When can we see more Starbuck's Chronicles? Paul Doherty
Not sure when, but I do hope to get back to Starbuck before too much longer.
Bernard- have you considered writing a novel/series about the early english colonists in Virginia?
Also the Elizabeth era, Francis Drake, spanish armada, etc. would be greatly appreciated by your fans if you are interested in that time frame of course. Best, SN
I really haven't . . . though I did once wander round Roanoke, and I know Jamestown fairly well. It's a fascinating story, but I'm not set alight by the idea, at least not yet! Maybe one day?
I'm VERY interested in the Elizabethan age and have an idea for it (not telling), but the problem is that there's so much research to do and I'm not sure I'll live long enough. I hope I do, because it's an idea that really fascinates me.
Dear Bernard, I just wanted to mourn the passing of the great Pete Postlethwaite. In my opinion his portrayal of Hakeswill was absolutely spot on, I'm sure you'll agree. Being the method actor he was did he ever speak to you about how to play the part? Keep those books coming. Cheers. Tarquin Hoskins
I agree with you very enthusiastically - he was wonderful! He made the character, and he improved mightily on my depiction of Hakeswill, so that in any subsequent book I used Pete's version rather than my original. He never asked for help - he was too good to need it, I suspect, but I enjoyed my brief acquaintance with him and sincerely regret his passing.
Good afternoon, Mr. Cornwell. First and foremost, I am a devoted fan of the Sharpe series. Your blend of character development, history and military tactics are unsurpassed as far as I am concerned in the genre in which you write. I ask with great hope are there any more Sharpe books "in the works?" Sincerely yours, Robert M Schlesinger
I'm really not sure when I'll write the next Sharpe, though I hope it won't be too far away!
Will you please write another book about Rider Sandman? I enjoyed Gallows Thief so much. Thanks, Jan
I've thought of a sequel to Gallows Thief, but I'm not sure it will happen...I am glad to know you enjoyed the book!
Hello Mr. Cornwell. I'm a big fan of your books. I started to read they by chance, near 2 years ago, and now i can't stop buying and reading it ( a good thing for your wallet)! I'd like to know three things: When the 6th "saxon story" book will arrive at the libraries? Are you planning to write something about the Crusades? And will you visit Brazil in a near future?
Ronnie Junior
I am writing the sixth book of the Saxon Tales now. If all goes well, we hope to see it published in October. I have no plans to write anything about the Crusades. I greatly enjoyed my last visit to Brazil; I hope to return one of these days!
Dear Mr. Cornwell, we do really love your Saxon Stories and we want know if there will be 6 and 7 books? We are anxiously waiting for it. We appreciate for the attention and congratulations for the great story and the historical research.
Pedro 'n Stefania Guerra(Brazil)
Dear Mr. Cornwell As a consummate and copious reader of The Sharpe series, The Warlord chronicles, The Starbuck chronicles, the :Grail Quest series, and the last in the series entitled The Burning Land has in fact precipitated questions and consequently this letter. With reference to The Burning Land, page 154 I shall take it a subtle precursor to Uhtred’s return to Bebbanburg? With conquest of Beamfleot, and at this point assured of sufficient treasure to raise a sizeable army, to be in Alfred’s debt, assuming Alfred lives, but failing that Edward who is now king, having been successfully baptized in battle at Beamsfleot by Uhtred, should release Uhtred so he can address the conquest of Bebbanburg? Also, the following question begs asking. Page 330 As I took Aethelflaed home.? To her father or to Uhtred’s home in current London, which again raises more questions? And finally, Page 336 So Uhtred, now firmly allied to Aethelflaed, will campaign again!!! This is obvious the introduction to Uhtred’s most challenging campaign against his uncle, and we in Canada await the publication of the final chapter in this most interesting series. When might we expect same --- 2012?? Thank you. Robin Hethey
Hey how's it going? I just wanted to ask if you will be continuing the Saxon Stories? They are truly amazing. Please let me know. Thank you, Hector Soto
Hello Mr. Cornwell, I am a huge fan and I have read almost all of your books. But my favorites are The Saxon Tales and I wanted yo know if there is a book coming after the Burning Land? Thank you and please keep writing.
Tom Pierce
Have you stopped writing? I just finished all the starbuck series and am deeply depressed that you did not finish the story. I have started with the Saxon Stories which again leaves me wishing for more, I have seen a few of the Sharpe stories on TV and since there are so many stories I feel that I would rather read from your other projects and can only ask that you complete a few more of them and less on the TV Books. I truly enjoy your writing just wish you would finish some of the earlier stories.
Thomas Little
Dear Mr Cornwell, I absolutely loved reading your saxon stories! I was wondering if you will be writing another story after the burning land?? I'm dying to know more. Thanks, Steph Dobney
There will be a book 6 (I'm working on it now) and a book 7....and maybe books 8, 9 and 10!
