Your Questions

Mr. Cornwell, I am humbled by the fact that you acknowledged my e-mail to you, some months ago, by putting it in your website. I am in the midst of new energy, I have been reading most of your other books besides the Sharpe novels. The Arther trilogy, Stonehenge, Gallows Thief, and my favorite the Grail Quest series. Some years ago, I saw you on the history channel doing a commentative of the Sharpe movies. You struck me as a hell of a nice guy with no heightened ego from his talent and fame. That pleases me. I have spent alot of money on you over the years, I would hate to hear that you were actually an unpleasent person. The gentleman who conducted an interview of you on that show I felt was very disrespectful to you. It was like he didn't know what to say to you so he just started talking out his bum. I hope that experience has not embittered you in any way to doing further televised interviews if such an occasion should arise in the future. With all that said, I have a few questions to ask you if I may. Will you be doing any book tours that might possibly take you to Kentucky or the adjacent states? I would love to meet you personally and have you sign a few hardbacks for me. Is the Grail Quest series going to be long running? I love the adventures of Thomas of Hookton, and I feel a personal connection to him. Will you be writing any books with the vikings, the celts, scottish highlanders or the Roman army in Britain as the main focal point? I believe that's all I've right now, I'm aware that I have written so much already, I will understand if you choose not to put all of it on your site. Until next time, thank you for time sir. Peace and love. Barry W. Harshfield Jr.

Hello. Thanks for the Sharpe series - they've displaced Hornblower as my favourite "rereading in the loo 'till I get pins and needles" books. I'm looking forward to "Escape", (I prefer paperbacks, so it may be a while). Like many others, I'd love to see a sequel (or even a prequel, perhaps) to Gallows Thief. I've got it on tape, which is excellent - a TV adaptation would be marvellous, as long as Carlton weren't involved. I've only seen positive reaction to the series, but I'm not impressed so far, having just bought the DVD set and watched Sharpe's Eagle. I noticed you don't watch TV (nor do I, on the whole - the DVDs were an excuse to be more sociable, as I tend to hide upstairs when the telly is on!), but have you seen the Carlton stuff, and what do you think (I guess you may have to be circumspect if you didn't like them)? Thanks again. Graham Nicholls

First edition hardback copies of Sharpes Sword are way beyond my budget. The high prices are usually blamed on a low print run (500). I wondered why the run was so small? Yours Andrew McLaren

By my reckoning, Richard Sharpe would be76 by 1853, not to old for a British general in those days. Was he involved in the Crimean War at all? William W. Gill

Mr Cornwell, by dumb luck I found a used Sharpe's Rifles in a half priced bookstore many years ago and have purchased all your novels since. I eagerly await each new book. I too waited, as others to read about Starbuck at Appomattox. I also looked everywhere for a sequel to the great Redcoat novel. It seemed such an obvious choice for a series. Why no sequel? You ended the story in midstream. Would you please continue the series for Redcoat? Gary Elliott

I finished reading your book, "Redcoat" this afternoon and wanted to let you know how very much I enjoyed it. I have read many of your other novels and enjoyed them all. My question is, why in all the FAQ's was there never any mention of "Redcoat"? And, I was disappointed to find no reference of any further books about the redcoat, Sam Gilpin. I would highly recommend this book and only wish you had continued the story in another book or two. It had such possibilities for Sam, Caroline and Mrs. Crowl. Keep writing and thank you for some most enjoyable reads! Joline

Hello, Mr. Cornwell, We met a couple of times at the Sharpe convention. I have never joined a fan club in my teens because I thought no one was really worth such adoration. Well things have changed since I was made to read a Sharpe book. I am addicted! I have always written stories starting with children's tales and gone on to older audiences (I wrote for my children) but I have never had the courage or conviction to get them published. However, my question: How do you keep track of all your "players'" characters and idiosynchrasies? Do you keep a journal? (I have tried this and still made mistakes three books later). Do your proof readers pick up any mistakes? And has it happen you had to rewrite parts of your books because of it? Keep writing, PLEASE! Your insights are fantastic. Thank you for your books and your time! Susanne Young-Hotz

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have been a great fan of yours since seeing the Sharpe TV series, which lead me onto the books, although when I read them I can't help but picture Sean Bean, not a dark haired, scarred Londoner. I have read all your books, except the Starbucks, which I hope to read soon. My favourite are the Warlord trilogy. My first question is about the Arthur film that is to be released later this year, which has been billed as a more 'factual' version than previous renditions. Is this based in anyway on your books? My second question is about the grail quest. Hookton is described as south of dorchester, which currently, is the town of weymouth. Although Hookton was destroyed, at the end of Heretic, thomas returns there at the time the black death is in europe. Historically, the black death was first in england 1348, melcombe regis, a borough of weymouth. Are you implying that Thomas was responsable for the black death in england. Am also looking forward to the new sharpe, will there be anymore? Rgds, Paul Childs

Dear Mr Cornwell, First let me thank you for all the pleasure that reading your books has given me. I find your notes at the back very interesting. (The last, Gallows Thief, I read in NZ and passed it on to a Kiwi friend fascinated by English history!) I was interested in your notes in this book, about the almost carnival atmosphere at a public hanging. My late mother left me a collection of lace bobbins; the shaft of one is decorated with the name 'W Worsley hung 1868'. She found that he was William Worsley but I haven't found out anything more about him. Do you know whether commemorative bobbins like this one would have been made to peddle at hangings? Or might this have been an occasional thing, for relatives of the victim perhaps? I'd be interested to hear what you might know - many thanks, Juliet Lewis

Dear Mr. Cornwell, please could you tell me the inspiration for the name "Sharpe" in your marvellous novels. Many thanks, Sue Winch

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a long-time fan of your work (esp. the Sharpe series-alas , I have no valuable 1st editions as I am too frugal-alright cheap to buy hardcovers). I was gratified to see a new 'Sharpe' is on the horizon. I just finished "Gallows Thief". It was a great read and Rider Sandman looks like a character with great potential. How was it received and do you plan on continuing Sandman's adventures? Thanks from a historical junkie Michael Ruskey