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We talk to Bernard Cornwell

Bernard Cornwell is one of the Worlds most popular authors, his Napoleonic hero Richard Sharpe has introduced millions to the fascination of the Peninsular War, and Military history in general. He is not one to rest on his laurels and has written gripping tales based on the American Civil War, The Dark Ages, Pre history and now the High Middle Ages, as well a contemporary adventures. As is usual with anyone who proves popular and successful he is now attracting his share if critics who complain that he twists history to embellish his tales. However despite the griping of these few, his books sell in their hundreds of thousands, and wargames based on hid stories abound at shows. His impact in popularising military history should not be underestimated.

Mr Cornwell, first and foremost thank you very much for agreeing to this interview, and second please bear with me, I am not a professional journalist, and I am editing a website for Wargamers who can be an irascible bunch at the best of time.

 I suppose that you must be held responsible for re-popularising the military adventure novel, Sharpe certainly has an almost cult following. Where did your own interest in military history arise, and which writers do you feel had the greatest influence on you?

Undoubtedly it was C.S. Forester's Hornblower novels that hooked me - I was a kid then, and when I'd finished all eleven and, 

was desperate for more (this was before Bolitho, Ramage or Jack Aubrey) I went to the library and got out every book I could 

find on the Napoleonic wars and so discovered the extraordinary tales of Wellington's army.

 The televised adventures of Sharpe proved very popular, and amongst the anorak wargaming community uproar over historical “liberties”. How did you feel about your hard-bitten, dark, scarred hero transforming into handsome heartthrob Sean Bean?

Terrific. Only a fool objects to two hours free advertising for his product on prime time TV!

 

 Conan Doyle famously felt it necessary to kill off Sherlock Holmes, as you are now engaged in recounting earlier adventures of our hero, are you tempted to bring down the final curtain on Sharpe?

Not while there's a pension to be funded. I've no doubt that I'll have to write a last Sharpe book one day, and maybe sooner rather 

than later, but I'm much too fond of him to knock him off. I shall let him die in a bed of his choosing.

 

I have carried copies of your historical notes in my pack whilst traveling in Spain, very useful in finding my way around Salamanca. Clearly you have studied the Peninsular War in some detail. Who is the French Peninsular commander you most admire and why?

Marmont, probably. His campaign before Salamanca was masterful, but even if he had not been wounded I doubt he could have 

retrieved the battle. Still, he ain't bad.

 Stonehenge and the Excalibur, series of novels were a total departure from Sharpe, and created a World in which legend and history intertwined, to the joy of many wargamers, and the chagrin of others. I would imagine you received a similar mixed response from the history lobby. How do you balance your commitment to your story, and the need to maintain historical accuracy?

 Well, I try! Stonehenge was as accurate as I could make it in respect of the how it was built and when it was built, though of

 course we know next to nothing about the builders.

 The Arthur books were much freer - we know nothing at all about Arthur! In general the story takes precedence over history 

because I'm a storyteller before I'm an historian, so, for instance, in Sharpe's Company, even though no British soldiers got through

 the breaches at Badajoz, Sharpe does - because that's where the drama was and he's a hero!

The Starbuck series, based on the American Civil War, came to what seemed a sudden stop, after “The Bloody Ground”, which contains what I consider a staggeringly impressive narration of the battle of Antietam. Are there more Starbuck adventures to come?

Yes, I'm just not quite sure when.

 Your enthusiasm for sailing is clear from your “modern” novels, and I imagine a great way to relax. The Forum is a website for wargamers, who will jokingly tell you that is how they relax! Have you played wargames of any kind?

Never, and I'm not likely to! I can't possibly have people going around boasting that they beat Sharpe! He's unbeatable.

 Your novels have encompassed varied adventures from prehistory to the present day. If you could travel back in time to one particular place, or time, when would it be and why?

  It would have to be to Wellington's army, probably Waterloo, just to see how wrong I got it all.

 When is your next book to be released, and are you able to say anything about it?

  I think the next one in Britain will be Vagabond which is a follow up to Harlequin and, in truth, it's a Sharpe book with longbows. 

It begins with the battle of Neville's Cross and ends with the extraordinary fight at la Roche-Derrien in 1347, and in between our 

hero does not find the holy grail.

Thank you very much indeed for taking the time face this interrogation, and can I thank you sincerely on behalf of all Napoleonic wargamers for inspiring an amazing diversity of figures, representing Riflemen, that have emerged over the last few years. Hopefully we can look forward to a similar variety of medieval figures after October. Again my thanks.

La Roche Derrien 1347

 You may find these links of interest: -

The Official Bernard Cornwell Site   The Sharpe Appreciation Society

 JOS June 2002

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