Bulletin Board

Dear Bernard, I have never been a avid reader, I am 46 yrs of age now and can count on my two hands the number of books I've read, scandalous I know, please forgive me. However just before Xmas my son Sam gave my wife The Lost Kingdom to read. I noticed it on our desk and read the blurb. Being from Northumbria and having spent many a day at Bamburgh i was intrigued and started to read. I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful book it is. I have not quite finished it yet but I am not far off and have borrowed the three follow up books from my son. The way your write has engaged me something that no other Author has ever done. I have watched all the Sharpe series on TV but have not read the books, I think they may be next on my list. I just wanted to thank you for firing my interest in reading and I look forward to the next installment of the Saxon Stories. Best wishes Kevin Heads

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am infinitely more excited about the US release of Agincourt on Jan. 20th than some other event happening that day here in mid-Atlantic region! I am a grateful reader who does not have red, springy hair! Keep up great books coming - I love them all. Elizabeth Morley, Patuxent River, Maryland

Dear Bernard, I have enjoyed your Sharpe books so much I am now listening to the audiobooks to prolong my time with Sharpe, Harper and your other characters. I have viewed the TV movies but feel the producers should not have substituted their own storylines for yours. One advantage to coming to your books late, was that I could read them in chronological order. I find your later books very rich and your writing has matured, as has Sharpe. He was very irritating in the India books - I'm glad Europe made him grow up. I have recently been watching (via YouTube, as like you I live now in the US) a BBC3 series called MI-5/Spooks and I think the new leading man, Richard Armitage would make an excellent Sharpe, if and I certainly hope they do, new TV movies are made of your new books. The latest Sharpe's Peril and Challenge are hogwash. They need to get back to YOUR books : ) and I know I'll be targeted for saying so but I think Sean Bean needs to hang up his chausseur's boots, Baker rifle and heavy cavalry sword. Mr. Armitage has a northern accent, and dark hair, and is tall and thin like you wrote Sharpe to be. Also handsome of course ... I have 3 sons between the ages of 8-4 and they know Mommy is in love with Sharpe and Horatio Hornblower (they never call him just Hornblower, always Horatio Hornblower) and I was just asked by the 4 year old whom I preferred. Sharpe of course, Hornblower was too neurotic and self-conscious. I'm glad you gave Sharpe a happy ending (he always fared much better with the European ladies)he deserved it. With much affection and high regard Alison

I have a BA in American History and I have just completed an MRes on the relationship between William H. Seward and Abraham Lincoln. I believe Seward was far more important to Lincoln than most historians allow. To the point, I want to read the rest of the Starbuck story and so do several of my friends. With the possible exceptions of the Sharra trilogy your books are the best novels we have read on the war. I am now 63 years old and I don't want to die without knowing what happens to Starbuck. Alan Lowe.

A cold, drizzly winter day here today. Sat by the fire and read all four of The Saxon Stories straight through. I only got up to let the dog out, make a hot drink or a snack and then went right back to the story. Can't wait for the next installment! Good job! Vickie Elizardo

Dear Mr. Cornwell; I Began reading your works a few years ago, they caught my interest as historical fiction. I would like to state that it is refreshing to find quality fiction like unto that of Forrester and O'Brian. Thank you sir for providing such works for others to enjoy, A wonderful new year to you and your family.
William Bratton

Dear Mr Cornwell Many thanks for your kind reply to my recent enquiry about Christianity in the Sharpe books. You have now prompted me to commence reading the Starbuck series, not least to find out about Swynyard. It is interesting that you have received more adverse comment than favourable regarding your Christian characters, as they appear to me to cover the whole gamut, ranging from the almost saintly, such as Major Vivar, through the robustly ordinary, such as Harper, to the overtly wicked, such as the murderous Father Montseny; a range which probably accurately reflects real life. Either way, I believe that it is historically important that you have included a strong Christian influence in the novels, as this was clearly a major part of life during the times in question. In today's politically correct secular society, I notice that Christianity is airbrushed out of much historical fiction, both in books and on film, as though it had never existed. Ian Marchant

Hi, just wanted to say that I have read the entire Sharpe series, Stonehenge, and all 4 of Starbuck in the past 1 1/2 years. I can't get enough of your books. Thank You and I look forward to reading the rest soon. Today begins Redcoat. Carl

Bernard, Just wanted to tell you how great all of your books are. I was never ever a big reader but got a boring clerk job a couple years back and picked up one of the Arthur books. It was chosen completely at random and since then I have read that series, the Saxon stories, the grail quest and I am half-way through the Sharpe books. You have opened my world to reading and for that I thank you.
Amar Smajlovic

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the pleasure that your books have given me and others.May I suggest that an excellent film of the Starbuck series could be made by involving all of the Civil War Re-enactment groups to act in their own uniforms and use their own equipment for the greater part of the battle scenes. They may even be happy to perform for 'expenses' only which would create a more realistic battle depiction. I am sure that a 'decent script' would not be too hard to find. I look forward with interest to your reply . Alexander Peebles