Your Questions

Q

When you wrote the Grail Quest series in your research did you come across any sources for the Holy Roman Empire? I mention HRE because the Crossbow Men who fought for the Frecnh came from one of countries under the rule of HRE. It amazed me that The HRE didn't take more of active role in the Hundred year war then sending those Crossbow men. Vanguard

Submitted April 16, 2004

A

I guess because the HRE didn't have a dog in that quarrel - which was a fight between England and France over territory that was a long way from the Holy Roman Empire - and the Genoese crossbowmen were all mercenaries, so fought for whoever paid them - they weren't sent by the Emperor, but hired by a paymaster. I'm sure the HRE took advantage of the war! Best read Jonathan Sumption's marvellous two volume history to discover more.

Q

Dear Bernard, I notice most of your protaganists are misfits in some way, the common officer, the yankee confederate, the saxon briton and now the norse saxon. I think they make great characters and obviously allow for certain social commentary and split loyalties but was wondering if there was any particular reason you have written about so many such characters? Just read Sharpes Escape, another great story, looking forward to the Viking/Saxon novel. Will it be more like Grail or Warlord or completely different? Many Thanks Jeremy

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

I don't know why so many are misfits - but of course they are. Probably because such creatures appeal to me? The next novel (The Last Kingdom) - a bit more like Warlord than anything else, but in truth, to me, it seems unlike either.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, another question from me, so don't worry if you don't have time to answer! I know that you didn't want Harlequin to have a different title in the States, but who came up with the alternative title? Were you asked or did the publisher just make it up? I think I would have been very annoyed if it were the latter! Still, it's the content that counts. Thanks for your time! Rachel

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

If I remember rightly the publisher suggested 'Flight of Arrows' and I baulked at that and, unable to change their mind about changing the title, suggested 'An Archer's Tale' instead. It was, still is, VERY annoying.

Q

Hello! I've just been browsing your reader letters section, so I just wanted to throw my two cents in, begging your pardon. I've been devouring Harlequin every few months since I stumbled across it last year. It's brilliant! Although I regret the fact that you're putting Thomas off the hook, as it were, for some time, it's better than a straight-up abandonment of the story. So you've researched Agincourt already? My pulse quickens, Mr. Cornwell! Just a few questions: did you really find evidence that disreputes the old "blue-faced-celts" story? Were the heretics of Astarac/Cathar actually real? Please excuse my presump-tuousness, I hope you can clear these things up for me. Please never quit Thomas, Mr. Cornwell, because it's the best stuff I've read in years! Now, I'm waiting for softcover Heretic, but I've already read the first chapter. Good to see Bohun again. Too bad about Will Skeat, though... Best regards from BC, Canada- Stuart

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Agincourt is researched - but it's still in the queue - don't know when it will be written. 'Blue-faced Celts' - yes, of course they existed - they dyed themselves with woad, but this is VERY early stuff, and I doubt the habit survived into the first millennium. The Cathar heretics? Very real indeed. I'd recommend The Perfect Heresy by Stephen O'Shea as a good introduction to their sad story - but there are many other books on Catharism.

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, "A Crowning Mercy" and "The Fallen Angels" are wonderful books. I've read them so repeatedly that they are literally falling apart. Do you have any plans to writer other novels with female protagonists? Much thanks, Karen

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

After your message, yes! So thank you - I'll think about it.

Q

Dear Bernard, I just want to say I absolutely love your Sharpe series and I have just started reading the new Sharpe's Skirmish, it is just brilliant. I must admit I fell in love with the series through Sean Bean, but on reading the books I fell in love with your writing. But I wanted to ask you if you did a degree at The College of St Marks and St Johns? in Plymouth, Devon (England) as I have seen pictures of you in the college allumni, I am a student there and I could not believe my eyes when I saw it! Because of my love for history and the peninsular war (Sharpe etc) I am now in my second year of a degree in English (language) and history! I hope you keep writing more Sharpe books and maybe persuade Sean to turn some more books in to tv adaptions! :-) Thank you for your time and I can't wait for your next Sharpe book! Kirsty :-)

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Thanks for your message Kirsty. I did, yes, though not in Plymouth - I was at the college when it was on the Kings Road in Chelsea, in the 60's, which to readers of a certain age will only prompt jealousy. Good luck with your studies!

Q

Sir, I was 12 years happy within in "The Housold Cavalry, that was until I was first met "Richard Sharpe". I had never before even contemplated that say the Guards (Foot) could have a better history. But I am now a devoted "Sharpe Man" I have not even looked at the hounours of the 95th in case it does not measure up to what I have seen on screen. I do however have a question. Could you plese tell us how "Sharpe" and "Major Lennox" of the 78th met and how "Sharpe" got his stripes. I do believe that the "India oddessy" would be a great boost to the books in general. Thanks for allowing me to write. Respectfully Yours. Philip Carr

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Thanks for the message! I seem to remember that Sharpe and Lennox don't exactly meet at Assaye, but that Sharpe is aware of the other man. Does that help? And Sharpe gets his stripes as a result of his activities in Sharpe's Tiger.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, thank you for your reply. Where did you think of the name Richard Sharpe and was there a South Essex regiment. Also why did you want to have the 95th rifles in your stories? Joe Barber

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Richard Sharpe was named for one of the greatest of England's rugby players, Richard Sharp, a Cornishman and a god. There was no South Essex regiment - I needed a fictional regiment so I wouldn't be constrained by the real history of a genuine regiment. And the 95th have always appealed to me - they carried a unique weapon which opens up all sorts of narrative possibilities.

Q

Has writing the Warlord series changed your views on the Welsh (celtic) - English relationships?
Robin Trenbath

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

Not really - I mean it's all there in the books, and I hope you detect a great sympathy for the Welsh who had the misfortune to lose their land to a much larger aggressor - and it's odd how those tensions still exist over 1500 years later, but a tension best worked out on the rugby pitch.

Q

Dear Sir, Being born in '86 I was a little too late for televised sharpe (England), I never really understood the stories at that early age and just told my dad to tell me when the shootin' started! But my secret passion for 19th century warfare caught up with me, and I recently managed to scrape enough money together to buy the DVD box-set. I got Havoc last Christmas, and I've been reading them chronologically ever since, and just finished Eagle today (just in time for the next for escape), quite an impressive CV sharpe would have. I'm curious to know, apart from the obvious, the extent of your influence of the television shows, as there seems to be big differences in the stories. Were you ever invited on set for help? Thank you for your time James Trethowan

Submitted April 15, 2004

A

They didn't need my help, but they did invite me to be a cheerleader, which I was. I knew (know) nothing about TV drama so I didn't want influence - I was happy to let the experts get on with it.