Bulletin Board

Hello,
I'm currently re-reading the Uhtred books for the second time. They made a powerful impression on me the first time, as I've always had an interest in the dark ages. I think the books are beautifully written and I love the way almost poetic passages infiltrate the most bloody scenes. I find some lines very moving. However, I have one tiny gripe. I can't remember on what page, but at one point in the first book Uhtred (I think) speaks of being "bored of something". In my understanding of English you can be bored 'with' or 'by' something but never 'of': it smacks of the way some young people in the UK speak these day. They're the ones who write that they 'could of done something' because they've never been taught grammar, and thus it's not their fault. The 'bored of' stood out for me so much because of the high quality of the writing and the beautiful English you use everywhere else in the books. Not much you can do about it now, I suppose, but the anal, nitpicking side of me couldn't
hold back from saying something! Sorry! :-(
cheers
Tony Hazzard

Dear Bernard

r
I completed my Masters in History at the University of Tasmania in 2010. My subject was Peter Degraves and Hugh Macintosh, founders of Australia's oldest brewery. Macintosh was a Captain in the Madras Native Infantry. Imagine my surprise when I began reading your Sharpe series last year and discovered that Sharpe's progress through India almost exactly mirrored that of Hugh Macintosh and you had been using most of the same sources that I used. Macintosh was with Wellesley  from Seringapatam to GawiIghur and all those little battles in between, including leading his men in a charge at the Marathas cannon at Assaye. I must compliment you on the historic accuracy of your work, which I could not fault.
Before coming to Hobart in 1824 Macintosh became a General in the Persian army and a close friend of the Persian crown prince. His military career ended with a severe injury, probably in Afganistan. In Hobart he was the patron of Henry Savory, the author of Australia's first novel. He also played the violin and painted. He died aged 58 in 1934 as a result of his war injuries.
Congratulations on your work in bringing history to life for those who would otherwise not read it.
Greg

Mr. Cornwell,

Thank you so much for the Starbuck Chronicles. They helped inspire me as I was going through my own rebellious streak when I checked out Rebel at the library.

It was the first time I had ever been so engulfed in a series of books. The Civil War fascinates me and you taught me so very much about the battles while providing a compelling storyline that helped me realize how foolish I was being. (don't worry I wasn't on a violent streak, joining any militias or anything)

I have begun reading The Archer's Tale and this is my first time on your website. I am excited that the new book will be about Thomas' continuing adventures.

All the best,

Matthew

Just finished your last in the Starbuck series and MUST compliment you on your writing of that book. Incredible that your last one is the best one!  I mean the first 3 are really good but the last one was just indescrible, good and rich. Shame to finish it. Sad to hear that there was no sequel. THAT would be VERY interesting...."General Falconer will blame Starbuck for his Son's death? Will Starbuck MARRY Julia? Will you kill-off Gen. Jackson or wait for another book? That snake Billy, will he EVER  get his due? Truslow, long may he  AND Potter, AND Swnyard LIVE!  Will Nate actually visit the 2 Wives of, North and South, those killed in battle"? And on and on!  In any case, look forward to the sequels!!

Jack

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

When my son Pierre was thirteen, I watched with him Sharpe on dvd and made him read all the information that came with each episode. He was so enthusiastic about it that he asked me for the books. He read them all in a little over a year, some in less than a week. Since then he has read the Saxon stories and the Grail Quest, as well as other books by C.S. Forester, Harry Sidebottom and Simon Scarrow to name a few.
Since then he has become passionate about history. Today he is a freshman at the University of Virginia reading economics. He told me with enthusiasm that he will take a course in history as electives.
My younger (and rebellious) son Raymond has finished the Saxon Stories and will start other series.
My wife has recommended your books to other mothers for their children with very positive results.
Thank you for helping to make then love to read, making them interested in history and getting them away from electronic games, even if it is for a while.

Best regards,

Carlos Edde

Dear Mr Cornwell
I am 56 years old and have never been an avid reader. I completed university with the minimum number of books read and have in all read no more than a couple of dozen books. I started to read your Sharpe books later this year and read each one after the other! I am now a massive fan of the Napoleonic period! Thank you very much for making these last few months so enjoyable - Hornblower next!!
Kind regards
Chris

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I have many questions, so I will bother you with none.
Thank you, thank you so much, for your work. It takes a great man to be able to put himself in his characters' minds and, at the same time, his readers' heads. The characters you create (fictional or not) are consistent and realistic, yet you manage to keep us turning those pages until we finish a book, and misery is brought upon us as we realise we have to wait another year - or possibly two - to read the next one.
I have read many books by many different authors, some considered great classics, but Uhtred was the only character to have ever accompanied me into my classes and kept me from working on my assignments. But worry not, it was well worth it.
You're a great storyteller, so please keep writing until you find no pleasure in it.

Sincerely yours,
Bruno

Hello Mr. Cornwell,

This just to say that I think you have encouraged me to write historical fiction because each time I write an episode of an historical novel that I'm  writing your 'Sharpe' novels spring to mind.
The novel is set during the English civil war and I was over-concerned about historical accuracy, but having read your advice about this a few minutes ago I'm now less concerned about it.
I will restrict the amount of historical description to the about the same amount of historical description that is in the Sharpe novels.
Your advice about publishing was also very useful.
Yours sincerely,

Paul Gresham

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I am not the first one to thank you for your books, and I am surely not the first one who started writing after being inspired by your books, but he, I don't care. I just want to thank you for the inspiration. I just had my historical novel published in the netherlands. It's even selling! It's called 'De adelaar en de Leeuw' (the eagle and the lion). It starts with the Russian campaign and ends at waterloo. Your comments on writing was a big help.  You wrote (amongst other things): a page a day, is a  book a year. It's as simple as that. Hopefully the sequal will be finished late next year. So, thanks again!!!
Brgds,

Rob Regter

I decided this summer to finally read all of the Sharpe books straight through in historical order..  My daughter has seen me reading the books and asked what they are about, asked about the cover art, etc.  This has led to some fairly in-depth discussions on the time period.  It has also led her to find books of her own to read on Napoleon, the War of 1812, and India.  She has to be the most well-rounded Napoleonic Era scholar of any seven-year-old that I know.  I just wanted to say THANK YOU.

John Shaw