Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, My husband loves the Sharpe's books! I have bought him all 21 of them. When he is finished I think he is going to start on the Starbuck seris. I just learned from your website that you are still writing Sharpe's books. Do you have any idea when the next one will be out? I haven't seen my husband this excited about an author ever. God bless your wonderful gift. Sandra Hardway

Submitted September 15, 2007

A

I don't know, but not for at least a few years.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell. After looking through this website's archive I was delighted to find that others have drawn a similar conclusion to mine about a Patrick Lassan of the Starbuck Chronicles and a certain rogue English rifleman. A lovely touch. Will you continue the story of Lassan, or leave it to wild imagination? Great stories! Alyssa.

Hello again Mr Cornwell. I've just finished reading the Starbuck Chronicles for the second time, and possibly enjoyed them even more than the first time I read them. Initially I'd read them before I'd come across the Sharpe novels - this time around I was able to spot all the Sharpe references through the wonderful character of Patrick Lassan. I love the way you've managed to link the tales, have you done this with any other characters? I've a feeling that Rider Sandman's path briefly crosses Sharpe's in Gallows Thief, or was that a figment of my imagination?! So anyway, I've decided to go on hunger-strike until you write the next Starbuck novel....

Phil Dean

Submitted September 15, 2007

A

I do hope to continue the Starbuck series one day, but I'd recommend you have something to eat while you wait!

Sharpe and Sandman? Anything is possible....

Q

You have set a number of your books all or partly in the area I live - Marlborough, Wiltshire - Stonehenge, The Alfred series. Your narrative so clearly describes the terrain - do you visit all the 'locations' for your stories?
Phil Mobbs

Submitted September 15, 2007

A

I always do visit the places, because it's almost impossible to write a book about a place without walking the ground.

Q

Dear MR Cornwell, First of all, I'd like to say that I've read all your books ( at least all the books available here in Brazil) and that they are all great books, specially the Saxon Stories. And my question regards to that book. Could you tell me how many books do you intend to make about the saxon stories? As far as I'm aware, only 4 are confirmed. Well, to finish, I'd like you to know that I love military history, specially from the medieval period and that in your books you describe battles, costumes, the culture of that period like anyone else, just the way I imagined how you feel to live during that time. PS: Sorry about my english, it's not perfect. Joao Paschoal

Mr. Cornwell I really love your books because of how detailed your battles are. How come you do not have more of your books turned into movies? I Can't wait for "Sword Song" to be published. Is this going to be the last in the Saxon Stories?
Erik Duffy

Submitted September 15, 2007

A

I really don't know how many and I won't know till I write them; more than four, less than twelve? I'd be happy to see my books made into films, but I'm not a filmmaker so it's up to someone else to do it.

Q

Mr Cornwell, I should like to flatter you regarding the Sharpe books that I have read but I fear you get that all the time - but I do enjoy them and on the strength of that will look at your other series. My query relates to a one-liner you dropped in Sharpe's Trafalgar. When the Pucelle joins the British fleet off Trafalgar and you "call the roll", you mention that the Bellerophon was constructed at a cost of £30,232 14s 3d. This number is of interest to me as, for a work related research project (Australian Department of Defence), a colleague and myself are looking at the cost of military equipment over very long time periods. My colleague is concentrating on seagoing vessels, armour, and other mechanised equipment while I have been concentrating on aircraft, small arms and radios. In the small arms field I have managed to find prices for small arms (British) as far back as 1573. I also did the research for older vessels but only managed to get back to 1848. I would appreciate it if you could take the time to let me know where you found this price or alternatively if it is fictional. Cheers Alan Scheckenbach

Submitted September 15, 2007

A

It's not fictional, it's real. But, oh my god, I don't have a clue where I found it. As a novelist I don't need footnotes, so I tend to scribble down the research without noting its source (to save time and frustrate questioners). At a guess it might have been The Wooden World by N.A.M. Rodger? That is a guess, sorry.

Q

Hi There Bernard, Would you be able advice if Sharpe will be returning to the small screen or to that matter the big screen! Or was Challenge the last ever episode :( Cheers for now Nick

Submitted September 13, 2007

A

There is a chance there will be another film, but we have no definite information on it just yet.

Q

: Hello Mr Cornwell just finished Sharpe's Waterloo which I think is your best Sharpe novel. It is the only Sharpe book I read slowly. Do not know why. You have hinted that you might write about Agincourt. I have read that before the battle King Henry had ALL the names of his men written down and sent to England .Do you know if this is true and why? Why would a King care about the common people? Lots more where they came from. Do look forward to your next book. Regards Nicholas.

Submitted September 12, 2007

A

I'm just starting that book. The king would hardly order that, I think, because the list already existed in the form of the muster rolls (most of which still survive). Why would he care? You sound like Napoleon, who didn't care (after the battle of Austerlitz, surveying the French dead, he callously remarked that the women of Paris could replace them in one night). Henry V cared because his life, his kingdom and his reputation depended on the skill and fighting spirit of his men. He cared because he was not a fool.

Q

I've just finished Sword Song 2 days after buying it! Brilliant, I could'nt put it down, probably one of the best books and storylines I've ever read! i just wish the next chapter in the saxon stories was ready.....any chance of another grail quest book too?!
Tim Harris

Submitted September 12, 2007

A

Thanks! Glad to know you enjoyed Sword Song. No plans to add another book to the Grail Quest series.

Q

I AM SURE YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED THIS A MILLION TIMES BEFORE!, ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO PUT THE ARTHUR BOOKS ON TO TV OR FILM, THESE ARE MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME!, I HAVE READ EACH OF THEM AT LEAST SIX OR SEVEN TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR!, I ALSO ENJOY THE SAXON STORIES IMMENSELY. KIND REGARDS, RICHARD CARDOW

Submitted September 12, 2007

A

No plans...

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, just been reading your Uhtred series and I have a couple of questions for you. I'm slightly puzzled by your portrayal of Alfred, and I get the impression that you don't really 'like' the man very much. Do you really think someone as ineffective and uninspiring as the Alfred of your novels would have been remembered as 'Great'? Also I am intrigued to know why you choose to give the lion's share of the credit for Alfred's military victories such as Ethandun to the fictional Uhtred?? Thanks for any reply! David

Submitted September 12, 2007

A

oh dear, it is fiction. Consider Alfred - perpetually sick (probably the most debilitating Crohn's disease), with a natural bent for scholarship and a fanatical piety. Except for the last, those qualities do not suggest warrior. They do suggest a man with, perhaps, an uncommonly clever mind, and I believe it was his intelligence that gave him success, not his ability with a sword.