Bulletin Board

Dear Bernard Cornwell,

Thank you for the books. I've read them all and through the decades all your stories have enriched my sense of history and the truth that lies theirin. People, real people, with all their complexities and simple truths you lay out to your readers. Let me put it this way, even if Uhktred and Sharp and those Civil War dudes are fictional, to me their truth of experience is far more revealing and understandable than the sanctioned "histories" told by victorious entities. (like the Bayeux Tapestry. Love those stick figure drawings.) Two things or themes stand out to me in your work. One, your take on Christianity in historical context mirrors my attitude on that subject 100%. That is your greatest gift to me, illuminating the truth of "the nailed god." I laughed so hard at you describing a Druid priest predicting in one of your earlier works the coming of some pagan deity " Bol? " decending from the heavens to destroy the envoys of Christianity. Tattered priests, monks, raving about this and that, that's the truth I long to learn about. The second reality you presented was "a lot of war." Yeah, I know everything about history in the broad sense and I've been to Europe several times. I've saluted Winston Churchill at his grave, swam in the fridged waters of Loch Ness and Omaha Beach, marveled at the packed crowd at Waterloo Station. I like early middle ages/late Roman empire so I elected to visit Ravenna instead of Venice. I actually genuflected at the bathtub tomb of Theodosius the Visagoth. I'm disturbed like that. Strolled across th Milvian Bridge in Rome knowing that particular place was where Christianity really earned its stripes. So your gift to me is bringing the flesh and blood and real life humanity of the people involved in all this alive! War is ugly, you make that clear, to your credit. But you sanction the nobility of these people, the soldiers, who to me are killers yes, but not murderers. Mostly. So thank you thank you thank you Mr. Cornwell, from a fan who uncannily shares your beliefs on history, religion and war...P.S. I noticed in every book you write you include the phrase "just kill them" at some point. Lol. What would Will Shakespeare make of that? I think he'd love your work.

Brian J Mallen

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I was working on my Ancestry Family Tree and I was surprised that I am related to a "Sir" Richard Sharpe.  Yes with the "E" at the end;  whose  information I have listed below.

 

Sir Richard "Jackson" Sharpe

Born:1560 Leverton, Boston, Lincolnshire, England

Died:1627 -- or -- Jun 1628 Leverton, Boston, Lincolnshire, England -- or -- Killingholme, Lincolnshire, England

 

I know your Richard Sharpe is fictional, however, one can dream.

 

Sincerely

Donald Earl Sawyer III USA RET

Dude, my twin sons (31 at 2024)

Have steadfastly refused to read their whole lives but belt out " Destiny is All! " when I phone them, so glad that you released Uhtred to other media.

I'm not even mostly Anglo Saxon still my hair stands on end as I read.

In my language there is no comparison to wyrd bið ful aræd,  we have lots of sayings that come close but all turn from accepting responsibility.

I hope you are still above ground.

Arbury and Maturin are ever so slightly ahead of Finn and Uhtred but within range, forgive me.

Lance e McLaren

I first found Uhtred -- I adore him, and a few centuries later I found Richard Sharpe... I also adore him.   I'ts amazing that people survived and thrived -- what strength, what valor, what love of battle.  I'm old, and I feel strong and FIERCE with all your books.

thank you!

dru hofmann

 

Hi, I just had to let you know how very, very much I enjoyed this 13 book series, Just finished the last book in tears, The last few pages really hit me. I am so pleased that Uhtred did not die! I am a proud English woman, originally from Yorkshire but have lived in Australia since 1966. You can take the girl out of Yorkshire, but you'll never take Yorkshire out of the girl. I also greatly enjoyed your Arthur books. So, many thanks for providing me with many hours of reading pleasure.

Regards,

Sandra

Dear Bernard.

I would like to thank you for the many hours of pleasure I have had from reading your books. I first started with the Sharpe books in the early 1990's recommended to me by a dear friend who sadly has passed away. Since that time I have read every book and have enjoyed them all, but my favorite has to be Sharpe.

Every Christmas for the last 10 years my Present from my daughters is always the latest Bernard Cornwell if one is published, I don't have to leave hints, they know what I like. This Christmas 2023 was no exception and to my absolute delight it was the latest Sharpe, If it had not been everyone including my 4 grandchildren had come for Christmas dinner, I would have started the book there and then.

Once I started turning the pages it was like old friends had come back into my life with Sharpe, Harper, and Hagman to name a few.  Anyway the Book was great but all to soon it came to an end and it was hard to close the book .

I hope there are a few books left for you to write and I eagerly await them. One character I do miss is Obadiah Hakeswill, nasty piece of work but brilliant played by the marvelous Pete Postlethwaite.  I am retired now and spend my time carving wood and making walking sticks in my workshop when it rains and my wife does not want to go out, which is quite often as it rains quite a lot in Manchester UK.

Thank you for reading my comments and may you write many more.

 

John Grundy

I started reading the Sharpe books about thirty years ago, and I loved them (I've just bought the latest).

 

And, your books prompted me to read more widely on the Peninsular War, and eventually to do a Masters' on the subject, at Buckingham University.  My Dissertation, ‘The Great Forgotten’:  The Contribution Made by the Spanish to the Allied Campaign in the Peninsular War, 1808 - 1814 ', received a Distinction.

 

So, many thanks for pushing me to study a fascinating subject.

Sean Fear

It’s funny how things develop. I started reading your books after watching the first season of The Last Kingdom. I exhausted that series and in doing so, noticed I shared a last name with your late editor and felt an unreasonable, but friendly obligation to keep reading. So I did. Reading through the Sharpe series, the Grail Quest, the Arthur books, and most recently a second round with the Starbuck series.

I’d like to express that your works have brought me hundreds of hours of enjoyment with wonderful characters that I’ve come to love.

 

Thank you.

Brandon Eady

Hi Bernard,

I am Phil and I never used to read novels, in school I would watch the movie and write my report on the book from that.

 

In the past 3yrs I've read the Sharpe series some multiple times, The Fort (a truly marvellous work of literature - do more like this) and Sunday gone finished Starbuck Chronicles. People who have known me a long time are shocked when I say I'm now a reader - that's a huge complement to your writing and I wanted to thank you for your amazing books. They're a pleasure to read and they've sparked an interest in history. Sharpes Trafalgar and Waterloo are my 2 favourite books.

 

I also want to ask you to please consider writing more books in the Starbuck Chronicles, it's sparked a fascination in me about the civil war and I feel Sad that I've finished it.

 

I look forward to starting the Last Kingdom series next.

 

Thank you for your amazing work

Keep it up

Phil

My condolences on your loss of Whiskey. We just lost our sweet boxer Dallie on Monday and it has us broken. Amazing pups or just pets, are hard to lose. The void is real from my Dallie. They teach us that life is truly short and to enjoy living in the moment. I appreciate you Bernard, Last Kingdom and now Winter King are amazing and I needed them in my life. The stories on paper and the people you have turning them into shows and movies are amazing. God bless and thank you for something that truly grabs your attention and gives me a mental break. I don’t get into shows and tv much. These shows are different, I can’t stop watching and love it. Take care and keep up the great work.

Billy Dias