Bulletin Board

Dear Mr Cornwell,

Just a brief message to say how much pleasure I am getting from reading your historically based books.

I read the Sharpe series many years ago but 'bumped' into the 'Grail Quest' trilogy at a garage sale and on impulse bought them, then left them to sit on my bookcase for a couple of years!

A couple of months ago I picked up 'Harlequin' and BANG! I was hooked line and sinker! Since then I have been working my way through the 'Grail', & 'Warlord' series, 'Azincourt', '1356' and am now working through the 'Saxon Series'. Bloody hell I love these books - all of them.

I started reading the 'Saxon Series' around the same time as I picked up a trapped nerve in my back, when all I could do was lie flat and read, and your books have kept me sane. Every single one of the above mentioned books are hard to put down once picked up, and, in one day alone I managed to read 'The Lords of The North' from cover to cover and then start on 'Sword Song'! I have a very understanding wife as you may imagine!

Thank you very much for the many hours of pleasure you have given me and please keep writing such magnificent books. Your stories involving honourable, not so honourable, and strong warriors before the invention of gunpowder, when men were men and sheep trembled at the sound of a Welsh accent are my favourite! Only joking at the sheep bit!

Thank you once again and all the very best for 2013.

Regards

Steve

Mr. Cornwell,

thank you very much for the Saxon Tales and Warlord Chronicles.  These two series really rekindled my love of reading.  I look forward to reading your other works as well.

John Tuka
Gettysburg, PA USA

What can I say?  1356 is every bit the great read I expected it to be.  As always, I especially enjoyed the work you put into developing the fictional and historical characters with enough imperfection to be appealing and believable interpretations.. Also, I never fail to learn some detail I didn't know previously about a time, skill or occupation.  The detail about acorns and warhorses from this book is an example.  I'm sure you've heard this before, but I've never read an author who can describe combat from the participants perspective with your skill.  Count me a fan!

Mike from Oklahoma

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I have been a very big fan of your work for years and owned almost all of your books. In October, I lost my collection due to hurricane Sandy, (darn her). I am now in the middle of rebuilding and have recently re-purchased your Arthur series. I just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying reading these books again. I wrote to you once before about this series because I've enjoyed it so much.

I am in the process of buying your books again on eBay since you are one of my favorite authors and am currently bidding on book one of your Saxon Stories. I've read them all except the last one which I was half way through before the storm hit.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for again for sharing your talent with us. It is much appreciated not only by me, but I'm sure by all your fans.
Sincerely,
Donna

I just finished 1356 and loved it!  I've now read all of your series books except Sharpe which I will now conquer to the last page.  Your writing style, wit and content (not to mention historical accuracy) have me in your spell!  It's been pleasure and a hell of a journey and I thank you.

Genevieve Hough

Hi BC,
I get to recommend your books on a regular basis ...I usually say 'try a few pages and see if you  get hooked'...I always works.
Just as I am always on the lookout for a new Bernard.

Love how you spin your tales.
GZ

I just wanted to thank you for your work as it has significantly changed my life. At a young age I was greatly interested in history, I had even refused to go to theme parks at the age of ten because I enjoyed learning about the past even more.

My uncle introduced my brother and I to the Sharpe series when I was 15. I read half the series by the end of that summer and finished it a year later. I also read the book Azincourt which is my favourite. It was recommended by my history teacher who, like myself loves shooting longbows with medieval bodkin heads.

I am currently attending the University of Toronto in the Engineering program and have just completed my first semester. I felt so awful not being able to study history that I did not know what to do, fearing that a career with a history degree would not be prosperous. I read 1356 over the Christmas Break, and I was reminded of the excitement I get when I read about history and learn something new of the past. I am now transferring into archaeological studies and following my heart. I thank you and your wonderful story telling for helping me find myself.

Sincerely,
Adrian Talotti Proestos

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

Your books have certainly kept me up late turning pages; most recently your Saxon series. With respect however, I must admit that while I can appreciate the pagan setting and protagonist and required voice in this regard, the antichristian flare has become too preachy for me--to the point of irrelevance even for a pagan tale. I do enjoy your stories nonetheless and being comfortable as I am in my faith, most times I can see past the slander and realize the material I'm reading. Thanks for spinning the tales, but please cut back a little on the antichristian slant if possible.

Best regards,

Matthew

Hi,

Just like to thank Alan Kempner for his answer. The Varangian Guard, of Byzantine fame, would have been in existence from the Dark Ages until near the end of Medieval period (I've often considered early 1500's marks this end) and my brother might have confused them as belonging to a later period.

However, there was a guard unit wielding pole-arms in Tsarist Russia. These might have been referred to as 'Sterlitz' (although I might have got that wrong). Perhaps my brother was thinking of them?

Robert Douglass

Dear Mr Cornwell,
I just want to say a simple thank you for giving me many hours of total enjoyment reading your wonderful historical novels. From the American civil war, red coat stories, medieval through to one offs such as Stonehenge, they contain such intrigue and characters of such depth that you feel you know them personally. I always look forward to the date of your next publication, please carry on with the good work.
Once again, many thanks.
George Dellow