Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell I would personally like to thank you for the books you have published. Both my father and I are very big fans of your work; my father likes the Sharpe novels, yet I prefer the Warlord chronicles. I first read them when I was 14, and have read them three times since. I'm 18 and I know three times doesn't sound much, but sadly I am at the time of my life, where all pleasurable things have to wait back while more pressing matters, such as exams, require my attention, however tedious they are. I am writing to you for two reasons. One is that I am a massive fan of your work and would just to like to make this known to you. The second however is about the Warlord chronicles. I was just curious about whether you would ever think of making a film about them? The reason as to why I ask is simple. The last film to come out about King Arthur was a disappointment really. The one with Clive Owen as the lead character? I am not at all attacking his abilities as a an actor, i just think that, the film spoiled the tale of King Arthur a little bit. Your portrayal of King Arthur though I think was the best that has ever been done. It shows his more vulnerable human side which makes him as a character easier to relate to. And having Derfel actually narrate the story, and tell of his own life is brilliance as well, giving a insight to the life of that time. I would like to know whether you would consider approaching a producer and getting it produced after the success of the TV Sharpe series. This would be a step up, but it would be very much worth it, especially if you had the correct actors for the appropriate characters Maybe Sean Bean as Derfel? Thank you very much for giving up some of your time to read this and reply. I am very grateful. Yours sincerely Joe Tucker p.s. can't wait for the new book

Well I have just finished reading your three books entitled, "The Last Kingdom", "The Pale Horseman", and "Lords of The North". I truly enjoyed these books and hope you do decide to write continuing books on the adventures of Lord Uhtred. There is only one favor I would ask of you however. Please stop being afraid to use the word "Ass". Using a substitute really grates on my nerves, and spoils the story. After all you have no problem using the word "shit", so why not use "Ass" also? All in all, I like your books so well that I have decided I might start a small collection of 1st Editions of them. My home library is a small one (only about 1000 books) but almost all are 1st Editions, and a large number are signed by the author. If I succeed in finding a good number of your books in good condition and 1st Editions, I may mail them to you (Postage paid both ways) for your signature. Once again, Thanks for being there.
Luis J. Orozco, II

I've read, enjoyed and appreciated all of your stories, from the very earliest on. Only one quick question...will we ever hear of Rider Sandman, again? John Leonard

I have just started reading the Sharpe books about a month ago and I'm already about to start reading Waterloo (I haven't read Sharpe's Fury to expensive I'm only 14 and pocket money doesn't pay £6.99 for each book!) and I was wondering if you ever find it hard to still write Sharpe books because there are so many.

I was also wondering if you ever felt sad when you have to kill of a semi-main character or a very likable one like general Nairn (sorry if you don't spell it like that) p.s hope you never stop writing the books and if you're asked would you make a video game of Sharpe?

Matthew Watson

I have just finished the three Saxon stories end on in ten days. I have not been so keen since reading all the Patrick O'Brien novels in sequence when laid up with a leg in plaster. I am pleased to see that you actually reply to fan mail , which I think was pretty unlikely in O'Brien's case. As I suspected many of the people who seem to contact you are men, and I wonder how many seventy year old women enjoy your books. I am gob-smacked by your ingenuity and sheer graft; you don't just research one period and stick to it. Thus I venture a few comments and questions. As you have evidently studied the psychology of fighting men in various periods, but also have to write for a modern audience, I am curious about your amoral, violently homicidal, Uhtred as hero figure. As a girl I took huge interest in arms and armour, siege engines and battle tactics, and read about heroes skewering each other in the Iliad, Norse and Icelandic sagas, Froissart, Mary Renault and C.S. Forester. Now I perceive the pure horror of hand to hand fighting and wonder how average men coped with this, let alone women. Have you good evidence that the pagan Danes enjoyed torturing their enemies slowly to death or do you just make it up, and does your readership ever comment on the frequent bloodbaths? What with all the rape and pillage and not much in the way of careful child rearing, I suppose murderous psychopaths were ten a penny or is it all about warrior culture? Your complex Alfred is a more interesting character and pretty convincing given the evidence. I also recall very small scenes better than battles: when the marshwoman on Athelney hopes vainly that the armed man will retrieve her lost children and Father Pyrlig instructing a slave how to cook cheesy scrambled eggs.

