According to todays Daily Express, "Sword Song" is the first book to knock the final Harry Potter off the number one slot. Congrats! But could you please stop writing books quicker than I can read them? James Spivey
Bernard Cornwell. Sir, I found your book, the last kingdom, in an old used book shop here in Canada, and thought I would give it a try. Sir, this was a fantastic story and I truly loved it. I look forward to reading more of Uhtred tale and finding out what became of Ragnar the younger. Again thank you, you have brought a great deal of enjoyment within the past week. Jay Brake
Mr Cornwell, I have just finished your book "The Archer's Tale". It was recommended by a friend because I am an archer. I don't shoot the great English War Bow, but an American Laminated longbow. The story was fantastic and as a history buff, I found it to be extremely accurate. Your description of the weapons and style of warfare were well and above anything I have ever read. I have the next two books in the series and I will definitely be buying more of your books in the future. Thank you for giving me such pleasure. I am a book junkie and thought I was running out of material that I would enjoy. This book has proved me wrong.... Sincerely, Tom Mullane
Sir: I sincerely enjoy and appreciate the Sharpe's books that you have written. As a student of history and a career military officer (although my time in Spain was limited to a naval base in Rota) I find them to be both entertaining and a valid study in military leadership. I am currently deployed and reading has become my primary diversion from the realities of life. Thanks for the outstanding stories that you have shares with us. Very Respectfully, Captain Patrick Snyder
Sir, I just wanted to thank you for sharing your gift with the world. Whenever I have picked up one of your books, I have been hard pressed to stop reading. Again, thank you very much we all appreciate your hard work! Scott Hunter
Mr Cornwell I love the Sharpe series and I like the Starbuck chronicles as well. I enjoy the fact that Col Sharpe's son appears in the Starbuck chronicles. I have went back to school and I am working on my masters in history. One day I am planning to write a series of books somewhat like the Sharpe series except mine will star in the Carolinas in the 1750's and end in 2005. I and writing about a fight American family who starts with the French Indian wars (seven year war) and will end in Iraq 250 years later. Please write the next installment in your Starbuck series soon, or at least tell us more about Col. Lassan aka little Sharpe. Robert Robinson
Received "Sword Song" yesterday, finished it today. Unputdownable!!
David Eric Coote
Bernard, thank you for teaching me the value of literature as a boy. Your Sharpe books filled me with a sense of awe and the Saxon books are the best so far. I am very eager to know when the new one is coming out and if you are coming to Ireland in the near future so I could meet you in person. Thanks a million for your work. Phil
No plans for a visit to Ireland this year, but hopefully one day!
Hi Mr. Cornwell. In an August 27th posting, Dirk "Leo" Solterbeck asked about any novels dealing with Napoleon's Northern European campaigns. I can recommend the following: 1."Seven Men of Gascony" by R.E. Delderfield. This is a wonderful novel dealing with the adventures of seven friends who fight in the Grand Army from 1809-1815. 2."The Complete Brigadier Gerard." This is a collection of all 18 of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories of his French Hussar hero, Brigadier Etienne Gerard. I thoroughly enjoyed them. 3.French author Patrick Rambaud's Napoleonic trilogy. These books examine three incidents from Napoleon's life, seen through the eyes of various characters. "The Battle" deals with his first defeat at Aspern-Essling in 1809. "The Retreat" tells the story of the terrible retreat from Moscow in 1812. "Napoleon's Exile" deals with his year on Elba. 4.The "Bonaparte's Son's" series by Richard Howard. This series went six novels before it was canceled. It tells the story of a squad of French dragoons, and goes from the 1797 Italian campaign to the battle of Eylau in 1807. I am not that enthusiastic about these, I found them rather shallow, a pale imitation of Sharpe, but they may serve to pass the time. 5. And of course there is "War and Peace" of which I need say nothing more. All these titles are available from Amazon.co.uk or used book services such as abebooks.com or alibris.com. I hope this helps. Alan Kempner
Having finished all the Sharpe books, I have just started reading Arthur Bryant's The Great Duke - because my library has a copy and because it focuses on Wellington's military career. This book has things in it that Longford/Pakenham did not cover. For example, in 1794, ". . . Lieutenant-Colonel Wesley's 33rd regiment proved an exception and, by its discipline and its steady musketry, plugged a dangerous breach in the line and, when others were failing, firing company volleys in extended line beat off a strong attack by a French column." Quite a baptism of fire for young Dick Sharpe, I would think. Ed Hume