Bulletin Board

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I have the honor of having read all your books so far and be truly an admirer of your magnificent thoroughly-researched novels. I have rather a friendly complaint regarding your last series of novels (The Saxon Series) which in my belief is your best so far. Unlike the Sharpe series, each book does not contain an independent story, and unlike the Arthur series, there are not significant events separating each of two consecutive novels. As a result, once the reader finishes, for instance, Lords of the North, he remains with a huge thirst to know what would happen next. It's absolutely understandable from a business point of view, or perhaps more delicately put, from the publisher's point of view, but the poor reader has to wait one full year, or perhaps more, to read the next novel. And then once that novel is published, like giving sea water to a dehydrated person, leaving him in a more desire to wait to read the next novel. With all due respect, it's a very cruel and unusual punishment for your regular readers to wait so long periods of time to read a novel and then be left in the air to read the next one. I do hope that the follow-up to the Lords of the North come out sooner. Yours truly, Henry Guise

I am delighted to discover you! Reading the list of books you have already written, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that. My favorite genre is historical fiction, not the bosom-heaving kind, but books that are authentic and carefully researched, like yours. I've just finished the third of the Saxon Tales. Bravo! I've never read any fiction of that period. You must have had fun studying the history. I hope these stories of Uhtred continue to flow quickly from your pen because I'm almost 78! Thanks for the great pleasure you are giving me. Nancy

Hello Bernard Cornwell, Why is it that there always seems to be a new Wilbur Smith title but a new Bernard Cornwell title seems a very long time coming? Catherine Shaw

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

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

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

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

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

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

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