Bulletin Board

Q

I have just finished reading "Lord of the North", third in the Saxon series. I just wanted to write with what I consider to be the highest of compliments. Upon finishing, I was disappointed that it had ended. I wanted there to be more. There are many authors I enjoy, but there are few who leave me feeling like that. Many thanks for a very great read. Blessings, Gary


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, first of all: I am a big fan of your Sharpe-books! With all due respect, but there is one thing that strikes me: You seem to underestimate the musket. Let me give an example; it's from Sharpe's Escape, last chapter: "Muskets could fight each other at a hundred paces and it was a miracle if an aimed shot hit,...". There are several statements like this in (I guess) all your Sharpe books. Well, of course it's true that muskets are much less accurate than rifles, BUT I assure you: A good musketman is considered to be able to hit a man from 70-80 (maybe even 90) yards distance. And concerning the volley-fire: There are many contemporary shooting-tests (e.g. by Scharnhorst in 1810) which show that musket volley-fire was effective even at long ranges up to 330 yards, HOWEVER only in theory. What I want to say is, that the musket itself is not the inherently inaccurate weapon it's often said to be, but that it's mostly the shooters fault (e.g.nervousness in battle) when a ball goes wild. That's it already, sir. Your loyal reader Kai-Arne

A

And windage? Ammunition was often ill made and never, of course, fitted the bore properly. My best source are Prussian tests conducted during the wars when a battalion fired their muskets at a target 100 feet wide and six feet high. These were trained troops, not under pressure. At 75 yards 60% hit the target. At 150 yards the hits were down to 40%. At 225 yards only 25% hit the target. I guess you're saying the glass is half full, and I'm claiming it's half empty! And, of course, it is the inherent inaccuracy of a musket that forced it to be used as a volley weapon, rather than as a sharp-shooter's gun.


Q

I was first introduced to your work in 2002 (or so) when my history instructor gave a reading/term paper assignment on how closely historical (but fictional) books follow true hisotry. I chose The Winter King and have been hooked since. I just finished your latest installment in the Saxon stories and can't wait to find out what happens to Uhtred. Thank you so much for your creativity and talent. It's great to be able to step back in time with your novels. Keep and the great work!!

Derrick Brown


Q

Good Morning Bernard Just a quick note to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading each and every Sharpe's book .... have worked thru the Arthur books and several of the GRAIL QUEST as well ... Please let me encourage you to keep the wonderful stories coming ... I buy at the local Chapters Bookstore here in Canada ... sometimes I have to make them order a book in ... but then ... they order 2 or 3 of the book and when I return to pick up my copy ... the other copies they had brought in are gone already ... so there ya go .. Thanks again David Milmine Hamilton, Ontario Canada


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell. I just want to say a big thank you for the pleasure you have given me these past few months. It was luck really. I was walking around Greenwich market, and came across Stonehenge. It was there for £1, so I couldnt say no. I read it in about a week, and then moved onto the Saxon Series. Now I had never really read that much before, but I cant seem to stop reading your books! I finished Lords of the North, and am now reading Vagabond. Im going on holiday in a few weeks, so will be buying the Warlord Series to read. I must be reading about a book a week. I guess I am quite lucky, being a late discoverer of yours, as I have so much more to read, which excites me greatly. However, I still feel I am going through them too quickly! Thanks again, and I cant wait for the 4th book in the Saxon Series. Charles


Q

Hi, Im 17 and in love with history, I just finished all 3 books in the Saxon series in 5 days, I was just unable to put the books down, cant wait till the next one comes out. Keep up the good work and I will keep reading them when they come.
Jericho Smith


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, for a long time I lost faith in reading fiction books, as there just wasn't anything I fancied looking at. Then my brother gave me one of your 'Sharpe' books for my birthday and I was hooked! I have since collected and read ALL your works (I must have read the grail quest at least 6 or 7 times now!)and I just wanted to say thank you so much for the enjoyment you have given me. Yours in anticipation of future publications, John


Q

I signed up for the HNS Conference specifically because I read that you would be speaking. I was not disappointed. Indeed, you exceeded my expectations. I am writing to thank you for the great advice, insight, and perspective, all leavened with humor, that you provided to we fledgling scribblers. My next challenge as a writer is to apply your good counsel to my novel, which, should the gods smile, is in its absolute final rewrite. I also want to thank you purely as a reader. All your days of writing from 5AM to 5PM have brought me considerable joy and pleasure over the years. I am now having a great time getting lost in The Pale Horseman and look forward to reading the rest of your Saxon series. And one final thank you. Would you please pass on my thanks to the lovely lady you refer to as the blonde from Pennsylvania. For having lured you across the ocean, legions of readers and writers owe her our gratitude. Rick Spilman


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell I began reading your Sharpe chronicles many years ago and used to wait anxiously for the publication of the next. Thank you for introducing me to the fascination of Peninsular War history. I live in Australia and although we have not had the pleasure of having the Sharpe series shown on TV here, I have been buying the DVDs as they are released. My favourite Sharpe books are Enemy and Waterloo. I am glad that you have your own website and that it was not necessary to trawl through Google to find you! Best wishes, Janelle Gerke.


Q

hi just a note to say that I have also read The Whale Road by Robert Low and the start is a bit slow but it's a good book once you have got past the start! A.S