Bulletin Board

Hi to Bernard, Fans, and Fellow Readers,

Please forgive me, but I feel obliged to make an obituary statement: many of you know that on Wednesday, 20th March 2013, author James Herbert died at the age of 69. As a leading British horror novelist, his books sold worldwide, with 'The Rats' and 'The Fog' being amongst his most famous titles. Screen adaptations were made from other titles such as 'Haunted', 'Fluke', 'Survivor', while 'The Secret of Crickley Hall' was recently dramatized as a BBC three-part serial.

One particular horror story came with an imaginative twist: '48' (being the year 1948) was an alternate history set three years after a defeated but vengeful Hitler unleashed the Blood Death upon Great Britain - which soon spread around the world - resulting in an apocalyptic legacy the main characters must survive. For me, 'The Magic Cottage' also stood out, partly because it was mostly about a young couple getting on with their lives; despite the story's supernatural undertone, their delightful dialogue and flirtatious behaviour endeared me to them and their plight. James Herbert possessed a marvellous imagination, yet his horror stories were often deeply rooted within the realms of our realistic world.

Although I never knew him on a personal basis, my sincere condolences to his wife and three daughters in their time of grief.

I spent some time earlier tonight watching a couple of James Herbert interviews on Youtube. And, tomorrow, I'm going to play my audio cassette version of '48' in memory of a great novelist.

Robert Douglas

Hi Bernard,
Happy St.Patrick's Day.
Just a quick note to say how much I've enjoyed all your books since I picked up 'Redcoat' in an airport back in the early '80s. Not only have I read them, but have often re-read them over and over, especially 'The Warlord Series', my own personal favourite. You do like an underdog, under-appreciated and on the wrong side!
Since I've spent quite a while in the last few years walking the various routes to Santiago de Compostela, I've also got a grá for the Spanish Sharpe books.
Unfortunately, bad health (MS) has put a stop to my gallop, but has led to more time to read. I can accept you're fed up with people asking for more Nate Starbuck,but please!
Keep up the good work,
Colm Sweeney.

Dear Mr. Cornwell.

I shall use bullet points which, albeit horrible, will make your reading faster:

1) New fan and you're one of my new favorite authors. My girlfriend found an abandoned copy of The Winter King, and we devoured the series in a week. Now on the Saxon Chronicles. She's an English Medievalist, and I have finally found an engaging way to learn of her passion.

2) You have expanded my vocabulary of insults tenfold. While I hope I never have to make use of it outside of traffic, I still thank you for it.

3) George RR Martin recently recommended you on his blog http://grrm.livejournal.com/316785.html

4) As a fellow foreigner in Massachusetts, enjoy the snow! I'm firmly convinced when the Vikings came to New England and experienced the weather, they all exclaimed "Niflheim!", got back on their ships, and headed back to Iceland.

Luca Zanzi

Some years ago I stumbled upon the English version of The Last Kingdom at the bookshop at Oslo airport. I was instantly addicted. On my next travel I found (same bookshop) The Pale Horseman and The Lords of the North. Although, The Pale Horseman was only available in Norwegian, and that turned out to be a major disappointment. The lousy translation deprived the story of its vibrant liveliness and came out very flat. No need to say that the last three books have been purchased in English. Recently Death of Kings has been my companion on the beautiful beaches of Mauritius, and I enjoyed every minute reading. English history has always been a fascination of mine, ever since my childhood, a long, long time ago. When the Norwegian Broadcasting had this excellent correspondent in London, Richard Hermann. Every Saturday afternoon in the 60's he had radio "lectures" and later on came the books, the kings and the queens, the Tudors and the Stuarts, always with a back drop to earlier
history. Through your Saxon stories, I have kind of relived these pre-TV Saturday afternoons, and I am so grateful for all the joy you have given me through your novels, and I just want to say THANK YOU! Have a nice day :)

Ingfrid Helene Noerholm

My wife reads about 2 to 3 books a week and for years has been after me to start reading. I recently retired and now I can read books that I enjoy, rather than business related or business manuals. I came across Sharpe's gold, Redcoat and Battle Flag and now I'm hooked on your books. Since we're on a small pension, I have started a search to rescue as many of your books from used bookstore shelves and give them a new home where they will be enjoyed. I look forward to reading your books next to a nice warm fireplace on a cold Canadian winters day and under the shade of a nice tree on a warm summers day.For a person who worked 60 to 75 hours a week I look forward to spending my time enjoying your works.

