Bulletin Board

Hello there big fan of your books, and I thought I would let you know a little family history I have recently uncovered that shows just goes to show that fiction can reflect fact! Found that my husband's direct ancestor, John Christian Francke, joined the HEIC as a Private in 1776, and made Major by 1819, in India. Incredible rise through the ranks for those days! Organised the gun carriages for Seringapatam, and have found he had a memoir written about him in 1833 that includes several letters to him from Arthur Wellesley. (IOR) Francke is a bit of a mystery - his memoir says his real name was J.C. Rudolph, born in Saxony, and "against his own will and inclination" ended up in England in the late 1770's. Probably broke, which explains why he joined the HEIC. He lived to 78, died in Trichinopoly, still broke! Still, he died a happy man, having fathered at least 15 children with at least 4 women...Not everyday you find out that your children's' ancestor breakfasted with the future Duke of Wellington! Just thought I would share a real-life slightly-like-Sharpe character with you. Always good to find a hero in the family! All the Best. Sue Winch

Dear Mr Cornwell, I've just finished reading Sharpe's Fury - a wonderful story and more than up to your usual high standard. I write to you as I am unable to find a contact point within HarperCollins. There is a lamentable mistake in the book, where Level, spelt as such throughout the text is Laval in Laval's Division in the second map. As a writer myself those sort of things drive me to distraction, especially when you rely on someone else to execute part of the work. It does not detract at all from the fine story - I just thought you might like to berate someone you don't like at the publishers with the information and get it corrected for the next edition! With very best wishes, David Varnam

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I've just read and very much enjoyed "Lords of the North", and thought it was time to express my appreciation for your work, which I've been reading for some years, notably the Grail Quest, Arthur books, and Stonehenge, as well as the Saxon series. I've always enjoyed historical fiction, especially about ancient times, a learned a lot of history therefrom. Your Saxon series is entertainingly filling in the Anglo-Saxon period, about which I've known little, though like you I'm certainly descended from these people. (My surname Main, according to a family history compiled by my grandfather and great-uncle, descends from the Duc du Maine, who accompanied William in 1066, and came to this continent with my ancestor Ezekiel Main, who emigrated to Connecticut in the 1600s. My middle and maternal ancestral name Kelley, according to research by my late uncle and prominent historian Robert Kelley, is a version of the common Celtic name found in north-central England. So I'm thoroughly rooted in that Sceptered Isle.) Your book inspired a delving into Wikipedia and other sources to learn more of Anglo-Saxon England, its history, culture and language, and especially the repeated aphorism "Wyrd bid ful araed," and the "Wanderer" poem from which it comes. A suggestion: whoever did the typography on the book, perhaps the Elliott Beard mentioned on the copyright page, could put in just a little more effort and find a real "edh" letter for this. What's printed is both jarringly poor design (obviously from a completely different face) and incorrect to boot: it's actually just the Anglo-Saxon version of lower-case "d", not "edh" at all; see . I don't know exactly what typeface is used in the book, but it might very well already have an "edh"; most modern fonts do. Clearly you're fond of this saying, which is is a kind of theme of the whole story, and thus likely to be repeated frequently; might as well get it right. (Of course, I know that as the author you have little or no control over such issues as the cover or even the name your book is published under -- which has always seemed to me must be a great annoyance -- but I don't suppose it would do any harm to complain that they got your text wrong. Now, a real letter "wynn" at the beginning would be another issue -- both hard to find and confusing to the ordinary reader; even scholars, I gather, use W instead.) I see there's yet another Saxon installment already in the pipeline, so I will certainly look forward to continuing the story of Uhtred and his friends, neighbors and -- to be sure -- enemies. Thanks for some great reads, and I wish you all continuing success. Andrew Main Santa Fe, N.M.

I was reading all your books of the Saxon Stories. The Last Kingdom 3 times in German and once in english and the other two twice each(English). These are amazing stories written in the manner that reflects these olden days perfectly. That's the way the world really was and even worse sometimes. I cannot get enough. Please, don't let "Sword Song" be the last one of this series. There got to be more. Outstanding Job - Congratulations. Carsten Schmidt

Hello, thank you for a brilliant night at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose(Despite the monsoon season kicking in early!!) Also for signing my Saxon series-really was like Christmas!! HaHaHa!! Have to disagree with you on one point though-I always get into more trouble over brunettes as the current Mrs Macdougall will testify!! Its good that one is not always let down by their heroes!! Thanks again Bernard. Craig Macdougall

Hi Bernard, sorry to say I have no pressing historical question I'd like answering - just wanted to let you know how enthralling I have found the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg! A month ago I foolishly managed to read Lords of the North first! To my joy I discovered there were already two more books detailing Uhtred's rise. Naturally I went back to the start with the Last Kingdom, barely paused for breath with Pale Horseman and as I write I'm 53 pages back into Lords! As I approach my forties I can look back and say I have read many of the classic 'must reads' we're told we must digest if we're to call ourselves 'literary'. And I have never had so much fun with a book - been so enthralled and pulled into the life of a time, a set of characters, as I have been with the Saxon trilogy. And to top it all - Sword Song in September! I know it is daft to write this - but Bernard, thank you so much for giving me such fine entertainment. I hope Uhtred has many more tales to recount. Erm... and Ragnar too! Cheers, Neal Cresswell

Dear Mr Cornwell, Sharpe repeats on UK TV have given me great pleasure and have sent me back to the books with fresh enthusiasm. Thank you. Steve Lovering London.

I have read most of your works and would like to say thanks for the enjoyment they have given to me. Thanks also for your website and your personal contributions to it. My reason for writing at this time is because of the 22nd June posting from Jeff from Indiana who wrote about a stone fort along the Ohio River. He said "If these stone structures were not built by Madoc and his colony than I would like to know who did?! The Indians did not build with stone." In his excellent book "Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology", anthropologist Kenneth L. Feder briefly mentions excavations at one of the "better known forts in central Tennessee" said to have supported the Welsh hypothesis. He says there was no physical evidence to support that hypothesis and that "...the fort, which is really little more than a hilltop enclosed with a stone wall, contained artifacts made by American Indians, not Europeans". Carbon dates "indicate that the stone fort was built and used sometime between A.D. 30 and 430". Regards, Mike (South West Essex)

Sir. No need to contract me back but I just want to say keep up the great work!! I got hooked on the Arthur series a few years back and now just finished the 3rd book in the Saxon series and can't wait for number 4. You have that special knack of bring out the human qualities in your characters so the reader really can relate to them. I especially like how you can take a historical event and put us right there. I really enjoy how you give your special "spin" on things that take the "legend or the text book" version and make it sound like it could have realistically occurred. Thank you and again, keep doing your great job!! Rick Kaduce Rockford, IA.