Your Questions

Q

Two quick questions, please: (1.) having written the later Sharpe books before the earlier, if you were, in fact, writing the later books now, are there things in those books that you would change?; and (2.) why does Sharpe hate lawyers so much? I'm a lawyer myself, and many, many lawyers shame the profession, but the scoundrels, really, are regular people. To borrow a phrase, "lawyers don't sue people; people sue people." Even in Lady Grace's estate, Sharpe should hate her family, not lawyers. Sometimes, in one's profession, it's necessary to do some things of which you may not end up particularly proud in order to best advance your client's (or King's) interests. Sharpe, of all people, should know that. Thanks for your time, response, and talents. Best wishes.

Submitted March 9, 2004

A

1) Do you mean are there things I would change in the first series? Yes - the references to things like Hakeswill being with Sharpe during the assault on Gawilghur, and when I came to write that book it was impossible to make that reference true. Maybe one day I'll smooth the whole series out - maybe. 2) Ho ho. All I shall offer you is Abraham Lincoln (who, as a lawyer, understood these things) - a single lawyer in a small town starves, two lawyers grow fat. I rest my case.

Q

Please could you tell me, is Sharpe based on a real character as I understand that he is according to my local radio station in Leicester. It is reported that the character who Sharpe is based on is buried in Leicester. Dick Leslie

Submitted March 5, 2004

A

Sharpe is utterly fictional - based on my imagination.

Q

Hi Mr. Cornwell, I enjoy reading your books so much. After I finish reading them I can't get them out of my head for weeks! My absolute favorite is Stonehenge because I have never read anything like it and I also love the Warlord Chronicles and Grail Quest series. I was very disappointed to read that you decided not to write the fourth Thomas of Hookton book and I can only hope you change your mind. Now that I'm done acting like a dorky fan I would love to ask you a question. In Heretic, I was wondering why you didn't mention what happened to Jeanette and Mordecai. I was just curious about their fate. Thank you very much for your time, I wish you all the best. Jill Levraea

Submitted March 5, 2004

A

They do rather fade away, don't they? Sorry. Maybe I'll pick them up in a later book one day.

Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a huge fan of your books and would just like to say that I can't wait for the new one. The thing I'd like to ask is, recently I was reading a historical fiction book based on the Nepoleonic war again but this time it was about a French cavalry officer in Italy. I was wondering if this was actually written by you as the style is very similar, as is the hero? I thought it might have been published under a different name as not to upset too many Sharpe fans, your sincerely Philip Ashley

Submitted March 5, 2004

A

I didn't write it (can't imagine where I'd find the time...).

Q

Dear sir- Firstly I would like to thank you for the many wonderful hours I have spent reading your novels. Secondly I would be grateful if you could answer several questions for me. 1) Is your latest novel written from the Anglo-Saxon or Viking viewpoint? 2) You state that Richard Sharpe is named after the Rugby player Richard Sharp and Ryder Sanderman is a keen cricketer. Are you a fan of English sports or have you become seduced by American sports? Steven Storey

Submitted March 5, 2004

A

1) I know this sounds perverse, but a bit of both - but in the end the Anglo Saxon will prevail. 2) I am a fan of both! I cross the Atlantic every year to see some rugby, don't get to see much cricket, alas, and adore American Football. Rugby is the first love though, and in three weeks I'm off to see England play France in Paris. No prize for guessing which side I support.

Q

Sir, I am a sailor in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Virginia Beach Va.. I have read the Winter King series and am currently re-reading the Archer's Tale to get into the series. Your work in the Arthur seies has been by far the best I've read. What prompted you to write it from a warlords perspective? Was it difficult to keep the plot moving? Will you be writing any more books about that period in time? Life out here is very hectic right now but I am always trying to manage a few pages in between evolutions during the day. Thank you for your works and please continue them. Sincerely, Joshua Pettus, Gunners Mate 2/class USS Tortuga LSD-46

Submitted March 5, 2004

A

Why warlord? Because that's what Arthur was - the dux bellorum, or leader of battles, as Nennius called him, and his fame arose from his success in battle. The rest is all romantic accretion! Is it difficult to keep the plot moving? It should probably have moved faster, especially in the first book. And more? Alas no, the story, for me anyway, is finished.

Q

Mr Cornwell I first stumbled across your books over a decade ago, and have enjoyed them immensely. For what its worth, your Grail Quest series showed to me another side of your writing that only added to my respect for your work...as did your Stonehenge book which I've just finished. While Sharpe is a pleasure, these others have allowed you (in my stranger's estimation) to expand your expression of creativity.. One question. I've seen the DVD version of Sharpe's Justice, which you did not after all, actually write. How do you feel about that DVD? In some ways I have felt that the videos are at their best when they ARE NOT showing action sequences, as they clearly are working on a limited budget, so you have Napoleon's army at Waterloo represented by perhaps fifty or seventy men...a good try, but well...the irony of course being that with Sharpe, some of the greatest appeal is the action...(oh I'm not knocking your characterization) Anyway, if you can discuss it, I was wondering how you felt about the video representation of Sharpe, again for me, the videos are at their best when they are NOT showing action, but dealing with character and close sequences, something they can do without seeming to be in over their heads, as they clearly were in many of the battle sequences...okay, sorry this is so long, hope you are well, and I look forward to your continued work...best from Mike S

Submitted March 5, 2004

A

I was not involved in writing any of the screenplays for the films, nor did I want to be - happy to leave that to the experts! How do I feel about the films? Delighted!

Q

I would just like to say hello and tell you that I enjoy your writing immensely. I have had many days at work, extremely groggy and cloudy-minded due to not being able to put down one of your books the night before(and on into the morning) :) I would also like to ask one question: Any word on Nathaniel Starbuck? That series was the first of your work that I read and I still read them. Just wondering if there was going to be a continuation in the near future or if you have decided to retire Starbuck to work on other gripping reading? Thank you for all the hours of entertainment you have provided, Daryl Graham

Submitted March 5, 2004

A

I am working on other projects at the moment - but I do hope to return to Starbuck at some point.

Q

Hello again, Mr. Cornwell. Here's another question for you: In Redcoat, do you ever specify which regiment Sam Gilpin is serving in? I have thumbed through my copy and can find no reference to it. Sincerely, Alan Kempner

Submitted March 3, 2004

A

I don't think I do - I don't remember - but as the inference is that he must have belonged to one of the six battalions that donated their light companies to fight at Paoli's Tavern I probably avoided a specific reference so I wouldn't be trapped by whatever that particular battalion subsequently did.

Q