Bulletin Board

Q

Dear Bernard, I thought you might be interested to know that in Canberra (Australia) your books are stolen from bookshop shelves so often that at least two shops now keep your books behind their counter. How popular can you get??? Regards, Clive King Member, Australian Society of Authors.

A

That made me laugh! Thank you!


Q

Dear Bernard, I read a great many books. I can honestly say that none have given me more pleasure than yours. Your recent Saxon Stories are superb and have been a particular joy to read. Best wishes, Rob Walsh


Q

Thought you and your publishers would want to know (if you do not already) that in the paperback edition of "Sharpe's Devil" (Perennial Ed.) that has been in bookstores for a while now, the separator page captioned "Part II - Cochrane" appears twice, once where it should be and then in place of what should be "Part III - Vivar" according to available hard-bound copies. I see from a recent posting that other enthusiastic fans are also dismayed by the typos (I've now taken to making marginal notations, which somehow mitigates the annoyance), but this one stands out particularly and is worth highlighting if only so other readers won't have to conduct their own library searches to find the correct Part III caption. Also noted that on page 106 of this paperback edition, when Sharpe is replying to Captain Morillo at the Celestial Fort, he says "Meaning an early start ... that will leave my friend and I alone with Sergeant Dregara?" The "I" appears as "we" in some hard-bound copies but not all, so it's hard to tell what was intended for the original. Overzealous editing, perhaps, or a grammatical lapse by our rough-hewn character? Have only praise, though, for the form and substance of all the tales. Along these lines, I smiled when I read the March 19, 2007 item from the individual who noted that he's re-read at least four times the passage where Sharpe gets the letter from the Prince Regent (in "Sharpe's Enemy") and hears about his majority. I also was quite taken with that scene, and from time to time read it aloud just to savor the dialogue. It leaps off the page as a juicy performance piece for a skilled character actor and is truly vivid playwriting, just begging to be tucked verbatim into the dramatization. I've always wondered why it was omitted from the filmed version of that book. Seems a loss for the TV audiences. Good wishes, as always, in every respect. Nancy Nemon

A

Sorry for the typos! And thanks for letting us know.


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, last weekend I enjoyed your book "The last kingdom" very much - a wonderful reading for a long rainy afternoon! But I stumbled over one little passage. You wrote there that Uthred wears his sword on his back "for drawing it faster". By my experience as an reenactor (and participant in the battle of Hastings last year ...) with some skills in sword fighting I want to contradict - it is really impossible to draw a relatively long typical viking sword if you wear it on your back. It's looking quite cool in movies, but it has definitely no advantage! The best way to wear a sword and to draw it as fast as possible is the simple traditional one by the side on the hip ... I hope my little remark was helpful - and it didn't refer to a mistake in the German translation of your book! Yours sincerely, Lutz

A

I don't remember that, but I'm sure you're right. In all the recent books Uhtred wears his sword at his hip, so I've no idea where the over the shoulder came in! Thanks!


Q

You are the most fabulous writer on planet earth! Just keep writing. I looked at your web page, because I am dying to get my hands on the book which will follow Lords of the North. Uthred, your ancestor, is my favorite character and I have read ALL of your books. I am eagerly waiting for more. I do agree with a previous correspondent who asked: Do you really have to sleep at night? Do your really have to stop to eat your Christmas dinner? We want MORE! Thank you for the hours and hours of pure joy we have gotten from reading your books. Martha Scott


Q

I have read almost all of your books - I am now saving them up so that I KNOW I have a good book to read! I have just begun to read 'The Pale Horseman' and noticed that you mentioned George MacDonald Frasier in the front. A friend of 33 years suggested I read some 'Flashman' stories, I am grateful to my buddy for the recommendation and I can't understand quite why, but get a strange warm fuzzy feeling that you should honor GMF by mentioning him in one of your own works. Please don't stop writing, neither I nor my 14 year old son, an avid Sharpe fan, will know what to read....except for Flashman, but he would not understand most of that humor, at least not yet....I hope, though you never know in schools today. Thank you for entertaining me !! Bill Bewlay


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Mr. Cornwell,(my fav Author) I have read all of your books except a few of the later, (after Trafalgar) books, but will get to them soon. I am right now enjoying Simon Scarrow's efforts while waiting for more of anything you care to write about. Keep writing, sailing and all of the things that make you happy!!! Edward Lancaster


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after reading your cautionary statement can I say your books are brilliant. I'm a former light infantry officer, I went special forces so I'm not considered light infantry anymore, but I still take great pride in my light infantry(rifleman) background. I am also Spanish so I'm not overly proud of Spains's policies then but... an different world then. Anyway great work and thanks. I just have to figure out which ones I've read then order the rest. I sort of got them out of order. In fact I got the adventure in Argentina one first, at the Baghdad international airport waiting to go home somebody handed it to me and said 'hey sir you like history try this'. Major Richard R Rodriguez


Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, I'm a fan of yours and i want to tell you that; i think you must start a series of novels approx. 6-7 books and it must be set at Harlequin's time and about chivalry & knighthood of that time like Thomas' story but much deep and complex with great warrior characters. I think that would be great. And you are ready for a great saga. I like very much your works thanx for all great novels already wrote :) Hakan Ezcan


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Bernard, You tricked me!!!! I thought the Saxon stories was going to be a trilogy like Grail Quest, but I'm glad we'll get to see Uhtred again!!! Thanks for the great reads!!! sincerely, Jake Kesterson