Bernard Cornwell

Looking back, of course, it was irresponsible, mad, forlorn, idiotic, but if you don't take chances then you'll never have a winning hand, and I've no regrets.

— Bernard Cornwell regret

What I mean by that is that the point of life, as I see it, is not to write books or scale mountains or sail oceans, but to achieve happiness, and preferably an unselfish happiness.

— Bernard Cornwell life

Anyone who claims to have an entirely clear conscience is almost certainly a bore.

— Bernard Cornwell science

I'm fortunate that the books sell, but even more fortunate to live in Chatham, to be very happily married and to have, on the whole, a fairly clear conscience.

— Bernard Cornwell science

It's fun. I sit down every day and tell stories. Some folk would kill to get that chance.

— Bernard Cornwell stories

I'll happily mentor anyone who wants mentoring, and most of that goes on by internet rather than face to face.

— Bernard Cornwell men

Of course some days are easier than others, but my worst day is better than being in most humdrum occupations.

— Bernard Cornwell day

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if the first book had not sold... doesn't bear thinking about, but I suppose we'd have made it work somehow.

— Bernard Cornwell time

So the books have a greater appeal to a British audience, but that hasn't stopped them making best-seller lists in places like Brazil, Japan and at least a dozen other countries.

— Bernard Cornwell books

At risk of sounding foully pompous I think that writers' groups are probably very useful at the beginning of a writing career.

— Bernard Cornwell writing

Book tours and research provide a lot of travel - too much, I sometimes think, but we do take vacations.

— Bernard Cornwell time

Judy couldn't move to Britain for family reasons, so I had to come to the States, and the U.S. government wouldn't give me a Green Card, so I airily told her I'd write a book.

— Bernard Cornwell family

Agents will read unpublished work because they might make money, and that's their job. It isn't mine.

— Bernard Cornwell money

So far it's 43 books in 25 years.

— Bernard Cornwell books

Television is a young person's medium.

— Bernard Cornwell vision

Writing is a solitary occupation.

— Bernard Cornwell writing

And yes, there's a simplicity to writing books because you're not a member of a team, so you make all the decisions yourself instead of deferring to a committee.

— Bernard Cornwell writing

I know nothing about producing TV drama and any involvement on my part is liable to prove an obstacle to the producers, so I prefer to be a cheerleader and let them get on with it.

— Bernard Cornwell art

One book at a time... though I'm usually doing the research for others while I'm writing, but that sort of research is fairly desultory and I like to stick to the book being written - and writing a book concentrates the mind so the research is more productive.

— Bernard Cornwell writing

Then you start another book and suddenly the galley proofs of the last one come in and you have to wrench your attention away from what you're writing and try to remember what you were thinking when you wrote the previous one.

— Bernard Cornwell writing

Looking back, of course, it was irresponsible, mad, forlorn, idiotic, but if you dont take chances then youll never have a winning hand, and Ive no regrets.

— Bernard Cornwell regret

Arthur Wellesley had waited six years for this moment. He was twenty-nine years old and had begun to fear that he would never see battle, but now, at last, he would discover whether he and his regiment could fight, and so he filled his lungs to give the order that would start the slaughter.Narrator, p. 28

— Bernard Cornwell fear

Sharpe had no thought of deserting now, for now he was about to fight. If there was any one good reason to join the army, it was to fight. Not to hurry up and do nothing, but to fight the Kings enemies, and this enemy had been shocked by the awful violence of the close-range volley and now they stared in horror as the redcoats screamed and ran toward them.Narrator, p. 33

— Bernard Cornwell war

Any officer given the money to buy promotion and lucky enough to possess relations who could put him in the way of advancement was bound to rise, but even the less fortunate men who resented Wellesleys privileges were forced to admit that the young Colonel had a natural and chilling authority, and maybe, some thought, even a talent for soldiering. He was certainly dedicated enough to his chosen trade if that was any sign of talent.Narrator, commenting on Colonel Arthur Wellesley, p. 103

— Bernard Cornwell art

Hes actually a rather good ruler. Better, I suspect, than most of our Christian monarchs. Hes certainly been good for Mysore. Hes fetched it a deal of wealth, given it more justice than most countries enjoy in India and hes been tolerant to most religions, though I fear he did persecute some unfortunate Christians.Colonel Hector McCandless, on the Tippo Sultan, p. 300

