Bulletin Board

Hello Mr Cornwell, I am not sure if you recall visiting a group of potential army officers at Worthy Down last year. I was present during our curry lunch and subsequent question time and enjoyed your visit. I am writing to inform you that we are now nearing the end of our commissioning course and graduate on 10 Aug; most of us are joining the regiment/corps of our choosing. I have been accepted by no less than the Rifles, I do not know if you keep up to date with the latest changes to the Infantry but the Rifles are an amalgamation of the Royal Green Jackets, Light Infantry, Devon and Dorsets and RGBW. As an ex-soldier and a newly accepted member of the Rifles I think I can claim the title of first ex-soldier in the Rifles (well, maybe Sharpe beats me!). I would again like to thank you as you were an inspiration to many of us and we all take an interest in your new books, many of us are addicted. I hope all is well in the future and look forward to your new book. Yours, David Freeman

Mr. Cornwell, I just wanted to thank you for the outstanding books you have written. About three years ago I picked up my first Bernard Cornwell book during a long lonely voyage across the Pacific, while serving as a US Naval Officer. From the moment I start reading one of your books it takes all my strength to put it down without finishing the story in one sitting. I am currently halfway through Lords of the North and I am once again spellbound by your writing. I have encouraged a few of my friends to read the Saxon stories and they have all said ¨outstanding¨. I have to admit I am a little saddened each time I finish one of your books, because I know I am that much closer to having read everything you have published. You are truly a master of your craft. Once again I thank you. Very respectfully, Jon Langley Bloomington, Indiana

I just wanted to say thank you. I have been reading your books since I was around ten years old ( I know they are sometimes a little graphic for a ten year old). I can honestly say I haven't got round to reading them all as I am a Sharpe freak and am constantly re-reading them and Starbuck too. I look forward to every new book from you and my family and friends always know what to get me! Thank you for enriching my mind with these stories of long forgotten places and times. Yours sincerely, Mike Pearce

Mr. Cornwell Your books have brought many hours of pleasurable reading; thank you. Will Rogers never met a man he didn't like; I have never read a Bernard Cornwell book I didn't like. I have a newly formed goal of acquiring all of the Sharpe novels. At least my children will have some idea of what to get me for Father's Day, birthdays, et al. Unfortunately, my wife will require that I divest myself of one old book for each new book that comes into our home. Perhaps I can replace some unused socks with books; we shall see. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing. Again,

Larry Harp

Lords of the North--magnificent! I just read it, and I'm almost breathless. Please take no time to reply, just keep on writing! Please also store this away: I'm an ex-pat Yorkshireman living in Philadelphia, and if ever you pass through the city I would relish the opportunity to feed you a fine meal and, over a dram perhaps, talk about Cwm Isaf, where my cousin Carol lives in a small Elizabethan cottage, among mists, woods and wild grasses, and stories, and who first recommended your books to me. . . . Great work! May you write many books about Uhtred and his England. With best regards, Patrick

I've just completed The Saxon Stories...I absolutely LOVED them and I'm eager to read the upcoming sequels...You don't need to write back. I just wanted you to know that your work is appreciated! Thanks. Rebecca

Just picked up your book THE LAST KINGDOM. Could not put it down. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK OF YOURS I FIND. Lona

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm a fan, of course, and a kind of writer in my own right (poetry), though I'm utterly unknown and broadly unpublished. Have read all your books, so far as I am aware. My favorites would have to be the Arthur books. Derfel is a favorite character. I wanted to write and say I found your writing advice helpful (the essay on your website under www.bernardcornwell.net/chapters/writingadvice.htm). You know, you claim there that you're not writing high stakes literature but fiction, yet, in my opinion, the opening paragraph of the first book of the Arthur trilogy is nothing short of fine literature. The plot for the series is also very fine, and much of the subject matter is of great 'historical' import, including the conflict between Christian & pagan religions. Perhaps you only meant to tell the tale as best you could, but isn't that really what high-stakes fine literature is all about? At any rate, I also wanted to tell you, for the sake of courtesy if nothing else, that I put the link to your 'writing advice' on my blog. Actually, I put it up there almost a year ago, so my courtesy notice is a bit late. But you see, I was in the process of revising the blog's HTML tags and remembered it. I hope you don't mind. You are welcome to tell me whether I've read anything into your 'advice' that isn't there. I wouldn't want to misrepresent a favorite author! But I do wish to point other nascent writers to your 'advice,' because too many of them are likely to pay for those horrible writing workshops, rather than learn by reading and emulating successful authors. Good day, --Matt Barber

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for realizing that Uthred's story could not be contained in a trilogy. I don't know when I've enjoyed a series more (probably The Grail Quest, or maybe the Arthur Books!). May you live 150 years and keep writing your magic 'till then! Gerry Curro Golden, Colorado

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just started reading your Sharpe novels, beginning with Sharpe's Tiger. I hadn't read novels for several years until I read a number of George Fraser MacDonald's Flashman novels. These novels pointed to yours, bringing the early imperial era alive. Though I enjoy the obvious authenticity of your historical novels, I was a little troubled by the arbitrary sentence of 2000 lashes passed on him for assaulting his Sergeant, particularly as it was pronounced so casually by a single officer without any advice or discussion. I researched and found that regimental court martials were made up of 3-5 officers, or on occasion a Sergeant, corporal and three privates, according to GA Steppler, English Historical Review, October, 1987. The average of the judges' proposed numbers of lashes was then pronounced as the sentence, part of which was often remitted. Sentences for striking an NCO averaged 244.4 lashes in the 44th Regiment of Foot, while on average, 187.1 were inflicted. The most severe sentence I have discovered was 1500 lashes, inflicted on a Revolutionary soldier in the American War of Independence. It also seemed fanciful that Sharpe was able to walk all through the night immediately after receiving his punishment, and then unhorse two Mysorean horsemen, admirable as they were for their military bearing. Yet one reason flagellation was not more frequent was that those who so suffered were incapacitated for several weeks, if not maimed for life. While Sharpe actually received a number of lashes close to the average, the sentence and the way it was reached seemed to be for dramatic effect and to inspire outrage at British military injustice, rather than being based on historical veracity. I am sorry to quibble, but I expect many of your loyal readers are as annoyingly fussy. Yours sincerely, Greg Deane