Bulletin Board

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a sergeant in the U.S. Army, and I just wanted to write to tell you how much I enjoy the Sharpe books. I have been reading them ever since I was introduced to them 2 years ago. I am delighted to say that I can scarcely read them fast enough to keep up with your new additions to the series. I also wanted to tell you how much I identify with Richard Sharpe's character. I have been serving in the Army since I was 17 years old, and I have recently been informed that I will be receiving a commission as a medical officer in just a few months when I start medical school. Will I suffer as much as Mr. Sharpe does, at the hands of my new peers? That remains to be seen, but I'd like to think that I won't. I hope my time in the ranks as a field artilleryman will be seen as an advantage, rather than a fault. In any case, keep up the good work and keep Mr. Sharpe marching! Sincerely, Grant H. Evans SGT, U.S. Army

The first book I read from you was Excalibur. I usually don't read such books, however, I was drawn to the cover. It has become the first of many of your books that I have read in the last 4 years. The Warlord series are the only books I have read more than once. You have become one of my favourite writers. I am now reading Heretic. I enjoy your novels a lot and look forward to your future publications. Yin Mark

I first came across your work when my farther gave me a copy of the Winter King.That was a year ago and I havn't been without one of your novels since. I find your work compelling and steeped in history. I find when I finish books I miss the characters, so I will not ask THE question, I will beg, please continue the Starbuck Chronicles. All that is left to say is thanks for feeding my imagination as you do so many others, keep up the good work. Adam Johnson

Dear Mr Cornwell, having read Gallows thief over the Christmas Holiday and then reading some of the recent comments in the "your questions" section about it making a good Sunday night TV programme, I'm sorry but this book has got to go to the big screen. Robert Carlyle is taylor made for the lead role of Rider Sandman. In fact I can imagine a queue of British actors a mile long. Hope it happens!!! Stephen Lamb

Hi Mr. Cornwell!! I'm from Brazil and I'm a great fan of yours! I've written you before to tell you the great happiness I've felt reading the Arthur books! Now I'm writing to say that I'm adoring "The Grail Quest"!! I've read Harlequin and Vagabond, and I'm just waiting the third book!! Please, keep doing your wonderful job! As a big fan I would surely thank you a lot!!! Mayra Iwakura

How about this for an idea - following from Sharpe, a book following Harper post the wars - can't remember off the top of my head whether Harper goes into stud farming or opens a pub, but plenty of scope for adventure in Ireland against his true enemy! Marcos

Dear Mr. Cornwell, RE: Canadian book tour, May 3-7 ish... I read the diary section and saw that you are planning a trip to Canada for the new Sharpe book. I live in the US but travel to Canada frequently...do you know when you might be in Montreal or Toronto? Also, any book signing locations/times announced yet? Please advise at your convenience, Regards, Kelly Dudgeon

Bernard I have been a fan of the Sharpe novels for some time having been exposed to them in the UK through the TV adaptations. I have recently read Harlequin and felt compelled to write. This is the best historical novel I have read. I am an archer myself and the way you have characterised the archers in the book I fely complete empathy and understanding with them. Are you an archer yourself? I have just started Vagabond and look forward to reading Heretic in due course. Have you any more plans regarding the 100 years war. A facanating period that you have brought to life superbly. Best Wishes. Michael Baxter

Bernard, I first became aware of you work after watching Sharpe's Rifles on UTV when it was first screened a good many years ago and subsequently watched all episodes screened which put me on to your books. I have read everything you have written to date. One aspect I particularly liked, being an Irishman myself, is the historical references and the mythological anecdotes (I'm thinking Cuchulainn here) that you have dotted around the many diverse Irish characters in your stories. I have often felt very sad when a character I've liked has died during a book, I can think of no greater compliment I can give to an author, other than buying books, than saying how your wonderful characterisation has endeared a great many characters to me. I'm thinking offhand here but the ones who stand out are Daniel Hagman, Major Hogan, Sagramor, Merlin and obviously Arthur. Without the books in front of me at the minute I can't name some others I wanted to from the Starbuck Chronicles and other friends of Sharpe. I look forward to (hopefully) seeing Starbuck at Fredricksburg where you may shed some light on the myth that we Irish only fought fot the Union. The Winter King Chronicles stand out as the best you have written in my mind, a legend that has always fascinated me. I also want to compliment you on your thrillers. I was shocked to see on the site that Scoundrel was not published in the US. I would describe myself as an Irish republican, though a staunchly constitutional one, and that book in my view gave a great dissemination of the conflict in the north as any I have read. There is just one reservation I have for the new Sharpe books that you are currently writing. I only read Sharpe's Prey recently and was unfortunately less happy with it than others. I felt Sharpe was being turned into some sort of a secret agent/superhero character used by the then secret service of Lord Pumphrey. To go this route in my view would devalue Sharpe as a character. I admire Sharpe for his leadership (Waterloo, Enemy), his courage (Siege, Eagle), his humanity (Revenge, Honour, Sword) and for the way you have documented his progression up the ranks against the odds and the close knit nature of the army unit. I think I like Sharpe to be in the army, not contracted out to the secret service. I hope you do not feel that comment over critical but I think it just echoes the fact I am a traditionalist by nature. I was glad to have the opportunity to access this site and thank you again for providing me with so many characters that I have enjoyed and still do. Conor Keelan

Dear Mr Cornwell, Please don't stop writing about Thomas of Hookton, you are the only writer I know that writes decent Historical books and I am Desperate to read Poitiers. I Beg you to reconsider stopping this book. I was really excited about your new book so Please continue writing it. I know this message is pathetic but you are the only Historical writer I like. Please finish the book. Alexander Fredrick Verrall

Hi Mr Cornwell. Just finished reading the 3rd book in The Grail Quest series. A brilliant book. Thank you for writing it. But what bothers me is that Thomas' tales are over. Please tell me you have not finished with Thomas as he is a great character in a fantastic time of our history. Cheers Trev.

Dear Mr. Cornwell. Please, please, PLEASE reconsider your regretable decision to scrap the fourth Thomas of Hookton novel. I don't think his character is depleted at all, and I would wager that the vast majority of your fans would side with me on this. We haven't complained about twenty Sharpe novels, have we? Having two of the three major battles of the Hundred Years War (Crecy and Poitiers) only ten years apart just begs for Thomas to be at both. Even if the end of the Grail quest was an ending for Thomas, it could be a new beginning as well, just as the end of the Indian trilogy was not the end of Sharpe's career. Anyway, I am extremely upset by your decision, and I really hope you will give it some more consideration. Alan Kempner