Your Questions

Q

Hello Sir, will your novel on Agincourt be in the First or Third person? Cheers. Edward Whelan

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

Third . . . have no idea why . . .it's a capricious decision, and I'm too far in (I think) to change (not that I'd want to).

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell After watching Sharpe on TV I have started reading the Sharpe books, a wonderful read. Thank You. I was wondering during your research if you ever heard of a Col Poupeville Wills of the East India Co. It appears he is a distant relative but I cannot find any trace. I have spent 20 years looking for him. I have been to London on several occasions and checked the usual sources. He is mentioned in a newspaper article giving details of my gt.gt grandfathers funeral. HAMPSHIRE ADVERTISER 14th. July 1897 FUNERAL. the remains of the late Mr Charles Alexander WILLS of Ivy Cottage were laid to rest in the beautiful churchyard at Marchwood. He was the son of the late Mr Alexander Wills, tutor to his Majesty, the late King George IV and half-brother to the late Col. Poupeville WILLS of the Old East India Company at Calcutta, and brother to the late Miss WILLS of Winchester. He leaves a widow, 4 sons, 3 daughters, 27 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The chief mourners were Mrs Sidney WILLS and Mrs LAMB (daughter) of Winchester, Mr Alex WILLS and Mrs FIt. Keith Wills

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

I'm sorry - Colonel Wills is a stranger to me! The place to look is the India Library in London which has the East India Company records.

Q

Hello sir, I was wondering if there are any fanfiction stories about your books? If you know any site perhaps? I am especially interested in The Arthur trillogy. Ioanna

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

I'm afraid I don't know.

Q

Hello Bernard, First off I would just like to thank you for many wonderful hours spent reading your books. I think I can safely say that I have read all your novels and as many short stories as I could find(all 3 Sharpe stories).Are there any more Sharpe short stories laying around in a dusty attic or cellar maybe that you could publish until you get round to writing the next Sharpe novel?(I live in hope). I´ve also just read the Sharpe companion(the early years) by Mark Adkin and was wondering if you knew whether Mr Adkin had any plans to write a follow up(the middle or late years) or will he have to wait until you have completed the whole Sharpe series to be able to continue. Thank you for taking time out to read my E-Mail and I remain your ever avid reader. Anthony Lambert

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

There will be another short story book available soon! A revised and expanded edition of Sharpe's Story - the story behind the Sharpe series - published by the Sharpe Appreciation Society, will be available in early December. Watch this website and The Sharpe Appreciation Society website (www.southessex.co.uk) for more details.

Sorry, I don't know Mr. Adkin's plans for another Sharpe Companion book, but I'll try to find out.

Q

Will you be doing any signings in London to support your latest book? Tony McQuaid

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

Yes, I will be at the Topping and Company Bookshop in Bath on Friday 7 December 2007 for a talk/signing beginning at 7.30 pm. For more information about this signing, click on this link: http://toppingbooks.co.uk/bath/eventsdecember.aspx.

Q

We are traveling to the London area in January 2008.....do you have any suggestions re historical places to visit relating to the Sharpe series, Saxon series and Arthur series? I especially appreciate the demographic shifts that serve as a backdrop of the Arthur and Saxon series. If this is a distraction, just disregard. Thanks, Paul

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

The Sharpe is easy! Visit the National Army Museum in Chelsea (Royal Hospital Road, I think), and a visit to the Duke of Wellington's London residence - Apsley House at Hyde Park Corner. Arthur and Alfred are MUCH more difficult, and really there's very little (nothing?) in the immediate London area. If you wanted to be adventurous you could visit Winchester (Alfred's capital) where there's a fine local museum, and if you wanted to brave January's short days and cold weather a visit to Bratton Downs (battle of Ethandun) would need a hire car . . . as would going to Caerleon in South Wales which is surely a place (Roman amphitheatre) that Arthur would have known. Other than that? The Tower of London is always worth a visit, and legend says Arthur buried a cauldron there . . . . .

Q

I notice one of your readers says that he has looked at the Agincourt muster rolls online, I have been looking for them with no luck. Do you know where to look or if the reader sees this I hope he can let me know, my wife is into genealogy and you never know unless you look. Thank you. Peter Brown

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

I'm afraid I don't know . . . I have them on old fashioned paper! I guess you'll have to Google away (unless someone else can help out?).

Q

Mr. Cornwell, I am on my 19 Sharpe book (revenge), and as always a pleasure. I was reading about Sharpe's explosive reaction after Wigram produces the piece of evidence against him in the form of Jane's withdrawal of the 18,000 pounds. It occurred to me that this argument could have been negated by requesting the records from Hopkinson and Son , showing the deposit of the sum was some 6 month before the Teste de Buch siege. (but of course this might have robbed us readers from the pleasure of the adventures to follow, thanks be to inefficient defense lawyers) Tal

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

Well there's a wrinkle I didn't think of at the time, but I'm sure she could have bribed her way out of it . . . lawyers?

Q

I'm currently working my way through the Sharpe books after inspiration of a weekends worth of the Sharpe series as recently broadcast on BBC tv recently. Now even more so with the books; I'm wondering If Sharpe & Hakeswill were written as 2 sides of the same coin. As In that both come from backgrounds of severe deprivation & loss of family contact but take different paths on the question of morality. Also how much of Hakeswill's madness is him and how much due to the mercury treatment from the surgeon in TIGER or am I barking up the wrong tree? Eryk

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

I think Harper had a happy childhood, surrounded by relatives, which is the very opposite of Sharpe, so Sharpe and Harper are complementary. As for Hakeswill, he's just barking mad!

Q

Dear Bernard, I am really pleased that your next book is to be based on Agincourt. Although I am a fan of the Sharpe and Saxon series I am really looking forward to reading it and your no doubt exiting version of this famous English victory. With this in mind I wondered just how well your books are received in France. Sharpe and Thomas have inflicted plenty of injury to the French and now you will be adding Agincourt to their woe. Do your books sell as well in France as the rest of the world? I would be interested to know if you have that detail. Best wishes and good luck with your writing. Tony

Submitted November 2, 2007

A

I don't! The Arthurian trilogy did well there, as did Stonehenge, but I can't see Sharpe selling there (though the first three have just been published in French!!).