Bulletin Board

Dear Mr Cornwell, just a short note to let you know that as an avid reader of your Sharpe books I should like to express my sincere thanks to you for giving me such a realistic and authentic reading experience, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. Derek Brown.

MR. CORNWELL, THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HELLO TO YOU. I HAVE READ EVERY ONE OF YOUR BOOKS, A FEW MORE THAN ONCE. I COULDN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU OR THANK YOU FOR THE COUNTLESS HOURS OF PURE READING JOY YOU HAVE GIVEN ME LO THESE MANY YEARS. I HAVE JUST FINISHED AGINCOURT AND LOVED IT. I GUESS SINCE THERE WAS NO "AND HOOK AND MESISANDE WILL MARCH AGAIN" THERE WILL BE NO SECOND BOOK. PITY. WOULD LOVE SOME MORE CIVIL WAR STUFF. YOUR CIVIL WAR NOVELS WERE RIGHT THERE WITH MICHAEL SHAARA. THANK YOU AGAIN SO VERY MUCH. HOPE TO MEET YOU AT A SIGNING SOME DAY. HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON UP THERE ON CAPE COD. STEVE BOSCHETTI

Bernard, Just finished your new book "Azincourt" bought it earlier this month in Oxford. I read it at night after touring castles like Kenlworth, Warwick during the day. It really was wonderful to see the history of England laid out before my eyes. Then later in the day I could put it all in context by reading about the middle ages in your book. I discovered another thing to admire you for. I rented a car and tried to drive to Wales. Of course it was right hand drive, left handed shift and I had to drive on the right side of the road. With buses all around, I survived to the second round-about trying to get on the M40 and then gave it up. I crawled back to the rental car place in 2nd gear and rode the train to Warwick. I admire anyone that can drive in England. Bob Long

I had the pleasure of hearing you speak at Beverley on the 23rd October. Just want to say thanks for a great evening, the format with Julia Barker worked very well indeed. Can I just recomend to any of your fans if they get the chance go and hear you speak - it's well worth it. Hope you will be visiting Beverley festival again soon. Regards Richard

Have just finished reading Azincourt and though I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the way in which you have achieved the presentation of a very good story with the actual historical events I was slightly dis-appointed in that many of the characteristics of the main character - Nicolas - are similar to those of Thomas Hookton (Grail series, who also gets a mention in the narrative anyway). I appreciate that both were of the same background in that they were archers who in effect hired out their skills, however the similarity of these main, and some of the subsidiary, characters in Azincourt and the Grail series, detracted from the narrative that you have presented. Notwithstanding the above, I did however thoroughly enjoy the novel, and like your many others found it difficult to lay down until such time as I had completed it. No doubt I will pick it up again in about a month and re-read. I look forward to reading your next story, though I would hope it be from the Saxon Stories as the storylines and characters carry a sense of credibility for that period of English (Dark Ages) violent period. Again thank you for the novels to date - keep them coming. John Hillary

Mr. Cornwell, I saved Azincourt to finish on St. Crispin's day. Once again, you knocked my socks off. I have read everything you have ever written over so many years. You are one of the most entertaining and informative writers going. I loved this book. Couldn't wait for January. Had to send to AmazonUK to get it. Nobody, and I mean nobody, can tell a battle like you. Looking forward to more of your tales. Sincerely, Marty Schuffert, Ohio, USA

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a huge fan and have only just today read through your bulletin board. I saw where a reader requested that you create a novel about the Roman occupation period in Britain. You declined but I respectfully request that you please reconsider. Your grasp of the many engineering and social contributions of the Romans to European history is very astute. Although there may be many other authors that cover this period as you stated, I have never found an unbiased novel of your caliber that can effectively describe their small scale military campaigns, social life and governmental administration over the conquered local population and religious groups as well as you describe in your novels. I feel there is a real story there to be told and that only YOU are the person to tell it with the unbiased and reflective observations that this forgotten period deserves. Once long ago I went to a small town in Germany near Morbach and deep in those woods in the middle of nowhere there was Roman grave sight. The Romans had taken the time to raise a huge burial mound and surround it with stone columns and yet there was very little information on who it was that had fought and died there. As I stood alone in those dark woods I could only try and imagine the feelings of those soldiers who came so far, so long ago to fight and die in a strange land and yet had taken the time and effort to honor their dead in such a desolate place. I'm sure with Hadrian's wall and the long Roman history in Britain that there is a similar story from the Roman occupation of Britain that needs to be told. With Roman technology and tactics and the determination and ingenuity of the ancient Brits I am sure there is a untold story just waiting for you to work your magic. No one else can do it justice and this period is really is a precursor to your Arthur tales. Please reconsider....history needs you to bring it to life. John Sinisi, Rosamond, CA. USA.

Dear Mr Cornwell I have just finished reading Azincourt, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Like all your other books you tell a story through the eyes of the ordinary soldier, always turning them into the extraordinary. Like yourself, I have also read Juliet Barker's work on Agincourt, and your book compliments her's perfectly. One small typo your editor has missed - on the first page of your epilogue to the book (p443) you write ".......that its fame persists almost seven hundred years later." Whilst I hope your book is still in print a hundred years from now, well, I leave you to do the maths. Many thanks again for yet another terrific novel and I look forward to your next. Bob Smith

Hi Just a note to thank you for the Saxon books. The buggeration factor being what it is, I bought the last one first, the discovered the other three. Oh well. Nicely written, and covering a period of British history often overlooked but which, to me at any rate, was a time vital in the making of England. So well done and thank you for your efforts. Oh, and the plot was great as well! ;-) Tim Walker

Dear Mr Cornwell, I just wanted to say that for about the last 20 years I have been an avid reader of yours. I have read and reread all the your novels countless times and your skill at weaving a story has given me endless hours of escapism and pleasure especially through some very trying times. You need not respond, I simply wanted to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you for sharing your imagination with the world. Alex Jacob