Your Questions

Q

Mr. Cornwell, First let me begin by saying thanks for autographing the two sharpes' shortstories that my mom got me for my birthday back in April. I apologize for not thanking you earlier. Second, to answer the question about Leroy being from Boston or Virginia; the answer depends on the medium-- in the books he is from Boston and in the mini-series in Shapre's Eagle he is apparently from Virginia. Now Sir, my question that urgently needs answering, well , maybe not urgently, but is the upcoming saxon book going to be released in the US as well as in the UK in October? Anthony Newton

Submitted June 29, 2004

A

Thanks for that information! The Last Kingdom is scheduled for release in the US on January 1, 2005, but I understand it should be in bookshops in the US before Christmas. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com (go to The Last Kingdom book page on this website to find a link directly to Amazon.).

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Dear Bernard, I have read and re-read most of the Sharpe books several times now and never get tired of them. I'm saving Escape and the Grail Quest's Heretic for my holiday on Rhodes in a month's time (beautiful island with a rich history, I'm sure you could find a lot of material there if you had the time). But I digress. The reason for this communication is that I have a couple of questions if you wouldn't mind taking the time to answer. 1) Can't remember which Sharpe book it is but Sharpe remembers one of Hogan's favourite sayings as being "to cap a pie". Sharpe doesn't know what it means and neither do I. Could you enlighten me please. 2) In a few books the enemy believes that Wellington 'Can defend, but is no good at attack'. Did he really have that reputation? If so I can't imagine why! Thanks for time and for all the enjoyment. Regards, Ed

Submitted June 24, 2004

A

Can't remember which book it is either! Sharpe was almost certainly remembering him saying 'cap a pie' with an accent on the 'a', which I got from Shakespeare (Henry V??) and is a phrase used in England from (at least) the 15th century onwards and was probably pronounced cap - a - pee-ay - and comes from the Old French and means head (cap) to toe (pie - from pied, foot) and simply means armed from head to toe - fearsomely ready.

This was very much the reputation the French attached to Wellington - though after 1812 it began to fade away (battle of Salamanca). In some ways it is understandable because he was very fond of inviting the French to attack him in positions he knew were suited to a defensive battle, and they usually obliged him and always lost. But, as Assaye should have shown them, and Salamanca and Vitoria displayed ruthlessly, he was just as lethal in attack.

Q

Mr.Cornwell, my friends and I love your books I've read both the Warlord triology and the grail quest and I'm almost finished the Sharpe books, but what I was really wondering is about a movie that came out recently. Timeline where people travel back to the 100 years wa. What I noticed is the French were using archers instead of crossbow men which you point out in the grail quest that the main French forces used. I was just wondering if that was just a Hollywood screw up or did the French really use archers and what did you think of Hollywood's job of recreating the 100 years war? Josh

Submitted June 23, 2004

A

A Hollywood screw-up - or else the props department decided longbows are cheaper to produce than crossbows, in which case it's still a Tinseltown screw-up. The French did occasionally have Scottish lonbowmen, but never enough to make a difference.

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Dear Mr Cornwell: I'm curious about the genesis of characters in your writing. How do you develop your characters? What's the process from inspiration to the page? Peter Shea

Submitted June 23, 2004

A

I wish I could answer that cogently, but it's sort of an unconscious process - a character is introduced and, like our houseplants, they either thrive or die. Some characters, like Nairn in the Sharpe books, were only meant to appear for a page or two to perform an essential plot function, but just take over the whole book instantly. It's wonderful when that happens, and rare, and typical, I fear, of the whole hit and miss nature of the process.

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First, I want to tell you that I am so glad my youngest son gave me Sharpe's Gold to read when I visited him in Beaufort, SC. I have now read half of the series and am passing them on to my other 4 sons. My youngest is sending me all the Starbuck Chronicles also. I can't resist asking why you picked the Starbuck name as my great grandmother was a Starbuck from Nantucket and I am a southerner from North Carolina! Ada Jo Burke

Submitted June 22, 2004

A

I picked it - and before the coffee appeared - because it's a terrifically romantic surname, and because, of course, the Starbucks were an old Nantucket family. I got really pissed off when an American reviewer sniffily said it was a very 'unAmerican' name - and wondered if he had ever read Moby Dick?

