Bulletin Board

Dear Mr. Cornwell. There are few authors who have enthralled me to the point of having to read every single book in the series. I must congratulate you for your Arthur and Alfred series. They are both quite good, filled with action, wonder, romance and foul language. I must admit that Derfel and Uhtred gave from the beginning an impression of responding to your ideal first character. It is interesting that they both have conflicting relationships with the historical first characters that give the name to the series. I must congratulate you for the stubbornly foul relationship between Uhtred and Alfred, when all readers are wishing they get over it. Please allow me to say one slightly negative comment: I found Sword Song to be much less interesting than the other books, perhaps because so little seems to happen in comparison. In any case I am chewing my feet off waiting for the next book, so please open the file and get on with it! Thank you for your time, I understand there are too many of us fans and too few of you Bernard Cornwell.
Guillermo Reher

Dear Bernard, thanks so much for your marvelous books! I came across Harlequin recently and read it during a bout of illness and since have been hunting down others. I had not realised how ignorant I am of early English history! Your characterisation is so rich, and the cast of characters so broad. The other marvelous thing for me is your skill (gift!) at portraying the detail of the cultural ways of the time. This is a very different way of learning history than I was offered at school (long time ago). I'm trying to adjust to the sense of shock that life was just so devoted to killing and brutality in those days (I've also read two of the books about Alfred's struggles to unify Britain, and am on the first of the Arthur series now)... but they are all full of rape, vengeance, and gore. How did they ever manage to grow any food or make any clothes!!! Let alone actually have children that survived to adulthood to carry on the fight. I don't have a TV so haven't seen any of the Sharpe films... but will probably get to read them at some stage. many blessings and thanks again, Anni

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just finished reading Sharpe's Enemy, and I wanted to write and say how much I enjoyed it. I've been reading your Sharpe novels in their chronological order and with each one I read I just can't wait until I get to the end so I can read the Historical Note. And I do save it for the end. What prompted this email was your forward at the beginning of Sharpe's Honour. I was quite moved by Teresa's death at the end of Sharpe's Enemy, and thought it was brilliant how that stripped all the joy out of Hakeswill's end. Having encountered Hakeswill first in the India series, I was quite surprised when he turned up Europe, having of course somehow survived the snake pit in Sharpe's' Fortress. It was beginning to feel like he was going to be around forever, that Hakeswill would somehow be Napoleon's aide or something by the time Sharpe gets to Paris. When he crossed the French lines I thought, "Ah, there it is. He really can't die, can he?" So I thought it was a great an unexpected twist that he should be brought back by the Frenchman returning a favour. It was a good time for Hakeswill to die. It feels like his passing foreshadows different challenges for Sharpe in his new responsibilities; Sharpe has well and truly left his beginnings behind him. The tide of the war is turning. Nonetheless, I understand when you say that you miss having Hakeswill for the pressure and danger of his physical presence, and I commend you for doing the hard thing of pruning the good and useful to let new things grow in. Teresa's death, though hard to take, was also the right thing. Sharpe's reaction and grief returned my compassion and respect to him, respect lost when he cheated on his wife with Helene. Also, in the broad sense, Teresa's death and losing that connection with Antonia frees Sharpe up to move into France and all around once more. The moment when Wellington says that the glory gets tarnished was also a nice touch. And I do really like Wellington. I have a hard time reading straight history, but the way you wright makes him fascinating enough that I may actually attempt some of your source material for myself. All that is to say I enjoy your novels, I think you plan them excellently (or rework your way up the mountain excellently), and I especially appreciate your notes before and after the novel telling about your challenges in writing a particular story and the various historical trivia and facts. I suppose that you hear this a lot, but it's so cool to be able to pause in the middle of a book, open up Google Maps and check out the satellite images of the battlefields. As if I don't have enough of a travel bug already! My dad's read all your Sharpe novels and more besides, and it was he who put me on to you. He and my mom have been planning a trip to Portugal, and having read your descriptions of places in the peninsular war I can't help but wonder if you didn't have any influence on their choice of destination. Anyways, thanks so much for the great reads, and keep up the good work! I look forward to finishing the series. Yours sincerely, Matthew Shettler

Sword Song - The map illustrating the area uses modern names and not the names used in the narrative. I worked them out after a bit. Across all the Saxon Stories, I enjoy Uhtred's wry observations and cynical comments about the clergy. Ed Zingone

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I´d like to thank you for all of your books and I´d like to say to you that you are one of the best writers I´ve ever read, thank you once again for all yous stories full of life, joy, love and adventures.I´m for sure a huge fan of yours and tell everyone I know to buy your books too.
Ana Paula

Just a wry comment: Matthew Dodd, a rifleman in " Sharpe's Escape" first appeared in C S Forester's "Death to the French" written in the 1930's. You clever chap you! I have read most of your books but I have also read most of Forester's. Best wishes and keep writing. Colin Lane

Just wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed reading all your books (yes, I think I've read most of them, anyway). And am looking forward to Agincourt in January! Thanks,
Carolyn Gritzmaker

Hi Bernard, I just wanted to say I love your work. I was introduced to Derfel by a friend and have since then gone on to read all of the Arthur and Saxon stories as well as Stonehenge - I have your new one in a carrier bag on my desk and can't wait to get stuck in. I have to say, Derfel remains my favourite but the anticipation of finding out what happens next to Uhtred is killing me - I look forward to finding out! L.

not a great long saga you'll be glad to hear. I just wanted to say thank you for introducing me to so many new friends through your work. I think I am the only person who believes that Arthur, Derfel etc made the boat trip to France and all lived happily ever after! I feel bereft after finishing Excalibur. I go into mourning for about 6 mths and can't bear to pick up another book, they all mean so much to me! Thank you thank you for the many hours of blissfull pleasure I have had through reading your creations. And I look forward to many many many more. Allison Jackson

I have just read on your frequently asked questions the date when the next Saxon story will be released. Because I live in New Zealand, the release date here will probably be even later, so I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help you release it quicker? Any God of yours I can make sacrifices to? Any chance of you coming here for a holiday and bringing the draft? Anything?
Lynette Philip