Is now Sir Bernard 0r Mr. Cornwell (NdP?): Anyways. First; thanks for the many wonderful reads. I've read them all -- less Stonehenge and the thrillers. Sharpie is the ultimate womanizing man-killing scallywag hero of all fiction. I'd hate to be one of his women. Cuz, I'd know something really awful was going to happen to me. I've grown to feel like I know the man. Keep'm coming. Small criticism *** Sorry; but often when reading some of the battle scenes -- well -- it's kinda like you've downloaded'm from the last book. My brother and I have joked about it! Saves time huh? Sharpe's Siege was my favorite battle book in the series. What was yours? I do believe the best written scene in the Sharpe Series is from Waterloo. Where Sharpe is out scouting in the skeins of morning fog along the frontier with France; and he's surprised and chased by the dragoons; and he gets his first kill. The Arthur books were as usual a great read, while at the same time different and a good twist on the greatest story ever told... Mary Stuart's Crystal Cave will always remain my favorite though. (My favorite series of all time. I've read at least 6 times over the years)... Thought the interestingly put together "Skystone Series" went adrift and seemed to be ghost-written towards the end. T.H. White's, The Sword and the Stone could replace the bible. "ALL THINGS NOT FORBIDDEN ARE PROHIBITED". I was so glad when you took on the story of Arther. The Archers Tale (Haha, I'm American) was a super series.. The White Company and Sir Nigel with sex, murder and more killings and better battle scenes. The Heretic was fantastic (perhaps, your best book). The Starbuck Chronicles... I never thought you would/could finish it. First; because, Sharpe and Harper will always march again. Secondly; the Civil War takes so much out you. Harold Colye's fine books Look Away and Until the End(surprisingly similar to your story in many ways -- not as good or vast in scope as yours) are hard to read to the end. About everyone is destroyed by the war through wounds, sickness or death. It gets to you. Which is what really happened to the South. It bleed to death. The Bloody Ground was your best battle book IMO. A griping depiction of that bloody day at Sharpsburg(A lovely American village). Though, I hope someday you will fire it up again and complete it. Good luck. The Rebel(my first read of your stuff), it's to bad you couldn't have done a series on the Revolutionary War. I do think, you should do a Robin Hood series. You've a least got time for that. The Last Kingdom Series. Again great stuff! My favorite series. In Uhtred, you've perfected the true killing machine hero. He's not flawed with Sharpie's hardscrabble weaknesses that come of the poor man's lesser breeding. Uhtred kills cuz, it's his right to kill anyone or all who stand in his way -- and he enjoys it. Your depiction of Alfred is super. Loved the scene where we meet him at his devotions in the royal tent. What a sicko! And his wife! What a shrew! I get the impression, she must be modeled after a neighbor or great aunt from your childhood. (You really didn't like that woman -- did you!) Anyways again. You are at the top of all my authors read. And the one, I always check the forthcoming books lists for. You past London and Steinbeck light-years ago. Thanks for all the wonderful hours of pleasurable reading you've given to me. Your friend, Thomas Moore
PS: Must admit, I'm no longer a paying customer. I'm a free library man now and forever more. List of some fine historical fiction authors.. (Haven't finished the nice list provided -- Already have picked up some new reads off the little bit I looked at) Shellabarger: (Getting hard to find now as Libraries are forced to destroy lesser lent books -- sad, but true!) The Prince of Foxes (one of the All Time best reads) and Captains of Castile Sabatini, Rafeal: (Like above getting hard to find) Captain Blood, The Sword of Islam, The Sea Hawk and many many more. Cecilia Holland: A wonderful author - The Sea Beggers, The FireDrake (a great book), The Earl, Jerusalem, Kings in Winter and many many more Saw it up .. Pressfield, Robert: The Gates of Fire (great book -- maybe, the best historical fiction book of all time), The Tides of War (the Peloponnesian War and Athens).. Clavell: Shogun (deserves reading.. Though a bit mushy) Wouk's: The Winds of War and War and Remembrance (getting forgotten -- while mushy . They are a worthy look into the development during WWII of the American empire through fiction). Berger: Little Big Man (was rereading it this summer and people had never heard of it). Westheimer: Lighter Than A Feather (The Invasion of the home islands of Japan in WWII that never took place) Turtledove: Fort Pillow (new -- USA Civil War - excellent) Crane: Red Badge of Courage (still a great book) Sinclair: The Horse Soldiers (Again Civil War) Shaara, Father and Son: Gods and Generals, The Killer Angels, The Last Full Measure series (Civil War) The Road to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause (American Revolution) Gone For Soldiers (Mexican War).. Could go on forever... Later...