— Bernard Cornwell religion

Theres a great blood mine, sir! Just waiting to kill our lads! I aint letting that happen. You can do what you bloody well like, but Im going to kill some more of these bastards.Private Richard Sharpe, p. 329

— Bernard Cornwell you

The Tippoo himself led the defenders north of the breach. The Tippoo had cursed Gudin for blowing the mines too early and thus wasting its terrible destructive power, but now he tried to revive the defense by his personal example. He stood in the front rank of his soldiers while behind him a succession of aides loaded jewel-encrusted hunting rifles. One by one the rifles were given to the Tippoo who aimed and fired, aimed and fired, and redcoat after redcoat was struck down.Narrator, p. 351

— Bernard Cornwell success

Look after him, Lieutenant. An army isnt made of its officers, you know, though we officers like to think it is. An army is no better than its men, and when you find good men, you must look after them. Thats an officers job.Colonel Jean Gudin, p. 353

— Bernard Cornwell men

You can keep your sword, for you fought proper. Like a proper soldier. Take your blade to paradise, and tell them you were killed by another proper soldier.Private Richard Sharpe to the Tippoo Sultan, p. 372

— Bernard Cornwell you

Never in my life have I seen two villages on opposite banks of a river that werent connected by a ford.Major General Arthur Wellesley, p. 196

— Bernard Cornwell life

Now well see how their infantry fight, Wellesley said savagely to Campbell, and Sharpe understood that this was the real testing point, for infantry was everything. The infantry was despised for it did not have the cavalrys glamour, nor the killing capacity of the gunners, but it was still the infantry that won battles. Defeat the enemys infantry and the cavalry and gunners had nowhere to hide.Sergeant Richard Sharpe, p. 233

— Bernard Cornwell age

Our duty, Richard, is to be decorative and stay alive long enough to be promoted. But no one expects us to be useful! Good God! A junior officer being useful? Thatll be the day.Ensign Roderick Venables, p. 20

— Bernard Cornwell god

Youre a light company, and that means you can go where other Soldiers cant. It makes you an elite. You know what that means? It means youre the best men in the bloody army, and right now the army needs its best men. It needs you.Ensign Richard Sharpe to the Light Company of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, p. 261

— Bernard Cornwell men

The defenders were hunted down and killed. Even when they tried to surrender, they were killed, for their fortress had resisted and that was the fate of garrisons that showed defiance.Narrator, p. 283

— Bernard Cornwell fate

If you capture a ship, Sharpe, you keep the old name unless its really obnoxious. Nelson took the Franklin at the Nile, an eighty gun thing of great beauty, but the navy will be damned if it has a ship named after a traitorous bloody Yankee so we call her the Canopus now.Captain Joel Chase, p. 15

— Bernard Cornwell beauty

It seemed that if someone was lost in Copenhagen then the citizens regarded it as their duty to offer help.Narrator, p. 78

— Bernard Cornwell age

Form them up Sergeant! Aye aye, sir. Youre not a bloody sailor, Sergeant. A plain yes will do. Aye aye, sir.British Officer and Sergeant, p. 111

— Bernard Cornwell you

He was confused. He was in love with a woman he did not know, except he knew her loyalty was to the enemy. Yet Denmark did not feel like an enemy, though it was. And he was a Soldier still, and Soldiers, he reckoned, fought for those who could not fight for themselves, and that meant he should be fighting for Astrids folk and not his own. But that was too great a wrench to contemplate.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 136

— Bernard Cornwell love

My God, I will not abide plundering, especially by officers. How can you expect obedience from the men when officers are corrupt?General Arthur Wellesley, p. 175

— Bernard Cornwell god

The first bombs looked like livid shooting stars. Then, as they began their shrieking fall, the bomb trails converged. God had not shown mercy, the British possessed none and Copenhagen must suffer.Narrator, p. 201

— Bernard Cornwell god

Theyre not going, sir. Not going South. And who made that decision, Sergeant? We all did, sir. Since when, Sergeant, has this army been a a democracy? A what, sir? Since when did Sergeants outrank Lieutenants?Sergeant Williams and Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 40

