Your Questions

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for answering my last inquiry. I have another quick question about The Warlord Chronicles. I was reading up on the "history" of each of the Knights of the Round Table and noticed a similarity between Derfel and Bedivere. Bedivere only had one hand and, so they say, threw Excalibur back to the Lady of the Lake after Arthur's "death". Derfel, in the end, only has one hand and throws Excalibur into the water so Nimue can't get it. Was this done on purpose or purely coincidental? Thanks again. Regards, Elizabeth

Submitted May 12, 2004

A

It was on purpose - Derfel was one of Arthur's original companions, but got lost in the tale's tellings over the centuries, so I brought him back and, yes, did give him the role (at the end) usually associated with Bedivere.

Q

Do you think you will ever write a series about the Crusades? Peter Mozsi

Submitted May 11, 2004

A

It's not in my plans at the moment, but never say never!

Q

Dear Bernard, I've just finished reading the Sharp series (in chronological order) and wish to thank you for giving me back the joy of reading. I didn't think that I'd find a series so long so gripping, I had read the excellent Thomas of Hookton Grail series and wasn't really interested in the Napoleonic era. Well you soon changed that perception, so thankyou. I've also read Gallows thief and wish to ask if we shall read anymore of the adventures of Rider Sandman and Co, as that was too good a story for it to have been a one off surely?. Also, will Sharp be returning to India in the 1830's for he will only be in his late forties /early fifties and Harper about the same? (I think there was an incursion into India during that time or it may have been a little later?). The only thing left for me now is to polish off the Starbuck chronicals and the Arthur books and I'll be back in the dulldrums. Or will I.

Submitted May 10, 2004

A

I am considering another adventure for Rider Sandman. There won't be another Sharpe book for at least a year or two, so I'm not sure where he'll be next.

Q

Hi I love your books particularly the Grail quest and I can't wait for the Last Kingdom, but one small complaint (and I know its very anorakky) but I hate it when the publishers chang the style of the spines on the dust jackets during a series of books, do you have any input? Arthur Hurn

I recently discovered the Sharpe Books and have been consuming them at a rapid pace. I dread the day I finish, however when will Sharpe's Escape be released on paper back? Why the change to hardback? Boris

Submitted May 10, 2004

A

Sharpe's Escape will be published in paperback in the UK in October, 2004. Don't know yet when the US paperback will be out. The change to hardback? I assume you mean in the hardback covers - a decision made by the publishers.

Q

Sir, I after enjoying your sailing books (will there be any more?) I picked up Rebel and on page 200 of the Harper paperbook you mention doctor from Vermont named Wesselhoeft who Adam Faulconer knew and I wondered where you got the name. My great grandfather was Wiliam Fessenden Wesselhoeft, who married Emily Bradley in 1887 and my wife wears Emily's engagement ring and it may have been worn by grandpa's mother who perhaps may have been married to the Wessesshoeft mentioned in your book. My great grand pa practiced medicine on Commonwealth Drive in Boston and had a farm in Jaffery NH (the farm is still in the family). My grand mother was his daughter. I would love any information you uncovered as Wesselhoeft is an uncommon name here but in Germany not so uncommon. Thanks for any help and it sure woke me up in my reading of Rebel. Thank you. Sincerely, Peter Allen

Submitted May 10, 2004

A

I wish I could tell you! I probably got the name from the index of a book - a pretty common source, but which one? I just can't remember. Sorry not to be more helpful.

Q

Are the dvd's of the Sharpe series to be watched in the same order of your books or are they to be watched in the order that comes in the set? Thank you. Zeke Westbrook

Submitted May 7, 2004

A

I haven't seen the DVD's yet, but I assume the order the comes in the set. Does anyone else know?

