Your Questions

Q

Dear Bernard In response to the query about Fitzgibbon and the bloody boys I can recommend the book Veteran of 1812 the Life of James Fitzgibbon by Mary Fitzgibbon. His is slightly similar to a mix of Sharpe and Harper. Self taught Irishman who wanted to be an officer and like Shapre with Wellington he had Brock as his patron.######## In regards to your mention of Shapre and that he might get to the east coast. Do you know of any good recommendations about those campaigns since sadly most British historys merely concentrate on Wellingtons battles. btw does that mean Sharpe might be at the actions of Sangutum and Valencay and Castalla against Suchet. It was always a great what if for me on whether he would have done as good against Wellington as opposed to Blake. And can you give a clue on what the next Sharpe book will be set around (Albuera????) #################### In regards to Starbuck like others I got excited at the thought of Stabuck going west and to tempt you even further Six Armies in Tennesse The Chickamauga and Chattanooga campaigns by Steven E Woodworth and Decsision in the West Campaign of 1864 by Albert Castel. There have been (in both fact and fiction) so many volumes about the Eastern fighting I was wondering if will we see Starbuck instead not with Grant and Lee but with Sherman/Johnston dance of death in Georgia. Geraint

Submitted August 13, 2004

A

Thanks for those recommendations. If I knew for certain what the next Sharpe book would be about I'd give you a clue, but I don't! The only good source I have for the east coast campaigns is Oman's seven volume history of the Peninsular War.

Q

Why did you choose the name Starbuck? Jim Starbuck

Submitted August 13, 2004

A

Not because of the coffee - but because it's an old New England name (mainly from Nantucket), and, of course, it's the name of the Pequod's first mate in Moby Dick.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Firstly I would like to say a big 'Thank you,' for all the pleasure you bring through your wonderful books. I often call by the questions page to read the interesting comments. I read one today asking if you ever thought of writing about WWII, to which you replied you have no real interest. I have just finished reading Coat of Arms by the very talented Susannah Kells!! (creep, creep) which is set just at the end and after World War II, but of course you know all about this - will Harper Collins be considering it for publication too do you think? I thoroughly enjoyed it and as usual fell in love with all the characters - Christine excepted. I must say that being a predictable woman I have to admit that your Sharpe's books are my very favourite - purely because I am besotted with Richard Sharpe! I believe all women reading the Sharpe's books must have a secret desire to have a lover like him. As a man do you think that most of the male readers have a secret yearning to be like Sharpe? I missed the series on UK History where you visited the battlefields featured in the Sharpe books. Do you know if they are available on video or DVD? With my kindest regards, Julie-Ann

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I hope you don't mind me sending you a second email so shortly after my first but I have been visiting a web site called Fantastic Fiction. On your list of other Novels it lists Gallows Thief 2 - is this just a reprint or have I missed something? Just wanted to check as I thoroughly enjoyed Gallows Thief and read in one of your interviews somewhere that you thought there may be a possibility of another in the series someday. Also, another question about follow ups - I just bought an old copy of The Fallen Angels (as I can't wait any longer for the new issue) and in the book it said that you were planning a third in the series. Did this ever get anywhere or did the lovable Sharpe get in the way? Thanks very much for your time. With kindest regards, Julie-Ann

Submitted August 13, 2004

A

I doubt very much that the third Susannah Kells title Coat of Arms (American title - The Aristocrats) will be re-issued. I really couldn't say if most male readers have a yearning to be like Sharpe, but I'd agree that the women want their men to be like Richard Sharpe. 'Sharpe's War' is not available yet on video or DVD, but they have promised to let us know when it is and we'll be certain to post the details to this website. And there currently is no 'Gallows Thief 2'.

Q

Hello Again Mr C I was recently reading an article on the BBC website about Sir James McGrigor, Wellington's surgeon General. As he served so long with the great man, and you include so many historical figures I was wondering why I'd never seen him mentioned in any of your books? (Especially as Sharpe gets mashed up so much) and he seems such a colourful character. The web page I saw quotes Wellington as saying "He couldn't have won Vitoria without him." because he set up hospitals that allowed troops to be brought back to their regiments. Do you know of this great man and his efforts and will he appear in any future stories? Nigel James

Submitted August 13, 2004

A

I do know of him, but whether he'll ever appear, I don't know - in truth Napoleon's favourite surgeon - Larrey - was much more interesting, and certainly a much better doctor! Larrey developed a battlefield ambulance for removing casualties swiftly because he'd worked out that men who had surgery while still in shock had a much higher survival rate than the poor sods who had to wait to have their arms and legs sawn off. There's a very good book on Larrey (by Robert G. Richardson), but I don't know one on McGrigor.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have greatly enjoyed you novels. I began with the Arthur books, then moved on to Starbuck and am now about halfway through the Sharpe series. All of them first rate! I have two questions regarding the Starbuck chronicles. 1) why did you decide to have your main character fight for the confederacy? 2) Do you have plans for Starbuck to leave the Confederate army and join the Union? Steven L. Hall