— Bernard Cornwell sin

Here, in this filthy stench of powder smoke, he felt at home. Other men learned how to plough fields or to shape wood, but Sharpe had learned how to use a musket or rifle, sword or bayonet, and how to turn an enemys flank or assault a fortress.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 69

— Bernard Cornwell men

Sharpe knew himself to be a tough man, but he had always thought of himself as a reasonable one, yet now, in the mirror of Williams nervousness, he saw himself as something far worse; a bullying man who would use the small authority of his rank to frighten men. In fact, the very kind of officer Sharpe had most hated when he himself was under their embittered authority.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 81

— Bernard Cornwell men

If he had learned one thing as a Soldier it was that any decision, even a bad one, was better than none.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 130

— Bernard Cornwell learn

Did you see that wee church in Salamanca where the Virgins statue had eyes that moved? Your priest there said it was a miracle, but you could see the string the fellow jerked to make the wooden eyeballs twitch! But why go to the trouble of having a string? I asked myself. Because the people want a miracle, thats why. And just because some people invent a miracle doesnt mean there arent real ones, does it? It means the opposite, so it does, for why would you imitate something that doesnt exist?Sergeant Patrick Harper, p. 186

— Bernard Cornwell people

The Majors a grand big fellow, so he is. So what are we? The damned? Were that, sure enough, but were also Riflemen, sir. You and me, were the best God-damned Soldiers in the world.Sergeant Patrick Harper and Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 262

— Bernard Cornwell god

Theyre drunk sods, sir, but theyre the best Soldiers in the world. The very best. And he meant it. They were the elite, the damned, the Rifles. They were Soldiers in green. They were Sharpes Rifles.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 302

— Bernard Cornwell world

Theyll bloody kill you. Maybe theyll turn and run. God save Ireland, and why would they do that? Because God wears a green jacket, of course.Sergeant Patrick Harper and Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 29

— Bernard Cornwell god

He had an inspiration and went to the Quintas kitchen and stole two large tins of tea. He reckoned it was time Kate did something for her country and there were few finer gestures than donating good China tea to riflemen.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 136

— Bernard Cornwell inspiration

We have to level the ground, Sir, because God didnt think of gunners when he made the world. He made too many lumps and not enough smooth spots. But were very good at improving His handiwork, sir.Lieutenant Pelletieu, French Artillery, p. 153

— Bernard Cornwell god

Shes like a woman, sir, take care of her and shell take care of you. Youll notice he let Mister Sharpe do the ramming, sir.Rifleman Hagman and Sergeant Patrick Harper, p. 188

— Bernard Cornwell man

The British army fought against other infantry arrayed in two ranks and every man could use his musket, and if cavalry threatened they marched and wheeled into a square of four ranks, and still every man could use his musket, but the soldiers at the heart of the two French columns could never fire without hitting the men in front.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 226

— Bernard Cornwell art

In the short time Ive known you, Richard, Ive noticed you possess a lamentable tendency to put on shining armor and look for ladies to rescue. King Arthur, God rest his soul, would have loved you. Hed have had you fighting every evil knight in the forest.Captain Michael Hogan, p. 254

— Bernard Cornwell love

He could chafe against the rich and privileged but he acknowledged that the army had taken him from the gutter and put an officers sash round his waiste and Sharpe could think of no other job that would offer a low-born bastard on the run from the law the chance of rank and responsibility.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 13

— Bernard Cornwell knowledge

He asked three things of his men. That they fought, as he did, with a ruthless professionalism. That they stole only from the enemy and the dead unless they were starving. And that they never got drunk without his permission.Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, p. 15

— Bernard Cornwell men

Remember, Mr Sharpe, an officers eyes are more valuable than his sword!General Arthur Wellesley, p. 61

— Bernard Cornwell art

To say anything was useless, to say nothing was cowardly. I think it a bad idea, Sir.Captain Richard Sharpe, in response to the suggestion of whipping sixty men, p. 151