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Dear Mr. Cornwell, I've collected quite a few of your stories and have just reread for probably the fifth time the Grail Quest series. I'm an avid reader of history, and have enjoyed your books because of that. Currently I'm reading the Black Prince and his Age by John Harvey. In the book, he states that Sir William Douglas was at King John II's side during and before the battle of Poiters September 19, 1356. Is this the same William Douglas whose nephew is portrayed in your grail series as Robbie Douglas? Just curious as to the connection. thanks, Cory

Submitted June 22, 2004

A

A different William Douglas - the one who was at Poitiers murdered the one in my books - for real - they were related, so this yet another close and loving family.

Q

Mr Cornwell,
I've followed the exploits of Sharpe (and now the Grail quest) since the early days and would like to thank you profusely for your work and your art - I've thoroughly enjoyed every one of them including the latest (Sharpe's Escape) which I've just finished. My question is that the French tactic of forming "battering ram" columns seems to have little success (they always seem to be bled to death by the British lines); is this accurate? Or were the columns just not as effective against the British infantry in comparison with other armies?
Thank you for your time. Andrew Barlow

Submitted June 22, 2004

A

It was much more effective against other armies, mainly because the only troops to practice with live ammunition were the British (weird, but true), and so the British were able to generate far more defensive firepower - a fact that enabled them to form a line two ranks deep instead of three, thus increasing their enfilading power. Also, as Napoleon noted, the column technique only worked well when the defenders had been shredded by artillery, but Wellington's tactic of posting his defensive lines on reverse slopes meant that the French were usually denied this advantage. They kept trying though, mainly because the column could be successful and was the easiest tactic to use with conscript troops who had not (could not) spent years in training.

Q

Hi, I have just decided to drop you a line to say thankyou. Thankyou for producing some fantastic books which, now especially, are of great help as when I get stresses due to exams I will just sit for half an hour and read a Sharpe book. I started about February this year and read Sharpe's Tiger, the plan being to read them all in chronological order. I have just finished Sharpe's Trafalgar and am now on Sharpe's Prey. So far I have not read a single bad book by you. You are indeed a talented writer. I remember as a child sitting with my Dad, who has now been dead for five years, and watching the series. He'd always have one of the books at his bedside as well. Reading these books now I can understand why. It gives me a connection in some way. I also wanted to say thankyou for giving me a character I can relate to. I happen to be working through a private college in Cambridge through a bursary. There are a lot of, shall we say, priveleged kids here who tend to look down on those less 'priveleged'. Seeing Sharpe work his way up the ranks and work with these people it gives me relief to know that he too has had moments of wanting to give in, such as Sharpe's Prey. Just a few questions. 1. In Sharpe's Prey did you mean to lead readers on into thinking Grace had left him before revealing she had actually died. 2. Where in history is your next Sharpe book going to be set, if indeed you are writing one? 3. Did you not think it ironic that in Sharpe's Trafalgar Lord William compared Sharpe to Ulysses and Sean Bean played that very same character in Troy recently? By the way, praise goes to your handling of Nelson's death. Not going into long detail and just writing those two words 'Nelson died' was very effective. Sorry to ramble on. I just had a lot to say. If I were ever to meet you I'm sure that we would have lots to talk about. So, until Mister Sharpe stops marching, I'll keep reading. Yours, a faithful fan, Patrick Oldham

Submitted June 22, 2004

A

1. Not that I remember! 2. Won't know about the next Sharpe book til I start writing it, which won't be for a year or two. 3. I'd forgotten that . . . . did he? How perspicacious of me! Sean made a terrific Ulysses too, though I can't think who his Penelope would be. Many thanks for your message.

Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, thankyou for your time, could you answer a few questions please? The Rebel Yell - can you possibly describe this in words, I can't seem to form it in my mind. Also do you know of any good movies/ documentaries on the civil war? Finally I enjoy an ice cold mexican beer with a wedge of lime, what is your drink of choice? Many thanks Chris.

Submitted June 22, 2004

A

The descriptions of it make it sound high-pitched, terrifying, almost a screech, but I don't think I've come across a really convincing description and would love to hear from any reader who has. Good movies? So many! From Gettysburg to Glory - and I guess the best documentary was the big PBS one by the Burns brothers - available on DVD.

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