Submitted August 13, 2004

A

Because the Confederacy is more interesting. It has Moral Entanglements, and those are good for heroes. And no, I don't think Starbuck will change sides.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I am a thirty year old American who studied military history at college. I stumbled upon Sharpe's Tiger two years ago and my wife still complains about the ever increasing pile of Cornwell novels next to our bed. You've provided a new and more interesting way to learn. You have a unique ability as a writer to blend compelling tales with soundly researched history. Military history does not consist of arrows on the map of a battlefield but rather the impressions of the men who were there. One suggestion and three brief questions: Your text can read like a racehorse straining aginst the reins. I'm waiting to read not flashes of brilliance but one long brilliant explosion. Your writing talent can take you further than you've gone. Forget the success, forget even the genre and indulge your gift for language and your instincts. What is your favorite book which you have written and, more importantly, why? (I know that's predictable but I'm very curious.) Why was the British infantry so indominable? (We matched you in 1770's, why not everybody else?) Why did the Scots, the Irish and the Welsch fight so hard for the British? I realize the latter two querys could flesh out a doctorate but I await your succint explanation. Thank You, Peter Arthur McClenahan

Submitted August 10, 2004

A

My favourite book? Probably Excalibur, why? Because it was enjoyable to write. Why did the Scots etc fight for the British? Because they were British and didn't believe they were fighting for the English - besides, few men fought for King and Country, they fought for their companions, and the regional nature of British regiments encouraged that. I think the success of the British army under Wellington had much to do with its reaction to the perceived failings of the 1770's - so fresh tactics were introduced (two deep line instead of three, deployment of rifle battalions) - and it didn't hurt to have Wellington in command - a general who thinks, wow.

Q

Hello, Mr. Cornwell - I wrote a short time ago for the first time and want to thank you for posting my comments. Now I have a few questions - Will Richard Sharpe ever meet Jane again? What ever happened to Peter D'Alembord who was such a good friend to Sharpe? I know he survived Waterloo. Did they ever meet again? Those are my two burning issues at the moment. Thank you so very much for such well researched stories. I have always had an interest in the Napoleonic Wars and have managed to amass quite a library of books on the Emperor. Now through Richard Sharpe I have found another tangent to pursue, the Peninsular War(s) and Arthur Welsley. The one thing I particularly appreciate is the "Historical Note" at the end of each volume which puts everything into perspective as far as what really happened and how Sharpe and Harper "fit in." I have read this series with pen in hand and have made a running commentary in the margins so it will be easier when I read them the second, third, fourth time. Thank you again. I know that at some point Sharpe and Harper are going to run out of adventures and quests, but please not too soon. Bobbe Klimovich

Submitted August 10, 2004

A

Meet Jane again? Meet Peter D'Alembord? Dunno. Honest. If I ever write that part of his life I'll find out. Thanks for your message!

Q

I just recently finished "The Winter King" and I'm looking forward to reading "Enemy of God." There is one thing that puzzles me. A warband of 200 spears or so is considered a large force while one or two thousand is considered a massive army. As I recall, Queen Boudicea of the Iceni had a force of approximately 40M in 60 AD when she rebelled against the Roman occupation. I realize that number probably included women, slaves, etc., but what happened to the population of Britain during the intervening 400 years? If a warrior queen could raise a force of thousands of spears in the 1st Century AD, what made the situation so different 500 years later? Guy E. Orr

Submitted August 10, 2004

A

I doubt very much that Boadicea could raise 40,000 men (or women) into an army. Lucky if she got to four or five thousand. Lots of things going on here. First the ancient writers always exaggerated the size of armies (one more or less contemporary account of Agincourt claims the French had an army of 250,000 - wow). Then, at the beginning of the Warlord trilogy, Britain is fractured into numerous small kingdoms, none of which is capable of raising and sustaining a large army - which is an incredibly difficult thing to do without starving your men. Later in the trilogy the armies do get larger as alliances are made against a common enemy. Most research into early warfare attests to the small size of armies - often very small - and I believe it.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I consider your Arthur books as some of the best I have ever read. The way you used many elements from the original legend and made them so realistic is brilliant. My question is, do you plan to use any other real--or in this case, mythological--historical figures as subjects of future novels? Thank you, Tami Barlow

Submitted August 10, 2004

A

Aren't you wonderful. I don't think I'm planning anything similar, but am always hoping an idea strikes . . .

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just wanted to let you know that I very much enjoy reading your books. Especially the Sharpe-serie. About two years ago I bought Sharpe's Prey. After reading it I was hooked and read the whole serie from the beginning. I do have one question for you. Maybe you will find it a strange question but here goes. In your foreword of Sharpe's Sword you say that you have a Heavy Cavalry sword hanging over your fireplace. You also say that these swords are nowadays very hard to find. My question is where did you buy it because I too would like to have such an authentic Heavy Cavalty sword. With kind regards, Andrew van der Schalk (The Netherlands)

Submitted August 10, 2004

A

I bought it twenty something years ago from a London dealer who has long disappeared. Not much help . . . .sorry. They do appear on the market from time to time, but are horrifically expensive these days. Mine was dirt cheap, ho ho. e-bay?