Hi! This is really just a fan-mail i guess. I am a 20 year old man from Norway, who likes to read, and therefore drop in at the bookstore from time to time. The local bookstore did have an offer on english-lingual books (3 for 2) and it was merely fate that made me pick 'The winter king', 'The enemy of god' and 'Excalibur'. I had never heard of you before, and am now glad I picked those books. I read through them all and became mesmerized. I just needed more and therefore bought the 4 books of 'The Saxon Stories'. I guess it was fate than linked me to your treasures. Wyrd bið ful ãræd. You're now my favourite writer. (Not entirely true, I cannot decide whether I favor you or John Ronald Reuel Tolkien the most, but you are at least sharing the gold medal.) This was more of a reading than I intended it to be, but I just want you to keep writing great novels, and I will keep buying them. (Believe I will start on the 'The Grail Quest' now, while waiting for a follow-up after 'Sword Song'. Yours truly Martin Seglen Baadshaug P.S. I do favor Lord Derfel Cadarn over Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg. P.P.S. You have inspired me into dreaming of writing a novelle of my own.
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Hi Mister Cornwell, my name is Salvstore and I write you from Italy, i would like to tell you many things, but i can't. Yes of course i read all of your books, and there aren't no words to describe then. They are...no words as I said I'm sorry. Maybe one day I could play one of your tales, yes because I'm studying acting in a great academy in Rome directly linked to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts of London. Probably after my lauera in Italy I will go to England to continue my studies, I really hope to know you personally. Forgive my English in this letter. Please answer me. Thank you very much. PS: I also written a Romance concluded two months ago
Dear Mr. Cornwell, Like countless others, I add my full appreciation and applause for your books. I have read all of them, some twice, and some are (ahem) into their third readings...It is probably obvious that your books are numbered amongst my favorites. I only write to tell you this because I may not be amongst your average demographic (hope I phrased that right). You see, I, and my family, are American Rev. War reenactors. I personally play the fife with the Continental Marines, shoot the musket with the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment and also portray a Butler's Ranger attached to said RHR. I also happen to be a female! So, I don't expect you to respond to this, just wanted you to know that your books are loved by women too, and that I personally look forward to more of your books becoming available. Thank you for sharing your talent. Sincerely, Karen Keeley
...just a postscript to an e-ail I just sent you... as a reenactor who also is a woman, I probably AM typical of your women readers, a representative of YOUR demographics. I should have said I am not a typical woman reader, (and am probably not a "typical" woman at all!) Again, looking forward to many more of your books, Karen
What woman is typical? It's pretty obvious why God made women AFTER man; He was disappointed with the first effort, so made something better! And thank you for your very kind comment . . . I know I found a lot of new women readers after Sean Bean played Sharpe in the TV series, and I hope lots stayed to discover other books. Some day I'll hear your fife . . . thanks again!
I am Soldier in the 33rd of foot that Sharpe started his career in. In your wonderfully written books he is a London orphan though in the series he is a Yorkshire man. We only recruit from Yorkshire would you have written a Yorkshire man in your books with hind site. We are very proud of our affiliation with Sharpe and he earned his commission saving our Colonel. As a you know we were the Duke of Wellingtons Regiment. I would just like to say that i will wait in agony for the fifth book of Saxons tales. Iain Perkins
Ah! Remember that the very young Sharpe runs away from London to Yorkshire, where he lived for a time before he was recruited in Sheffield . . . so he's an honorary Yorkshireman (though in Sean Bean's great hands he's born to the county!).
Hello Bernard Cornwell, A quick note to say that I am half through Stormchild and am really loving it. I plan on picking up some of your other sailing books. Have a healthy and happy 2009. Gordon of Toronto
Bernard - I started serial reading with Simon Black, Sherlock Holmes and a disgraceful number of WW2 books as well as James Bond and the whole Bolitho genre and any other RN battles under sail. I was first captivated by Richard Sharpe in Sharpe's Waterloo which set the hares running for anything I could find about Waterloo and, of course, Sharpe and his travails. I've just finished re-reading Sharpe's' Tiger and and loved your Author's Notes. The notes make Sharpe even more real - as much as Sherlock Holmes is alive and well and living in 221B Baker Street. Many thanks for the ongoing pleasure of your Sharpe books especially. My son is also addicted. Ken
Hello Mr Cornwell Strange thing, I read my first Sharpe novel way back in the late 80's and typical me, I went for 'Honour' first. So, no surprise then, when I read 'Pale Horseman' first (I picked it up on holiday). I must say the Saxon series is as enjoyable as Sharpe and equally hard to put down. I checked out your site to see when I can expect another tale of Uthred to find out the question has already been answered. I'm going to give Azincourt a go next. Keep up the good work, your Novels make history very interesting. Thanks Tim Booth
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
You don't have red, springy hair? Well, you're forgiven, and I really hope you enjoy Agincourt (which has no characters with red springy hair).
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