Dear Bernard, Firstly, I'd like to let you know that myself & many folk I know love your Uhtred of Beddanberg series of books, almost feels like being transported back in time to early England! Today though, I write as a member of the English Shieldwall; you may recall we were using a quote of yours on our homepage, which we were asked to remove - and we did so. We were not, of course, implying that you are associated with us - we used the quote simply because (as well as being fans of your work,) it represents how we feel to a degree. I note that in response to 'Ste' of the Regia Anglorum re-enactment group (28/12/2010), you make mention of 'unpleasant ideas' - I can assure you that we do not have any unpleasant ideas, unless you count promotion of English tradition / culture as unpleasant(!). We are a family orientated group, our main aim is highlighting & countering issues of discrimination against people of English ethnicity, in very much the same way other groups do for folk of other ethnicities. We believe fully in the traditional family unit, in celebrating our festivals (May Day, St George's etc), in a politically independent England. We will also speak out when we believe something to be detrimental to the English way of life - Sharia Law and Halal / Kosher slaughter being two recent imports that are more of a backward step for England. Anyway, keep up the excellent work, I simply felt that 'Ste' naming us a "very right wing" group was unfair, and wanted to express this. Thanks for reading. Kind regards, Nes
I'm sorry you were disappointed that I asked for the quote to be removed, so let me explain. I'm sure that most of your members are good, tolerant people (well, I hope they are, even if I'm not sure), but there were a few words on the group's website that made me wish not to be associated. I'm English (well, half Canadian) and proud of it, and love England and her ways, but one of the things I like most about England is her tolerance, and when I read 'Ethnicity is a matter of biological and historical fact and is not changed by the culture in which a person grows up' I have to say it struck me as prejudicial against folk of a different colour (indeed the website makes a point of saying that 'physical appearance' is a marker of English ethnicity) and I'm fairly sure that folk of a different colour can be as English as I am. Now, plainly, some people would disagree, and I'd advert you (a favourite phrase of the Duke of Wellington) to Daniel Defoe's poem 'The True-Born Englishman' - here's an excerpt:
The Romans first with Julius Cæsar came,
Including all the nations of that name,
Gauls, Greeks, and Lombards, and, by computation,
Auxiliaries or slaves of every nation.
With Hengist, Saxons; Danes with Sueno came,
In search of plunder, not in search of fame.Scots, Picts, and Irish from the Hibernian shore,
And conquering William brought the Normans o'er.
All these their barbarous offspring left behind,
The dregs of armies, they of all mankind;
Blended with Britons, who before were here,
Of whom the Welsh ha' blessed the character.
From this amphibious ill-born mob began
That vain ill-natured thing, an Englishman.We're a mongrel nation, and our character comes, I hope, not from the colour of our skin, or even necessarily from our birthplace, but an adherence to those values which have been fostered and nurtured by the inhabitants of England, and chief among those virtues (for me) is tolerance. There's a wonderful man whose name, to my shame, I've forgotten - but he's a black man and he hunts with the Quorn, or maybe another of the posh packs, and dresses in a pink coat, and one day a group of hunt saboteurs faced him and said 'two hundred years ago these people would have made you a slave, so why are you joining them?', to which he answered, 'two hundred years ago my people would have eaten you. Good morning!' Now, that's a good Englishman! Wit, good manners and mind your own business.
I agree with many of your thoughts. I do believe immigrants should adapt to the society into which they come, and that England's political identity is in need of definition, though whether that requires leaving the EU is a matter on which I don’t have a particular view, but I truly believe there is a racist undercurrent to the group's website, and that is why I did not want to be associated with it.
Dear Sir I have 4 questions... (1)what's your personal view on The Audiobook? This is now the 3rd time I'm purchasing your Fantastic Sharpe Novel Collection and this time it's once a month at payday. I ask because up until last July I never even contemplated the audio book idea but a colleague recommended the Harry Potter set, Which my boss (fiancee) frowned upon me when she saw my bank statement, mocked me as lazy as I already owned the books as I do with the Sharpe Novels, but the audio books keep me company on long journeys and I find it easier these days to process the information. Having taken the time to write the books, how do you feel about what my Fiancee describes as the lazy approach?
(2) At the end of the Devil Sharpe and Harper are given a box of gold each, are you restoring some of Sharpe's stolen fortune?
(3) In the Devil am I wrong to think that Vivar's wife was a tad unfair to Sharpe? She makes it seem like Sharpe owed Vivar a debt, but when I read the Rifles it seems to be a mutually beneficial alliance.
(4) Finally is the following information in this website (bbc linked) unofficial and based on somebody's interpretation? http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A15711301. Because it makes statements like Sharpe and Lucille do indeed marry, and Jane ends up penniless. I only ask because Sharpe's son does not carry his surname in the Starbuck books.
Lee
I'm not sure it's lazy. I'm not hugely fond of audio-books (it's really difficult to skip), but we use them whenever we have to drive a long way and they're terrific for that! The problem, always, is to find a book that both of you want to read or listen to, and as she wants chick lit and I don't we usually settle for the lecture series from The Teaching Company. But we did listen to the Harry Potter, and I remember sitting in a motel car-park just to hear how a chapter ended. But I would never argue with your fiancee. If there's one thing I've learned in a long life is that they're always right.
It's their pension scheme. They've been good to me and I wanted to look after them.
I think Sharpe did owe Blas Vivar . . .in many ways Vivar teaches Sharpe an officer's responsibilities - and when they meet Sharpe is on the very brink of failure, and Vivar pulls him back. So, I think Sharpe has a lifelong debt of gratitude there.
I'm not familiar with what's on that website, I have no idea who wrote it, nor do I have the time to review it all. If it's not in one of my books then it's unofficial!
Hello Mr Cornwell, Thank you so much for enabling me to lose myself for hours and hours in your wonderful historic books. I think between you and George McDonald Fraser's "Flashman" series I've learned more British history than any text book. I especially loved the realistic retelling of the Arthur legend in your Warlord Series. Would you have any plans to write something that would fall roughly between that era and The Saxon Stories? I'm very interested in the original tribes of Britain being pushed back to Wales, Cornwall and Scotland as the Saxons took over. Thankyou.
Chip Jack
I've thought of doing that . . . . and maybe it will happen, but there are no plans to do it right now though of course the battle of Mount Badon is smack in the middle of that slow process.