— Bernard Cornwell war

What do you think? Sir? Frightening? Did you ever learn mathematics? Yes, sir. So add up how many Frenchmen can actually use their muskets.Captain Richard Sharpe and Ensign Denny, commenting on an approaching French column, a formation that only allows the front rank to fire, p. 220

— Bernard Cornwell men

Captain Richard Sharpe and Ensign Denny, commenting on an approaching French column, a formation that only allows the front rank to fire, p. 220

— Bernard Cornwell men

I remember one other battle, gentlemen, which almost matched our recent victory in carnage. After Assaye I had to thank a young Sergeant; today we salute the same man, a Captain. Gentlemen, I give you Sharpes Eagle.General Arthur Wellesley, p. 267

— Bernard Cornwell art

Theres no chance of cheering him up, sir. He likes being miserable, so he does, and the bastard will get over it.Sergeant Patrick Harper to Lieutenant Robert Knowles, regarding Captain Sharpes grumpy attitude, p. 9

— Bernard Cornwell attitude

Sergeant Patrick Harper to Lieutenant Robert Knowles, regarding Captain Sharpes grumpy attitude, p. 9

— Bernard Cornwell attitude

The Light Company were not worried by the French. If Richard Sharpe wanted to lead them to Paris they would go, blindly confident that he would see them throughNarrator, p. 36

— Bernard Cornwell light

Sharpe could feel the excitement of the Company, their confidence, and he marvelled at it. They were enjoying it, taking on sixteen times their number, and he did not understand that it was because of him. Harper knew, Knowles knew, that the tall Rifle Captain who was not given to rousing speeches could nevertheless make men feel that the impossible was just a little troublesome and that victory was a commonplace where he led.Narrator, p. 68

— Bernard Cornwell time

We have honour, Sharpe. That is our private strength, our honour. Were Soldiers, you and I. We cannot expect riches, or dignity, or continual victory. We will die, probably, in battle, or in a fever ward, and no one will remember us, so all that is left is honour.Major Kearsey

— Bernard Cornwell war

You had no choice, sir. Theres always a choice.Lieutenant Robert Knowles and Captain Richard Sharpe on the destruction of Almiedas magazine, p. 239

— Bernard Cornwell choice

Lieutenant Robert Knowles and Captain Richard Sharpe on the destruction of Almiedas magazine, p. 239

— Bernard Cornwell lie

The door is locked, Captain. Then Ill break it down. It is a shrine. Then Ill say a prayer of forgiveness after Ive knocked it down.Major Pedro Ferreira and Captain Richard Sharpe, p. 13

— Bernard Cornwell prayer

So I do my duty, and land in the shit. You have at last seized the essence of soldiering.Captain Richard Sharpe and Major Michael Hogan, p. 28

— Bernard Cornwell you

I doubt I called him illegitimate, sir. I wouldnt use that sort of word. I probably called him a bastard.Captain Richard Sharpe, p. 136

— Bernard Cornwell doubt

The Major was a courteous man, judicious and sensible, but he doubted the fighting efficiency of the South Essex would be improved by a campaign to improve its manners.Major Joseph Forrest, p. 148

— Bernard Cornwell sex

It is not wise, I think, to mix private revenge with war. Of course its not wise, but its bloody enjoyable. Enjoying yourself, Sergeant? Never been happier, sir.Lieutenant Jorge Vicente, Captain Richard Sharpe, and Sergeant Patrick Harper, p. 161

— Bernard Cornwell war

You know how to deal with senior officers? Respectfully. Confuse them. Except for the ones who cant be confused, like Wellington.Lieutenant Jorge Vicente and Captain Richard Sharpe, p. 176

— Bernard Cornwell respect

He had been a tough, cheerful youngster, the sort who collected birds eggs, scrapped with other boys and climbed the church tower on a dare, and now he was a tough cheerful young man who thought that being an officer in Lawfords regiment was just about the finest thing life could afford. He liked soldiering and he liked soldiers.Lieutenant Jack Bullen, p. 307

— Bernard Cornwell life

Good plain soldiering wins wars. Doing mundane things well is what counts.Colonel Sir Barnaby Moon, p. 11

— Bernard Cornwell war

Put a British Soldier in a wilderness and he would soon discover a taproom.Captain Richard Sharpe, p. 54

