Bulletin Board

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

 

Thank you very much for all the lovely hours I spent with Sharpe, Uthred and Arthur. Next on my list is Starbuck and I'm sure he will also be a lot of fun!

 

I'd love to read novels from you from other places and time periods. Anything you decide to write, know that you have a loyal reader in me!

 

Thank you,

Ovidiu

finally got a copy of The Flame Bearer and loved it. I have been anxious about getting Uhtred back in possession of his own home for too long. Now at last he's home and I can get back to finishing off my founding of Normandie books. Thank you for such a great, realistic hero and a full-bodied world.

Priscilla Watkins

At 3:30 a.m. today I finished "The Flame Bearer"; I didn't want it to end, and so was delighted that you indicated that Uhtred's story was not over.  I discovered the series when I bought "The Empty Throne" at a library sale a month ago.  After reading it and realizing that it was one of many Saxon tales, I started binge-reading from the start.  You are singularly responsible for keeping me up reading until the wee hours!  Now I will binge-watch the TV series and hopefully finish it before "Game of Thrones" returns!  I look forward to the next book in the series - you write so well that I feel I am completely immersed in that time period.

 

As an aside, you write that Uhtred "snarls" frequently.  I feel that sometimes that word doesn't fit the situation.  May I suggest some other words (which in my head I substituted when needed): barked, grumbled, snapped, growled - to name a few.

Snarling makes me think of an ugly, angry, contorted face - not at all how I picture Uhtred!

Terri

Mr. Cornwell,

 

I am just writing today to thank you and express my appreciation for your work. I discovered Sharpe because my Aunt was a fan of the Sharpe films and had recorded them on VHS. I was a young kid interested in military history and when I would go over there that would be my entertainment. I eventually got older and read all of the Sharpe books as well as the Starbuck series, the fort, Azincourt and your non-fictional account of Waterloo.

 

These books have had a positive impact on my life and given me great joy. I truly appreciate your writing and I think it is probably nice to hear such things from fans so I thought I'd send this along.

 

If I had to make one request/suggestion (of course everyone wants more Sharpe), I think the second half of the civil war while the confederacy is crumbling makes for a very compelling/rich back drop for a story. There is so much room to explore the human condition during such trying and difficult times.

 

Having said that, even if you never write another word you'll be one of my all time favorites.

 

All the best,

 

Mike

Hi there Bernard,

 

My name is Callum, I'm a film and creative writing student from Gold Coast Australia. Just writing to let you know how much I love and enjoy your books and how much they've inspired me in my own writing. I've always had a love for history, especially after I found out that the Battle of Patay and the Battle of Warterloo both occurred on my birthday. Even though I took up ancient and modern history back in high school, I was never given as much of a window into the past as I have had in your books, especially in the Grail Quest novels and 1356, which are by far my favorite. They way you told the story of the Battle of Agincourt from the perspective of Thomas of Hookton, a common soldier, was just so much more appealing than any other story or battle scene.

Just wanted to let you know as well that if ever the Grail Quest series was made into a tv show, the same way the Last Kingdom was (which, by the way, no where near as good as the books) I'm going to be working my hardest to get on set and help it do the books justice.

If you're ever here on the Gold Coast or in Queensland in general, be sure to let me know and I'll happily buy you a drink.

Sincerely,

-Callum Taylor

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I have only recently come accross your work following the BBC's adaption "The Last Kingdom" (although a good series, it does not do the books justice). I have spent the last four months away on deployment with the Royal Marines during which time I devoured all 10 books - twice! I especially enjoyed the historical notes at the end. Now that I am safely home and with my family I intend to secure myself some of your other works in readiness for my next deployment in autumn  (I'm looking at the Grail Quest and Warlord Chronicles) and I just wanted to say a huge thank you for keeping me sane in an otherwise crazy and crumbling world.

THANK YOU& never stop producing such brilliant works.

 

Yours sincerely

John Duffy

Love your books!  I've read or listened to all of the Sharpe books as well as the the Last Kingdom series (and some others).  I recall you mentioned your interest in Uhtred in a foreword given he's one of your forefathers.  I just recently pushed my family tree back to Uhtred as well, apparently he's my 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st great grandfather many times over (some 600+ paths back to him), and I have to admit an even greater interest in his story.  Thanks for telling it.  Looking forward to getting to more of your books.

Proctor Grayson

I am familiar with your stories about Sharpe through video. But until today I had not had the pleasure of reading any of your other works. I thoroughly enjoyed "The Fort" and would be remiss if I did not express my admiration. Thank You.

Warren Browning

Hi,

 

I've been reading your books since I was in about 6th grade. I started with the Sharpe books, read through the Thomas of Hookton series, and now my favorite series has to be The Last Kingdom Series.I don't think I've grown more attached to a character than I have Uhtred.

 

As I mentioned before, I've been reading your books since about 6th grade, I sent you an e-mail around then too, but it was a long time ago being I'm 24 now. I just wanted to thank you for writing these books. Not only have they provided me with great reading material but throughout my education, teachers have always told me that I write very well. I attribute that to your work.

 

This is probably a poorly written message because I'm not too familiar on how to send fan mail but again, thank you for all your work in writing.

 

-Jack Bewlay

 

Early church discovered on UK Holy Island, may be linked to medieval saints By James Rogers Published July 03, 2017 Fox News  Excavation of the church on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne (Jessica Turner - Northumberland County Council).

Excavation of the church on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne (Jessica Turner - Northumberland County Council).

Archaeologists have discovered an early medieval church on the remote Holy Island of Lindisfarne that could be linked to key figures in the history of British Christianity.

 

“We’re just really excited because, potentially, it’s evidence of the earliest church on the island and it’s linked to historical figures like St. Aidan and St. Oswald,” Sara Rushton, conservation manager of Northumberland County Council, told Fox News.

 

Rushton explained that the church may have been built as early as the mid-seventh century A.D., possibly around the year 650. The island off the coast of North East England is an important site in British Christianity – St. Aidan established a monastery on the island in 635 A.D, which became an international center for learning and craftsmanship before it was ransacked by Viking raiders in the late 8th Century. The monastery was re-established in the 11th century.

 

BRONZE AGE CEMETERY DISCOVERED AT RITUAL SITE IN WALES

 

Rushton explained that, while the church could date from the seventh to the ninth centuries, there are plenty of hints that it was built in the early part of the island’s history. A stone, possibly an altar stone, was found at the east end of the church, a feature of northern British churches before 671 A.D, according to Rushton. “The other reason we think it might be earlier is because of the style of the stonework – it’s very crude” she said, noting that it lacks the refinement seen in later churches.

 

The church’s location on a steep, rocky narrow ridge that runs across the northern end of the island also provides a clue. “It’s the type of location that appealed to the Celtic church,” said Rushton.

 

Additionally, the church’s position may have been chosen to face Bamburgh Castle on the nearby coast. Bamburgh was the royal court of St. Oswald of Northumbria, a Saxon king credited with helping spread Christianity in the region.

 

VIKING DISCOVERY: EXPERTS USE TECH TO REVEAL SETTLEMENT BENEATH SAINT-KING'S CHURCH

 

“Because it’s high they looked across to Bamburgh castle,” said Rushton, who believes that the potential church discovery cements Holy Island as one of the most important early medieval sites in Britain.

 

Until this summer archaeologists thought that the early churches on the island were located elsewhere. Like Holy Island’s monastery, it was thought that the churches were in the shelter of the rocky narrow ridge, known as ‘The Heugh.’

 

Last year excavations on the western part of the ridge revealed a massive foundation wall that archaeologists speculate is part of a watch tower.

Charles Romeo