Bulletin Board

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. Whenever the subject of Obediah Hakeswill comes up, you express regret at having killed him off so early. Well, I say WHY NOT bring Hakeswill back for one last fling? This is how you could do it: You probably have at least one post-Enemy Sharpe novel yet to write, and that would be the siege of San Sebastian, between Honor and Regiment (I know this gets into consistency problems, but you can fix that later). As a subplot to this, Hakeswill claws his way out of his coffin after they buried him. Sharpe's bullet didn't kill him, but rather traversed around the inside of Obediah's skull and exited in the rear. Since there was a bullet hole in his head and a lot of blood, Sharpe thought he was dead. Hakeswill is brain-damaged, but very much alive. He really is the unkillable man! He would have lost the power of speech and most of his higher thinking functions, but would remember Sharpe and his desire to see him dead. He disguises his face under a broad-brimmed hat and joins the army as a camp follower, doing any odd jobs he can. All the time that Sharpe is adventuring around the siege, Hakeswill is lurking in the background, waiting for his chance to stick a knife in Sharpe. I know that this is far-fetched, but your loyal fans will forgive you for bringing him back once more. Alan Kempner P.S. When Sharpe kills him THIS time, he'll probably dismember him, cremate the body parts, and then scatter the ashes at sea!

Sir, At the University of Texas I was able to take a series of classes on the History of Warfare from Dr. John Lamphear. At one point I asked him if he knew of any works of fiction based on military history and to my dismay he told me he didn't know of any. Purists, eh? A friend of my professor told me of Fraser's work about Harry Flashman and I'm sure you know how wonderful that series is and I know we all wait feverishly for Sir Harry to fight in the American Civil War. It wasn't long afterwards that I saw Sharpe on the History Channel. I enjoyed them. I also read your civil war novels. At the time I considered them an amusing sideline to the Flashman series. However, I then came across Derfel Cadarn and his story of Arthur. I've bought about a dozen sets for friends and just finished reading the trilogy for the fourth time. I cannot gush enough about how much I love your take on Arthur. You put so much life into it that I am convinced that it is the original and only telling of the legend. I feel that it is a stroke of great fortune that I recently picked up the Saxon tales and lo and behold "Lords of the North" just came out right as I finished the second book!! I then consumed "Lords of the North" in one day, and went back and re-read all three again. I hope that you've found a nice groove with the Saxon Stories and that you plan to keep the story going. I know it's a lot to ask, but I certainly hope the wait is not too long for the next one, and the next. While I love the Arthur books, I am spellbound by Uhtred of Bebbanburg. You've given Alfred the Great a chance to leap from the pages with life and color, and I think he deserves his chance to be firmly listed as one of the great captains of history. We owe you a debt of gratitude for bringing him to us. You weave your stories so well that I feel as though I'm part of the saga being sung by bards. I was once a soldier, long ago. Your writing has given me a very solid vision of Valhalla to yearn for. I don't want clouds and harps, I want to fight amongst my brother warriors, die gloriously, and then drink and fornicate the night away and start all over again in the morning for eternity. Your writing gave that to me and I am forever grateful. I wish you a long life and a bottomless inkwell so you can bring other great men for us to read about. Respectfully, -James Peacock

Thoroughly enjoyed your latest, Sharpe's Fury, as I have with a,ll the earlier ones. But having visited the site of La Barrosa on several occasions, including the official opening of the memorial to the fallen on 5 March 2003, together with local members of my History Group here in Nerja, together with the Royal British Legion, I was disappointed to read in your comment that "there is very little to be seen...these days". Obviously your friend Jonny Watt did an excellent job surveying "the old city of Cadiz" one of my favourite places here in Andalucia, but did not do justice to the battle site, if he did not tell you of the memorial, contrasting the various European countries represented on both sides of the fray, with the new millenium in a now united and peaceful Europe. I hope you will be able to visit this yourself one of these days, and that you will be able to create more adventures where Sharpe and Harper can march again. Best wishes, Dorothy Price. Meanwhile I hope that you continue to enjoy the better health that enabled you to complete the latest book.

Finally!!! Lords of the North has arrived. I've re-read the first two books of the series to get warmed up for this one. I've only gotten to the part when Uthred returns by ship to Northumbria, so I've got a long way to go. Beth Harrison

Hello, I fell into the Sharpe novels through the BBC series on DVD (I now own the complete set including the new one based on Tiger altered to allow sergent Harper to come along). Once I'd watched the series and found out that they were based on novels I had to read them...and am extremely glad I did. I'm finishing the series now (reading them in order) with only Battle and the Christmas short stories to go. I have enjoyed the novels immensely and especially your historical notes at the end. The film adaptations would have been much better had they stayed closer to the novels, but they are very well done for a made for TV historical series and are enjoyable in and of themselves. Meanwhile, I am very glad to see that you are planning to continue the series. I was surprised to see that you live in Chatham, MA since you are an Englishman primarily writing historical novels about English subjects. Chatham is a wonderful town; I have a cousin living there and I was stationed at the Coast Guard Station there in 1980-83. Best of luck to you and please keep the Sharpe novels coming...although as another fan said - a Sweet William book (or a Harper book) would be interesting to see. Slainte. Jeff Burton

Dear Mr. Cornwell I just wanted to write to tell you how loved your books are around the world. I live in Canada and am an avid history fan. I just got a hundred percent on a histopry exam about Alfred the great and I owe it mostly to the Saxon series. If you feel like sending a reply go ahead, I am a huge Sharpes fan. Justin Wright

This is the first time that I have ever written an author even though I am an avid reader. I got hooked on The Arthur Books and am now devouring the Sharpe Books. I find that when I begin reading Sharpes adventures I am transported into his world. Cliche but true. Being a retired soldier and interested in Military / UK History your books are perfect for me. This missive is a Thank You for many hours of pleasurable reading. I hope you keep writing forever. Paul Bennett Brampton,Ontario Canada

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I just finished "Lords of the North," which I found to be very enjoyable and up to your usual high standards. I have read the entire Sharpe, Starbuck, Warlord, Grail and Saxon series, as well as most of your individual novels, and have derived unmeasurable pleasure from each of them. I was therefore delighted to see that Uhtred will carry Serpentbreath in future novels as well. I look forward to them with relish. Best regards, Glenn Trost, Altadena, California

Bernard: I have just read Gallows Thief and thoroughy enjoyed it, partly because the characters were so convincing but also because it was good to read a novel set in the period immediately after Waterloo. I also liked the idea of a special Investigator. So, could I add my plea to that of others for some more books about Rider Sandman. Eric Walsby

Mr. Cornwell, I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed your books, especially the latest I've read, The Last Kingdom. As a professional freelance copy editor, I am very selective about my recreational reading and this was an excellent choice. I sincerely hope that the NY Public Library e-books division will purchase the rest of the series, as that is my only source of reading materials at this time. I have requested that they do so, since--with a spine injury--I find it much easier to read on a laptop than by holding a book. Thanks again for many good reads. Sara Schwager, CNY Editorial Inc