— Bernard Cornwell wild

And the good news is that youve got a brain. You do! Honest! I saw it with my own eyes, thus disproving the navys stubborn contention that soldiers have nothing whatsoever inside their skulls. I shall write a paper for the Review. Ill be famous! Brain discovered in a soldier.Doctor Jethro McCann, to Captain Richard Sharpe, after sewing up a severe head wound, p. 78

— Bernard Cornwell good

Our guide, a fisherman. A good fellow. He doesnt hate us? Hate us? I keep being told how the Spanish hate us, sir. He hates the French, like I do, Sharpe. If there is one constancy in this vale of tears, it is always hate the damned French, always.General Thomas Graham and Captain Richard Sharpe, p. 126

— Bernard Cornwell hate

There are, very crudely, two factions in the Cortes. One side are the traditionalists. Theyre comprised of the monarchists, the pious, and the old-fashioned. Theyre called the serviles. Its an insulting nickname, like calling a man a Tory. Serviles means the slaves, and they wish to see the king restored and the church triumphant. They are the faction of landlords, privilege, and aristocracy. The serviles are opposed by the liberalles, who are so called because they are forever talking about liberty. The liberalles want to see a Spain in which the peoples wishes are more influential than the decrees of a tyrannical church or the whim of a despotic king. His Brittanic Majestys government has no official view in these discussions. We merely wish to see a Spanish government willing to pursue the war against Napoleon.Lord William Pumphrey, p. 162

— Bernard Cornwell war

You are like the Spanish, Captain Sharpe, confused. Cadiz is filled with politicians and lawyers and the encourage confusion. They argue. Should we be a Republic? Or perhaps a monarchy? Do we want a Cortes? And if so, should it have one chamber or two? Some want a parliament like Britains. Others insist that Spain is best ruled by God and by a king. They squabble about these like children, but in truth there is only one real argument. The argument, is whether Spain fights France or not? Exactly. And you, believe Spain should fight against France? You know what the French have done to our country? The women raped, the children killed, the churches desecrated? Yes, I believe we should fight.Captain Fernando Galiana and Captain Richard Sharpe, p. 202

— Bernard Cornwell truth

Sir Thomas was a sentimental man. He loved Soldiers. He had once thought all men who wore the red coat were rogues and thieves, the scourings of the gutters, and since he had joined the army he had discovered he was right, but he had also learned to love them. He loved their patience, their ferocity, their endurance, and their bravery.General Thomas Graham, p. 234

— Bernard Cornwell love

A soldiers death, he thought, was a happy one, because a man, even in the throes of awful pain, would die in the best company of the world.General Thomas Graham, p. 234

— Bernard Cornwell death

The real noise was of musketry, the pounding cough of volley fire, the relentless noise, and if he listened hard he could hear the balls striking on muskets and pounding into flesh. He could also hear the cries of the wounded and the screams of officers horses put down by the balls. And he was amazed, as he always was, by the courage of the French. They were being struck hard, yet they stayed. They stayed behind a straggling heap of dead men, they edged aside to let the wounded crawl behind, they reloaded and fired, and all the time the volleys kept coming.Captain Richard Sharpe, p. 300

— Bernard Cornwell time

They were the despised of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. They were drunks and thieves, the scourings of gutters and jails. They wore the red coat because no one else wanted them, or because they were so desperate that they had no choice. They were the scum of Britain, but they could fight. They had always fought, but in the army, they were told how to fight with discipline. They discovered sergeants and officers who valued them. They punished them too, of course, and swore at them, and cursed them, and whipped their backs bloody, and cursed them again, but valued them. They even loved them, and officers worth five thousand pounds a year were fighting alongside them now. The redcoats were doing what they did best, what they were paid a shilling a day less stoppages to do: they were killing.Narrator, p. 317

— Bernard Cornwell love

The rules of chivalry, my lord, ensure my protection. Chivalry? Chivalry? I have heard it mentioned in songs, madame, but this is war. Our task is to punish the followers of Charles of Blois for rebelling against their lawful lord. Punishment and chivalry do not mix.Jeanette, the Countess of Armorica and Sir Simon Jekyll, p. 64

