Your Questions

Q

I am currently researching Arthurian history. (Incidently, thanks to your Warlord chronicles which remain my most read and loved books from the time I first picked them off my dad's book shelf to this day!) Much of the books' action takes place in the Welsh counties. Whilst I am well aware that the books are fictional, I also know you did much research on the subject. Please could you enlighten me as to which sources led you to place the action in the Welsh counties? All the historians that I seem to be reading are claiming the historical Arthur was infact fighting most of his battles in Scotland. I think I'm more inclined to believe Wales and Cornwall were the actual setting, but I don't know where to look or what to read to aid my theory! Thank you for your help. And for the books, they are without a doubt the most inspiring tales I have read. Annie Evershed

Submitted June 2, 2004

A

It's a tough one. Northern historians fancy Scotland, the rest go for Wales and the West Country. The truth is we have no good sources, so it's impossible to point you at a book and say the answer lies within, because it doesn't. But my reasoning goes something like this. The historical Arthur made his name by fighting the invading Saxons. The Saxons, we know, started their incursions in the south-east. Their natural invasion route is up the Thames valley which leads to - the west country and Wales. The legend of Arthur was carried by the defeated Britons west into Wales and north into Scotland, so it's quite possible that there are two separate strands remembering the same events but locating them close to home - one west, one north. The great thing about the Arthur legends is that they're endlessly malleable - so you can make of them what you will, but my money's still on Wales and the west country.

Q

Hi, I have just read Sharpe's Tiger, Triumph and Fortress and thought they were brilliant. As I was browsing in my nearby Ottakars it showed that chronologically speaking (life of Sharpe not publication) the last book is Sharpe's Devil - do you have any plans to write further adventures of Sharpe after 1821, perhaps he could go to Egypt and help in deciphering the Rosetta stone (Like Sharpe would be able to do that, well it is fiction lol) or perhaps the Anglo-Burmese war of 1823? Joshua Selig

Submitted June 2, 2004

A

I honestly don't know if I'll write Sharpe past 1815 again - my inclination is not to do it, but who knows? And, knowing Sharpe, I somehow doubt he'd be really interested in the Rosetta Stone! But who knows?

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am curious--why did you decide to have Jane Gibbons change from a brave, caring young wife to an adulterous thief? Such a change seems extraordinary to me. Peter Shea

Submitted June 2, 2004

A

Because sometimes the characters decide their own destiny and I have remarkably little to do with it, and I fear that's what happened in that case.

Q

I love reading your books and only regret that you can't write as fast as I can read. I love reading about history and especially enjoy studying a subject after reading your novels. I have found, that unlike most historical fiction authors, your work is mostly accurate and when it isn't, you mention the reasoning behind it at the end of the book. I don't know if you look at links or not but I am a member of a military history forum. We need more members that have great knowledge of history. The site is actually a military history site with articles on various periods of history. It has always been my dream to have you join and thought I would give it a shot. The site is www.Militaryhistoryonline.com. I don't know if this falls under suggestions for a book or not but have you ever considered writing about the Roman Empire? I hope this is vague enough to avoid lawyer trouble. Thanks Michael Vogel

Submitted June 2, 2004

A

Thanks for the invitation Michael, but I can't imagine when I would find the time! I do consider the Roman Empire, and every time I lie down until the thought has passed. Conn Iggulden does it much better, so I'll leave it to him.

Q

I've just started Sharpe's Battle. I probably should know this but I don't. What is a bicorne? I know that a tricorne is a three sided hat but how is a bicorne worn? Fore and aft or left and right? Guy E. Orr

Submitted June 2, 2004

A

A bicorne is a two-horned hat, as against a three, and they were usually worn fore and aft, though Napoleon liked to wear his port and starboard because then his men could see his face.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Wellington is always described as a miliary genius, yet from the descriptions of the battles I have read in your books, it seems that more often than not, Wellington blunders or does nothing special, and this is only righted by the skill of his troops and subordinates, the location of the battle, or the work of his inteligence staff. For example, in Sharpe's sword, although, I think I am right in saying that the spies in the book did not exist, Wellington places his troops behind the curve of the river, and Marmont attacks, thinking it is a deception, and the main body of his troops has marched West, yet a main reason for this is the work of Wellington's intelligence officers, persuarding the Marquesa into writing a false letter. And when the 3rd in command of the French army advances the Main French column, rather than a stroke of genius from Wellington, it is the bravery of the South Essex (presumably some other regiment in Real life) that stops retreating and forces the column onto the 6th division. Secondly, at Fuentes D'orno, Wellington splits his army and the whole smaller section looks to be enveloped, until Black Bob and the light division pull off some incredible soldiering, and saves Wellington from defeat. Then at other battles it seems not that Wellington has blundered or made any mistake, but neither has he made any briliant plan to defeat the enemy, such as the battle described at the beginning of Sharpe's Fortress, when it is the sheer stoic determination of the highlanders that defeats the enemy, marching in a blunt, unsubtle, un-inspiring advance at the enemy ridge. At Waterloo it seems to me that had Ney not thrown away the French cavalry and had Grouchy come to Napoleons aide in time, and had the British troops not been so brave withstanding the constant artillery bombardment and then face up to the Imperial guard, and all the armies of France, then it would have been Napoleons Brilliance that won the day. Do you hold the view that Wellington was a genius? The British infantry are always described in your books as firing faster than the French some 15 seconds per shot, with the French at some 20 seconds per shot (am I correct in this assumptiom) and that the rifles fired at some 30 seconds or more per shot? If I am right, then by the American civil war, and the Starbuck Chronicles how fast was the rate of fire of the average line infantry (assuming they were using non-repeating rifles)? Finally do you hold the opinion, that had the English, or French or any other Major European power joined the war on the side of the confederates, that they would have then eventualy won the war? Sorry this is all rather long winded, William Richards