Another question is how you can perform the amazing genealogical feat of tracing your ancestry back to eleventh century Bamburgh? I hail you as a fellow Bernician, as almost everybody with my surname comes from the Lothians. I see myself as a reasonably tough genetic mix of Pict, Scot and Norse ,adding in my mother from Ulster with the nordic name of Kell. If my ancestors had not been tough, I would not be here - and neither would you, but the best most of us can do is go back a couple of hundred years. I shall make a point of stopping at Bamburgh this year, on my way north as I have intended to do for years but always swept past in train, coach or car. I do hope you visited my local Saxon sites of West Stow and Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, though they are from the pagan period. Last question - Thyra and the dogs. Frankly this seems OTT. Where did you get the idea? I presume you are keeping Uhtred alive until the Battle of Brunanburgh, which seems a good point to end. I shall be interested to hear how he will age in a period when few people did. Alison Fairgrieve

Finally HAD to jot off an e-mail to the author who has absolutely (to my great pleasure) monopolized my life of late. The catalyst was BBC America's "Sharpe's Challenge" last autumn--from there it has been a compulsive rollercoaster ride from Amazon, to libraries, to a harried (but accommodating) book mobile person. While tracking down and reading the Sharpe series I dove into Starbuck, the Grail, Saxon and Arthur series (more readily available here in the wilds of North Carolina). I just finished FALLEN ANGELS. What a MARVELOUS ROMP! The impeccable chases, fights and confrontations were definitely, and distinctly, "Cornwell." Mystery, action, romance--what more could one wish? " I actually did wonder how much "help" you might have received from the female side regarding the "romance" angle. Speaking of "romance"--why in the world did they change the plot in the SHARPE'S SWORD film? The book's EL Mirador passages are so revealing of Sharpe's conflicted character (temptations, eh what?) AND the dialogue "fleshed" him out more completely than ever before. This time one could hear him breathe! I have a close friend (an author) who claims that she feels like she is in a "time warp" when I mention passsages of her 1980's historical novels. In remaining so very approachable , it seems that you realize your characters continue to be as vibrant and real as the day you breathed life into them. I've sent you too many words, but I feel better. Many thanks for the extraordinarily exciting, and I hope continuing ride.
Marsey Peterson

Hi, I read your book. The last kingdom. And I really want to know something. Will it be adapted to theater? I think it would be really great. Yves

Mr Cornwell. As always thanks for impressive books. I must say Sharpe fan 1st always, with Starbuck close behind. Small question on are the Sharpe editions ever updated? Just reread "Sharpe's devil" with the line "Sharpe's 1st sea battle" With his sight seeing tour of Trafalgar, an update in his ship fighting skills would be nice. The other small thing is I now walk my dogs past the old "Cyfarthfa iron works" in Merthyr Tydfil. So important in the wars against Napoleon. Nelson paid the works a visit. I believe we even made cannons for BOTH sides of the american civil war. Cheers Rhydian

Mr. Cornwell My uncle gracefully gave me 500 books from the back of his garage. Among them were quite a few of the Sharpe books (Rifles onwards). After months of them sitting on myself looming down at me, I finally read one at random - Sharpe's Regiment - then Rifles, Company, and Eagles in that order. Regiment is my favourite so far due to it's more diverse plot and more detailing part of what can happen outside the army. But to my point - I'm not here to praise endlessly . After Eagles I went down to my local bookshop and found that they had all the new Sharpe DVDs on sale, so I bought the Rifles/Eagles DVD. I hate to say this... But I was disappointed with it, Sean Bean will grow on me - but I felt it diverged far away from the plot - it felt too brief to me - only touching on everything and giving little climax at all, if any. Do these series get better ? I'm 14, short on cash so not keen to buy more unless I can have my image of Sharpe restored to its former glory. I adore the Hornblower teleplays yet have never read the books - maybe I'm biased? Thanks -Hugo, a worried fan.

Hello, I guess you get this a lot but I am a MAJOR fan of your work especially the Sharpe series. ever since the second grade, I have wanted to be an author. One thing I think is particularly great about your books is the originality of the characters. So I was wondering, how did you think of the character Richard Sharpe? Will McMahon