I had watched a couple of Sharpe movies with my father when I was little, and noticed the series at Chapters here in Canada, I have since read the whole series multiple time. They are great to read. Thank you.
George Clifford
Bulletin Board
Just wanted to say how much I am enjoying immersing myself in The Saxon Stories. I've always been interested in that period of English history and, as in all your books, you make everything come so alive. You can practically hear the clash of the swords and smell the blood! I particularly like how you put everything in context. Yes, Uhtred and Ragnar are bloody killers who thoroughly enjoy it, but that was life back then--kill or be killed. Fight for your home, your land, your family, your honour. I have a small collection of non-fiction books on English history so I keep referencing them for more information on the "real" characters and dates and so on. You seem to be pretty accurate compared to some other historical fiction I have read. Your portrayal of the priests and the Church makes me suspect you are really a pagan at heart yourself! I'm sorry I'll have to wait another couple of years until the next installment comes out in paperback. I also enjoyed The Arthur Books and Stonehenge, and I think I'll tackle The Grail Quest next. Heather Mousseau
Dear Bernard, My wife and I live in Victoria, BC, Canada and we are voracious readers of your books. I have just today finished the last of the Sharpe series and have also enjoyed the Warlord Chronicles and the Last Kingdom Series. We are enthralled by the details of the times that you so successfully weave into the tales. We are both enthusiastic genealogists (Sylvia more than I), and our ancestors are mostly British Isles folk who are made much more real in the perspective of your stories of the peoples and the times. For instance, my great-great grandfather Wyse, arrived from London on the Barque Cambria at Quebec in 1812. Sharpe's exploits give me a sense of what is transpiring in the world at that time. Then, my Irish roots in the County Mayo and the origin of O'Higgins being apparently "of the Vikings" is echoed both by Harper's banter and the Last Kingdom series giving me some wonderful insight into family history. As well, my wife's tracings of her name "Blenkin" back to Settrington, Yorkshire in the 1600s, is made so much more colourful by the Last Kingdom series as well as the Arthur books. I'm born in 1944 and trying to retire from my business and I can't imagine you still going strong on fresh fields of stories, but we'll take whatever you can give. I know Mel Bolen here in Victoria and am sorry to have missed your visit here last year. If you are ever in this area you are most welcome to stay at our lovely rural home near the Butchart Gardens. I can't thank you enough for the pleasure you have brought to our lives through your wonderful tales of our past. If only history had been made this interesting when I was at school! Our warmest regards to you, Brian Higgins & Sylvia Blenkin
Thank you!
Dear Bernard. Hello, my name is Colin Stephan. I have never really felt compelled to contact an author of any book that I have read but I am becoming a fan of your books. I usually go for thrillers and horrors when I read but wanted a change. I got my hands on Tim Severin's Viking series and really enjoyed reading them. I was a bit miffed when I finished and wanted more, luckily I came across the grail quest books and found these to be fantastic. Next came the saxon stories, shortly after I had visited Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle. I have found that this really helped my enjoyment of these books, it seemed to add life to the stories. I have just finished the Arthur series and now understand why these are your favourites, I loved them and found my main problem was sleep deprivation, I just could not find the right time to put them down and stayed awake late into the mornings to carry on reading (in a way I am glad they are finished as I can now get some sleep). My interest in history has been reawakened and I have begun to read more about British history, and enjoy it, as a direct influence of reading these stories. I have a feeling that I will be starting on the Sharpe series soon and fear for work and studies, they will surely suffer. Thanks for the books. Good luck and good health, Regards. Colin Stephan.
Guess this must be getting a bit old now but hey, lol, great work, really loved all your more popular works (the main series) including all the mini stories for xmas and the such. I've always been interested in history but through your books I've gone on to find out a lot more into our history. Gotta agree with that other guy though about the English civil war - I mean that was total war on the purest level, lol, well in England at least - I think you'd have a good scope for a main character as a lowly officer in the new model army - wouldn't have to be a puritan of course. Tom
hello Mr. Cornwell. I'm from the US and absolutely LOVED every book of yours that I've read. I loved Stonehenge, the Saxon stories (can't wait for Sword Song) but the Arthur series was the best. The picture of early pre-Saxon dominance Britain was so believable and perfectly laid out that I find myself thinking about living and trying to stay alive in that time. The characters you made were so awesome. Sagamor, Derfel, Oengus, Owain, Nimue and so many others with their own story and personality. I LOVED IT. `````````````````````````````thank you sir keep on writing. Jorge
Its probably really pedantic but in The Winter King a character uses the word 'tawdry' in speech. Tawdry is drawn from St Audrey and therefore only enters use after the beatification of St Ethelreada, known as Audrey at the beginning of the 8th century. I love your Saxon works, and its actually inspired me to get back into writing. Justin Norman
I'm glad you're getting back into writing! I also have snowdrops in Britain at that time, and they weren't introduced till later. Sighs
I would like to say thanks. I was never much for reading as boy due to a slight reading problem. 3 1/2 years ago at my future mother-in-laws house I picked up a book which told the story of Stalingrad. Not the sort of book to start reading as it is huge, I managed to finish it within a year. As I have always been interested in History and Napoleonic Times I decided to read Rifles by Mark Urban, as the 95th Rifles became the Royal Green Jackets I had a connection with it as my Grandfather served in the RGJ and I did with the ACF, I wanted to find out how they started. I had seen the Sharpe TV series as a youngish lad but never knew or even cared who wrote them until I had read the few words on the back of the Rifles book. I went straight down to the nearest book shop and bought the first 3 books. I have read all of them, and I also have Sharps Fury on my book shelf slotted into its right place waiting to be read. I am currently reading the Starbuck books and I was delighted to find that Colonel Lassan was Sharpe's Son, Bloody great. When Lassan's name fist came about I knew I knew it but I could not place his name in the Sharpe books but I knew he was there, Partick indeed. I hope one day you write Patrick's Story as he sounds like a very interesting person plus it links these two sets of books together. I have also read the Grail and the Saxon Books which are all on the book shelf. I loved the different style you used to write the Saxon books as if it was a Saga being told to me by Uhtred. Being Half Swedish reading about Vikings was a true delight. I would just like to say thanks again for the enjoyment you have given me with your superb stories and also for getting me into reading. I never leave the house with out a book now just in case I am in a queue somewhere. Many Thanks. Regards David Hodgetts
Just a simple thank-you. Neil Cassidy
We love reading your novels, We can't wait till October when Uhtred returns to our lives, sort of feels like were going home. Your books definitely make us look deeper into our era of life. Donna & Richard