Q

Dear Mister Cornwell sir, after reading your entire Sharpe collection including the short stories, and sending an application to the S.A.S, I am thrilled to be writing to you. Like Harper, I am an Irishman and proud to say you are an exquisite writer. I do wonder if a book will come out in years to come describing the life of Sharpe before India when he was a lad of sixteen in Flanders. That would be interesting. Another question I'd like to ask you would be, would Sharpe's Devil be made into film. Sean Bean would be the perfect age and no other actor could fill Sharpe's boots.
Thanks a million
Slan go Foill, god save Ireland
Colum O'Rourke

Submitted May 7, 2004

A

I'm not inclined to take Sharpe back in time again, so I don't think there will be a Flanders book. As for a film of 'Sharpe's Devil' - don't know if it will happen but it might be a possibility. One can hope!

Q

Throughtout your excellent series of books (please bring back Starbuck) I see a common underlining of religion (I'm maybe wrong). Is this because you believe reilgion is a) one driving force behind the conflicts you write about, b) or do you use it because you believe for the time period you write about religion was integrel to people of that time, C) or is it because in a time of fear (battle) you see people revert back to religion for confort or strength? Finally have you ever thought of writing about contempory military conflicts or do you have no real interest in that area? Thanks for the brillant books and hope this question doesn't interrupt you from your excellent writing. ( hope to see Starbuck soon fingers crossed). Wilfred

Submitted May 7, 2004

A

Religion is certainly a driving force in the early periods - often THE driving force. Not in the Napoleonic wars - the British were fairly oblivious of it (Voltaire called England 'the land without God'), and the French were almost equally careless (though some devout Catholics opposed Napoleon). The American Civil War? Very religious - there was a huge evangelical revival in the southern army quite early in the war, and the north saw a religious reason for the rightness of their cause. I don't think there's a reversion to religion during combat - I've found no evidence. And I really don't have any interest in writing about contemporary conflicts - I'll leave that to those who do it well.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, whilst reading through your books I couldn't help noticing that all of your books that I have read so far are all related to Britain. Can you please tell me why you write only stories concerned with history of Britain? Justin

Submitted May 5, 2004

A

Other than the Starbuck books? Probably because I grew up there, know it best, learned its history all my life, and am comfortable with it. Write what you know, they say, so I try.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have read all your books in the Strbuck, Sharpe and Grail Quest series, all of which I have deeply enjoyed, in each a question or two have crossed my mind; In the Sharpe series (and gerneal history of that era): At Waterloo, was it Marshal Neys entire fault for the battle to be lost? If he had not got the French cavalry all but destryoed, would Napoleon have won the battle in your opinion? 2) Was military discipline of the time (for the common private) completely dependant on the judgement of the regiments Colonel's decision? And how had military discipline developed from the begining of the C18th to the Napoleonic wars? In the Grail quest series: Was the long bow, more powerful, more accurate, longer ranged or none of these than the crossbow? Was its only advantage its rapid rate of fire? 2) Why did no other countries in Europe, seeing the sucess of the longbow against the French not adopt it for themselves? In the Starbuck chronicles: Why did you stop writing them? I personaly preffered them to the Sharpe novels (not to the Grail quest novels, but that is purely to do with my love of medieval history), and was rather disapointed when they stopped? Yours faithfuly, William Richards

Submitted May 5, 2004

A

I don't think Ney can be blamed. He did throw away Napoleon's cavalry, but the British had thrown theirs away earlier, so no great advantage there. Maybe Grouchy must bear part of the blame? For not marching to the sound of the guns. Or perhaps Napoleon, for understimating his enemies and, fatally, delaying the onset of battle. 2) No - it was dependent on his company officers and sergeants, on courts martial, and, of course, on the tone set by the colonel. How had it developed? Not a lot - flogging was restricted to fewer strokes, but otherwise not much - read Richard Holmes's excellent Redcoat for more. Longbow vs Crossbow? I'd say the latter had longer range (not by much, but perhaps 30 to 40 yards), the crossbow was more powerful, both were accurate, but the longbow was probably in the hands of a much more skillful archer and had a far faster rate of fire - and it was the rate of fire that made the difference. Other countries? They tried - tried very hard - but it probably takes ten years to train a longbowman and that's where they failed - start 'em young! For the reason why I stopped writing Starbuck, go to the Starbuck books page.