— Bernard Cornwell war

What did he want? A tournament? Who does he think we are? The knights of the round bloody table? I dont know what happens to some folk. They put a sir in front of their names and their brains get addled. Fighting fair! Whoever heard of anything so daft? Fight fair and you lose.Will Skeat, p. 94

— Bernard Cornwell men

Dont waste your life, Tom. I think I already have, father. Youre just young. It seems like that when youre young. Lifes nothing but joy or misery when youre young.Thomas of Hookton and Father Hobbe, p. 140

— Bernard Cornwell life

You may call me doctor. You wont, of course. Youll call me damned Jew, a Christ murderer, a secret worshipper of pigs and a kidnapper of Christian children. How absurd! Who would want to kidnap children, Christian or otherwise? Vile things. The only mercy of children is that they grow up, as my son has but then, tragically, they beget more children. We do not learn lifes lessons.Doctor Mordecai

— Bernard Cornwell life

Nondum amabam, et amare amabam. I did not love, but yearned to love. A very elaborate way of saying youre lonely.Thomas of Hookton and Eleanor, p. 235

— Bernard Cornwell love

A charge of knights was supposed to be thundering death on hooves, a flail of metal driven by the ponderous weight of men, horses and armor, and properly done, it was a mass maker of widows.Narrator, p. 338

— Bernard Cornwell death

Ive killed priests before, and another priest sold me an indulgence for the killings, so dont think I fear you or your Church. Theres no sin that cant be bought off, no pardon that cant be purchased.Sir William Douglas, to Bernard de Taillebourg of the Inquisition, p. 17

— Bernard Cornwell fear

You want a blessing, my son? Then God give strength to your bow and add bite to your arrows! May your arm never tire and your eye never dim. God and the saints bless you while you kill!English Prior, p. 54

— Bernard Cornwell god

Your friend Will is a good man, too,but I fear hes no longer an archer. It would have been better, I sometimes think- If he had died? Wish death on no man, Thomas, it comes soon enough without a wish.Mordecai and Thomas of Hookton, p. 352

— Bernard Cornwell death

They thought war was a game and every defeat only made them more eager to play.Philip of Valois, King of France, regarding his more reckless nobles, p. 4

— Bernard Cornwell war

Your nephew plays. My nephew and his friends practice. He would do better to look to his soul. He has no soul, hes a soldier.Father Roubert and the Count of Berat, p. 33

— Bernard Cornwell soul

The Grail is like God. It is everywhere, all around us, obvious, but we refuse to see it. Men think they can only see God when they build a great church and fill it with gold and silver statues, but all they need do is look. The Grail exists, Thomas, you just need to open your eyes.Genevieve, p. 103

— Bernard Cornwell god

Let me tell you about the English War Bow, Joscelyn. It is a simple thing, med of yew, a peasants tool, really. My huntsman can use one, but he is the only man in Berat who has ever mastered the weapon. Why do you think that is? Ill tell you anyway. It takes years, Joscelyn, many years to master the yew bow. Ten years? Probably that long, and after ten years a man can send an arrow clean through armor at two hundred paces. Splat! A thousand ecus of man, armor, and weaponry fallen to a peasants bow. And it isnt luck, Joscelyn. My huntsman can put an arrow through a bracelet at a hundred paces. He can pierce mail coat at two hundred. Ive seen him put an arrow through an oak door at a hundred and fifty, and the door was three inches thick!The Count of Berat, p. 111

— Bernard Cornwell war

I think the Holy Grail is a dream that men have, a dream that the world can be made perfect. And if it existed, then wed all know the dream cant come true.Thomas of Hookton, p. 192

— Bernard Cornwell men

But the implication of the psalm, is it not, is that we are sheep and that God is our shepherd? Why else would He put us in a pasture and protect us with a staff? But what I have never fully understood is why the shepherd blames the sheep when they become ill.Abbott Planchard, p. 212

— Bernard Cornwell god

I do not approve of you, Thomas, and I do not approve of your woman, but nor can I approve of a Church that uses pain to bring the love of God to a sinful world. Evil begets evil, it spreads like a weed, but good works are tender shoots that need husbandry.Abbott Planchard, p. 212

— Bernard Cornwell love

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