Bulletin Board

huge fan! have read almost all your books. Would help if paperbacks are 4X6 - much easier to handle when travelling or reading at the pool or in bed. Saxon novels seem to be all 5X8 and the Warlord Chronicles all 6X9 - very inconvenient. I won't stop reading, but smaller books are better. Morgan Rees

I've read many of your books and enjoy the personifications - "I know this person!". I was pleasantly surprised when your character drove his boat thru (sinking) his daughters (while she was trying to kill him), and laughed aloud to your comment "Should have done that a long time ago" - after Arthur slapped Gweniviere. Nothing earth shattering to say. I pass your books around and recommend them highly. As my wife said "Yes!". Best, Jon

Hi there. I read you're three books on Uthred and I'm anxious to read next sequel. What I want to know is if you maybe have a picture of you which is in the public domain (which means it's not copyrighted) or if you could make some. The Wikipedia article on you (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Cornwell) would be much better with an image, so I simply ask for one ;). Regards from Hamburg, Germany, John.

I would like to thank you for your works. You have provided me with Hours of entertainment. I have added you to the Authors who have become fixtures in my collection, ie.. Alister McClain, Frank Hubbard, WEB Griffin,Jrr Tolkin, and Dashial Hammit. Your works are "The Stuff Dreams are Made Of." Thank you and Keep up the Good Work, Rick Turner

Hi I am enjoying making my way through your books (slowly) and would like make a few suggestions to further avenues for you to write in.. The Norman invasion and subsequent resistance. The roman invasion. The battle of Segmore (pitchfork rebellion bridgwater somerset) The wars of the roses. You could write a Sharpe spin off in the American war. I know that it is a bit cheeky but you don't ask you don't get. Paul

Dear Bernard I have never written a fan letter before, but here goes. I'm 42 years old and have stuggled to read books of any sort since leaving school, every year I make a new years resaloution to try and read a book. i have just finished your Warlord Chronicles which I have really enjoyed, I found all of them very gripping from start to finish. I start work at 7.15am and was getting up early to read before leaving for work and reading last thing before going to bed, the lack of sleep was worth it. I'm now total hooked on reading I had your grail quest series for Christmas which is waiting for me, and i'm just starting the The last kingdom, I hope that you can write faster than I read what ever will I do when I've read them all. Thank you very much for opening a whole new world of reading to me. keep the books coming. Thanks agian Jim

Wow, Lords of the North was your best Alfred book yet, and finally Kjartan got what he deserved.
Andy

Dear Bernard. I am one of the mostly shy person. Excuse me my english, but I used to be a student a long time ago. I am a psychologist, 26, and I live in a very small town called Cuiabá, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brasil. (far like Gawilghur for you, I think .... laugh). I just like to thank you for your books, I have just read twelve of them, specially the books of the grail quest and the sharpe´s, of course. I have to admit that it´s very easy to read, because I don´t have to read with my eyes but with my soul. I have found a lot of examples of psychological types, emotions, loves, pains and great reflexions. Congratulations. From the distant Brasil, a enormous shake of hands and (I think you are so tired of this ....)please, keep it in mind, your books and your ideas made me want to be a soldier under the Derfel´s orders, or a archer helping Thomas or even a british soldier, not just for the glory, but the redemption ..... the growing .... the courage and fear ..... the passion for the life well-lived. Congrats. Leonardy Negrini

Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for The Saxon Stories. I finished "The Last Kingdom" and have just started "The Pale Horseman". Reading this series has been nothing short of excitement and pure enjoyment. All I can say is that I can't wait to begin reading your other series once I finish the Saxon Stories. If I ever have the pleasure of making your acquaintence on the Cape (I live outside of Boston), I hope you'll allow me to buy you a few pints. Chris Foley

Re the questions and comments about the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. Recently the History Channel went on location in the Crimea to further investigate the battle. Their findings were dramatic. Some facts are well-known: The British generals on top of the valley walls could see the far end of the valley as a Y formation. The nearer left-hand leg contained British guns under pressure from some Russian infantry. The farther right leg was a much large valley whose sides contained many Russians and at the far end contained the Russian artillery. Lord Raglan, commanding, sent the notorious Capt Nolan down into the valley to order the Light Brigade to go to the left-hand leg and relieve the pressure on the British Artillery. Nolan passed the order to Lord Cardigan, as just basically charge the artillery. Here is the important new information found by the investigators. All the cavalry brigades the Light and the two Heavy brigades were on-line in back of a rise which masked the far end of the valley. Neither leg of the Y could be seen. Nolan didn't explain they were to move to support the British guns. He simply said to charge the artillery. He then did his famous and not-understood act of charging in front of the Light Brigade as it advanced. Getting a few hundred yards ahead of the Brigade he suddenly turned back and tried to stop the Charge. At which point he was inconvienently killed by the Russians. Apparently when he cleared the rise he realized that the leftleg, containing their objective (the British artillery) couldn't be seen due to the geography of the valley. He also must have realized that the only artillery which could be seen was the Russian artillery at the far end of the right leg. Not being totally stupid he must have realized that the Light Brigade was going to charge the Russians as soon as they cleared the rise because the Russians were the only troops which could be seen. That's why he tried to stop the charge. He realized the unintended slaughter that was getting ready to occur. The Army teaches that the terrain is usually the secret to winning battles. This charge reinforces that thought. Thanks, Don Conrad