Bulletin Board

Thanks so much for continuing Thomas's story! Pre-ordered and can't wait. Now, to re-read the saga in preparation!

Shawson Hebert

Congrats or your triumph as King Henry IV!!!!   You keep moving up that theatrical ladder!!!!   I am overjoyed to see that Thomas of Hookton will be making another appearance too!    Loved Death of Kings and re read your Arthurian series this summer.  Thank you again for the many hours of fascinating reading!!!!!
Tom

I am a new author embarking on my first historical novel and would like to thank you for your advice. The message of story, story, story coupled with enthusiasm has encouraged me. Perhaps my own unique story and way of telling it will produce style without having to worry about it unduly. I like the idea of focused research too, However, your own research must be very in depth as it never falters in portraying facts and feelings approrpriate to the era. I am a relatively new fan of yours and have the pleasure of many more of your books to read. I will take your advice and look at the mechanics of how they work. You always have a good, fast paced storyline and rivetting characters. An inspiring author who deserves ongoing success. You're right, writing is hard work but isn't it fun!
Marigold Badcock

Hallo Mr Cornwell.

Fantastic series, when is the next part coming out? can't wait to see how Uhtred is getting on and just to say, would make a fantastic story to put on film.      Thanks for a great historical story.

Clyde.

Dear Mr. Cornwell,
Just a note to thank you, and let you know how much this reader has enjoyed your books.  I have just finished "Death of Kings" and liked it immensely, as well as it's predecessors, AND your other series books.  My only criticism is you don't write fast enough. Ha!  When the devil does Uhtred go home, if ever?  I can't wait for the next one.
Best regards,
Mrs. Jennifer Rossakis

Started reading your books whilst looking for them for a friend and it turns out that deed had a reward I couldn't have foreseen, every one I've found has been delayed in my presence as I couldn't stop reading them. The Grail Quest and The Fort are amongst my favorite, to be honest everyone of your books I found I've enjoyed reading and recommending to others.

Thanks for writing such informative & entertaining novels.

Regards,

Ian Davies

I'm an avid reader of your books and as a Scotsman whose family came from Donegal I always identified with Harper and have always wondered if any of my ancestors had to go to war to escape poverty as Pat did.
Not only can I find myself lost in the drama of some distant battlefield but I get a history lesson too and I thank you for it Bernard. More to come I hope.
David

hello,
please don't stop the Uhtred-saga!
need to read more of this.

greetings from germany

Martin Delzig

During this summer, there have been a series of short and skimpy articles about 1812-14 War personages of exceptional merit. This is one of them and you might agree James Fitzgibbon seems something of a Sharpe.
"James FitzGibbon was an outstanding soldier and a hero of the War of 1812, but his rise in the military cost him. Born in Ireland in 1780, he was not quite 32 when the War of 1812 was declared. It was not his first war. By 1812 he had already distinguished himself in Isaac Brock’s 49th Regiment in Europe. Brock was his commanding officer, lieutenant colonel of the 49th Regiment. At the time, officers were usually men from wealthy families who “bought” their commissions and promotions. But Brock promoted FitzGibbon because he was intelligent and hard-working – from sergeant major in 1802, to ensign and adjutant in 1806, and lieutenant in 1809. However, as an officer, FitzGibbon had to equip himself, and every promotion led to more expenses. FitzGibbon managed impressive feats as a young officer. After the War of 1812 began, he brought a small fleet of boats from Montreal to Kingston, including through the rapids in full view of the American side of the St. Lawrence River. In the dead of winter, he led 45 sleighs of supplies from Kingston to Niagara. After acting as a company commander at the Battle of Stoney Creek in 1813, FitzGibbon took 50 “chosen men” into action with the mandate to “be employed in advance of the army, and with the authority to act against the enemy as he pleased and on his responsibility solely.”
FitzGibbon and his men harassed the U.S. troops so effectively the Americans sent an expedition to take him out of action. Led by Lt.-Col. Charles Boerstler, the Americans camped at Queenston for the night and marched towards Beaver Dams the next morning. Warned of the attack by Laura Secord, FitzGibbon dispatched about 400 First Nations warriors to intercept the Americans. The First Nations warriors, led by Capt. William J. Kerr and Capt. Dominique Ducharme, both Metis, attacked at the beech woods. After three hours of fighting in the bush, FitzGibbon approached the Americans. Taking a page from Brock’s playbook at Detroit, he led the Americans to believe they were vastly outnumbered by his troops and in danger of falling into the warriors’ hands. Boerstler surrendered and 462 Americans were marched away by 50 British and Canadian soldiers. General Edward Baynes praised FitzGibbon for his “most judicious and spirited exploit,” and the press of the day, the Montreal Gazette, cheered “the cool determination and the hardy presence of mind evinced by this highly meritorious officer.” He was promoted to captain in the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles, where for the rest of the war he and his men acted as scouts for the army. After he resigned his commission as an officer, he held a number of public service jobs in Canada. But in addition to his officer’s expenses, FitzGibbon frequently lived beyond his means and his debts were mounting. During the 1837 rebellion against William Lyon Mackenzie, FitzGibbon managed to whip a poorly trained rabble into shape to meet – and stop – the rebel menace marching down Yonge Street towards Toronto. In gratitude for “rescuing them from the horrors of a civil war”, Toronto citizens proposed a reward but it never materialized. The Upper Canadian legislature requested a 5,000-acre land grant from the Queen, but it was suggested FitzGibbon instead be given money for his civil and military services. However, it wasn’t until 1845 that the legislature rewarded him with the sum of £1,000, half of what he owed and nowhere near the value of the proposed land grant. FitzGibbon returned to Britain in 1847. He became a knight at Windsor Castle, an honorary position with a pension, and lived there until his death at the age of 83."

PS: William Lyon Mackenzie, mentioned confusing in the story, was the leader of the then Upper Canada (now Ontario) 1837 rebellion. His grandson, W.L. Mackenzie King became Prime Minister of Canada.

PPS: I heartily enjoyed "The Fort". The Loyalist side of the events of 1775-81 has not gained the attention it should have. We stayed the month of February, 2012 in Savannah, (much warmer than Ottawa).  It remained in British / Loyalist control until six months after Yorktown. It seems the American Revolution was a double-sided civil war, internally, and externally against London.
Savannah remains a beautiful city and we plan to return to spend February, 2013.
Rob Quinn

Dear Bernard Cornwell,

Just wanted to thank you for helping me get through an historical novel, "First a Torch" on the French Foreign Legion at Dien Bien Phu. Although I have published a dozen books this was my first historical fiction. I kept getting caught up with the history and forgetting the story. An article of yours helped me get past the problem. The Legion has placed the book in its library as part of Legion history in Vietnam. Just thought I should say thanks.

Richard Baker