you have any recommendations for movies/shows which you believe do justice in the portrayal of those people?

Many thanks,

James

Submitted December 13, 2023

A

I saw the Ridley Scott Napoleon movie and was bitterly disappointed.  I was ready to forgive some inaccuracy – a movie is like an historical novel, you expect some changes to be made to help the story flow, but there seemed no story unless it was Napoleon’s relationship with Josephine – but to me the inaccuracies were not there to help the story; they seemed perversely willful; firing cannon at the pyramids? (the battle was fought almost ten miles away). Napoleon leading a cavalry charge at Waterloo (utterly risible) and, disgracefully, a British officer calling his men to go ‘over the top’ as they scrambled from a trench at Waterloo (there were no field fortifications on either side).  There had to have been an historical consultant on the film, but either he slept through the making of the film or else he was ignored. There were plenty of other inaccuracies, but for me the greatest flaw was that it in no way explained or even showed Napoleon’s greatness.  He was a great man, an enlightened ruler, a magnificent administrator, and, plainly, a talented military leader. Instead he appeared as a petulant, irritated little man. Wellington said that Napoleon’s presence on the battlefield was worth 40,000 men – no sign of that and Augereau – a foul mouthed fighting general if ever there was one – confessed that Napoleon ‘terrified’ him. No sign of that either.  As for Wellington, the poor man hardly appeared – his longest exposure being a ridiculous meeting with the Emperor on board HMS Bellerophon, which never happened and, if they had met, then believe me the conversation would have been far more interesting than the one concocted by the screen-writer.

I remember the 1970 movie well and Rod Steiger made a terrific Napoleon, while Christopher Plummer was good as Wellington, but that film was forever ruined for me by a sequence in which the British infantry were shown in line with three battalions lined up one behind the other. Each fired in turn, the two battalions in front crouching so the third could fire over their heads – the muskets of the rearmost battalion would have killed men in both other battalions – it was spectacular (especially the charge of the British Heavy Cavalry) but spoiled by nonsense.

In truth I’m still waiting for the great film about that era and just hope I live long enough to see it - but Napoleon was a dreadful disappointment!