Submitted May 28, 2004

A

Was Wellington a genius? Of course he was a genius. Would you want to fight him? Look at his record, for God's sake! Not one lost battle - you think that's an accident? And Salamanca was an encounter battle, two armies on the move, and it takes skill of an extraordinarily high order to fight an encounter battle - you don't choose your position, but make use of what there is and outmanouevre the enemy. And Craufurd doesn't save Wellington from defeat at Fuentes d'Onoro - W knew the risk he was running, took it deliberately, and sent Craufurd to do the necessary when the risk proved too much. Craufurd didn't just swan off on his own. As for Waterloo, oh dear. W fought there because he was assured that Blucher was coming, he knew the quality of his men ('if we have enough of that article' - meaning the redcoats - 'then we can do the business'), and Ney might have thrown away Napoleon's cavalry, but Uxbridge threw away Wellington's horsemen. Wellington once remarked that French campaign plans were like very beautiful leather harness sets, but when a piece broke it was impossible to mend. His plans, he said, were made of rope - when they broke he tied a knot. Being a great general is not having everything go to plan ('all plans collapse on meeting reality' - who said that?) but in reacting to changing circumstances. He was a genius.

The American Civil War was a period of rapid change - the initial rate of fire is about the same because they're all using muzzle loading guns - the rate might have been quickened a little because they had percussion caps instead of flints - but then, in mid war, the first practical breech-loaders arrive with ready made cartridges, and then the rate streaks up - 10 or more a minute? I'm sure there is a good source that would answer you more accurately - I don't have one to hand, but broadly I'm pretty sure I'm right.

And your last question - If the Brits had come in? Quite possible. Been horribly messy. Attacks from Canada, the northern blockade of the southern ports destroyed by the Royal Navy, reinforcements into Georgia. The French? Navy wasn't nearly as formidable as Britain's, so more doubtful.

Q

I first read your books when I was about 15 I think, it was when the Winter King came out in paperback, I had seen you on t.v. talking about the book and I thought mmmm..I might just check them out and I haven't regretted it. I love the Warlord Chronicles so much, I'm reading them for the 5th time at the moment and they are still as good. I can't wait for your next book to come out. I've read the first chapter on this site and it looks good as your books usually are. I don't know how you do it, you must be writing constantly. Writing 2 or even 3 books a year wow, I take my hat off to you. I haven't read your Sharpe series but grew up watching them on T.V but they are next on my list. Do you recommend reading them in Historical order or order of publishing? Well thank you once again for making my teenage years full of Arthur and Derfel! And keep on writing! Clare Hincks-Jones

Submitted May 28, 2004

A

Thank you for your lovely message Clare. I generally recommend reading the Sharpe books in chronological order. Click on the Sharpe books page of this website to see all the Sharpe books listed in historical order. I hope you'll enjoy them!

Q

Hi, my name's Ben and I have just this week sprained my ankle (ouch!!) so I get to sit around and read your books 24/7 (yipee!!) I met you in September last year when you visited Milton Keynes. I know that you saw lots of people then but I was going to play rugby and you wrote "aim high" on the inside of my book(s). Then I only had about 4 of your books but now I have almost every single one in the Sharpe series and in the Grail Quest, I just want to know how many more Sharpe will you do because it's like if you have too many it'll ruin the series. I would also like to say I think you are the best author and you are my role model for the future. Ben Chamberlaine

Submitted May 28, 2004

A

Thanks Ben. There won't be another Sharpe book for at least a year or two, and then maybe three or four more??? I'm not certain. Hope your ankle is better!

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am currently reading Sharpe's Revenge, and I have watched a couple of the movies. I love your style of writing and the characters you create. But what interests me the most isn't an it, but who. The riflemen fascinate me and I was wondering if you knew where I could find the lyrics to "Over the Hills and Far Away" Thank You. Your Fan Jacob Dorn

Submitted May 28, 2004

A

You can find the lyrics inside the CD of the same name. To obtain the CD, you can go to the Sharpe books page of this website, there you will find a link to 'Suggestions for Further Reading'. Go to that page and then scroll down to the 14th listing which is 'Over the Hills and Far Away - the Music of Sharpe'. You will find a link directly to Amazon.co.uk where the CD can be purchased. (You might be able to find it other places as well - such as through the Sharpe Appreciation Society, another link available on the Sharpe books page).

Q

Hello! I loved the King Arthur trilogy you did and I just wanted to know whether the film that's coming out in the summer is adapted from them? Thanks for your time!
Geriant Williams

Submitted May 28, 2004

A

No, it is not.