Dear Bernard, Like most contributors I am also a huge fan of your work, from Sharpe to Azincourt. For the last 25 years I have had a healthy appetite for the Fantasy genre and seemed almost trapped by it to the exclusion of all other fiction. Reading non-fiction inspires me also where there is knowledge to be had or a story to be told. Rarely had I read historical novels. Whilst I have always been interested in history, I strangely remained fixated on the pre-gunpowder days of European cultures. Sharpe led me into a topic that I had purposely avoided - Napoleon. Sure I knew the history well enough, yet it never grabbed me. Having been put off a little by the role-playing obsessives that I had occasionally encountered hunched over huge green boards with brigades of 1" military figures all neatly arranged. I must be honest; it seemed all too pretentious a topic. Then came Sharpe. Actually, you came first; as I attended a talk you gave at the Melbourne Writer's Festival at Como House several years ago. At that time I knew of you via Sean Bean's efforts in one of the episodes produced for TV, but had not read a word you had written. Well from that writer's festival to now, I am pleased to say that I have read the complete Sharpe Series in chronological sequence including the Christmas and Skirmish short stories. I devoured the Grail Quest and Uhtred's Saxon Stories, as well as Nathaniel's Chronicles. Redcoat was a winner for me also! I read most of these originally from my local libraries, and then made the commitment to purchase every book you have written. This is taking a little time and I am nearing the 70% tally, so I hope one or two dollars still make their way to you as a result of your journey downunder! You have inspired me to broaden my horizons and I have now a healthy interest in Naval History as well, and have read C. S. Forester, O'Brian, Woodman, Kent, and recently Stockwin. I even went back to Sabatini's 'Captain Blood' and Kipling's 'Captains Courageous' so I could benchmark the writing and character development within the historical fiction genre. My opinion is that you bring the characters in your stories to a believable reality without having to dramatise them overtly. The drama stays within the history, the real response for me is in the characters. I recall you saying at the Melbourne writer's festival in response to a question, that occasionally you regretted killing off some of the characters you dispatch so ruthlessly in your novels. I have only read one other author so dedicated to developing a character they intended ditching as the plot unfolded, and that author has been mentioned by another contributor on your website. David Gemmell was the author's name. When people ask, who my favourite authors are? It's simple- Cornwell & Gemmell. Different genre, same explosive humanity. Thankyou for your dedication, passion and excellence. Cheers, Ken Morrissey
p.s. When visiting the Auckland Museum in New Zealand recently, I came across one of those 7 barrel flintlock muskets made by the RN early in the 19th century. The sign in the display indicated all seven barrels fired at once, and that it was presented to the Maori Chief - Hongi, as part of a treaty settlement by the British. Could this be the same as Sharpe's young Patrick wielded so effectively. (I have a couple of low res pics if you want them, just let me know) p.p.s. The best piece of 'real' 19th century literature I have read recently was R.H.Dana's 'Two Years Before the Mast', a classic I enjoyed greatly.