Thank you
Donald

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

Many years ago a good friend recommended your Warlord Series and for years I've been glad he did. Subsequently, I've been able to read through the life of Derfel, as well as, Uhtred, Sharpe, Starbuck, Thomas and recently, the good Rider Sandman. I've enjoyed your books throroughly and know for sure that were it not for your books my fantasy sports teams would be named other than, "The Lords of War", "Black Bears", etc., I've introduced your books to many friends and they have been the enthusiastic subject of much conversations on hunting/fishing trips. Also, because of the Saxon Stories I'm very much enjoying the History Channel's new series: Vikings. The characters pulled from a common history ring familiar and enjoyable. Were it not for your books I would have passed the series by. I guess I just wanted to thank you for enriching my life and helping me to pass the time in the air when traveling and providing me with much needed historical information in a fun and entertaining way.
I'm really looking forward to 1356 and something new in the Starbuck series? All the best.

Jeff Hughes

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I'm writing to you from Germany so please be so kind as to excuse any flaws in my written english...
I just finished your latest book 1356 and I really, really liked it.
I'm a big fan of your's since I started reading one of your Grail Quest Novels during a holiday stay in Wales...
That's why I own a big Sharpe, Saxon and Grail Quest collection...
But I have to say that there are some things that surprised me in your latest novel 1356...
It seems somehow unusual "rushed" ...
In my opinion you are still way above any other historical fiction writer there is, but in 1356 the characters feel a little bit "hollow" and a few story twists seem to be inserted just to get Thomas to the decisive place of action, for example when someone calls for "mounted archers" just to use them as men at arms (maybe to get Thomas involved in the decisive breaking of the french line)...
And there is the "paw" issue, when Thomas wants to touch his paw, just to find that it's no longer there, but he touches it anyway...
I really can't imagine how much work it must be to write such a great book so a few minor flaws really shouldn't bother your readers but you set a very high standard with all of your novels so we, the readers, are really spoiled by now ;-)
I hope you are well and that you will give us many more fantastic books to enjoy!
Can't wait for Uhtred to return...
Best Regards
Dirk Peeters

Hi Bernard-
As a fellow history lover and Massachusetts resident, it is with great sadness that I inform you that the greatest collection of medieval and early renaissance military arms and amour in the Western Hemisphere, the Higgins Armoury Museum in Worcester, MA will be closing at the end of the year due to lack of funding. I encourage you and any of your readers from the area to visit before this amazing museum closes forever.
Thanks,
Nick

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I love your "The Warrior Chronicles/Saxon Stories"! Thank you so much! As of this moment, I am reading "Death of Kings", and still completely engrossed in Uhtred's stories. I look forward to your upcoming "The Pagan Lord", and wish you well on it.

Thank you and be well,
Chris

Mr. Cornwell:

Have greatly enjoyed your books; thank you for writing them.  Just finished the Starbuck books, and wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your treatment of the theme of the Christian faith in the series.  I love the juxtaposition of those with an authentic faith, such as Swinyard, with those with a pharisaical faith, such as Nate's dad, or a false/misleading faith, like Billy Blythe, or no faith, like Adam's dad, and Nate's own wrestling with the issue of his own faith in the midst of all it.  The theme of the Prodigal crops over and over in various ways in these books throughout various characters, and your use of that device is marvelous.  It's almost as if there is an underlying commentary on what real Christianity looks like (grace, love, self-sacrifice, mercy) and a criticism of the hypocrisy that so often dresses up in the garb of Christianity (judgement, self-righteousness, condemnation).  Excellent work!  Well done! I so look forward to the next installment!

Kevin