Bulletin Board

Finished "Lords of the North" last night at about half three in the morning. Was absolutely awesome but you are solely to blame for the fact that I am now completely exhausted for the eight hours of work that started at nine this morning! Mike Gates

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Id just like to, once more (I did it sometime ago, but I firmly believe you do deserve it to be renewed every now and then), express my gratitude for the endless hours of sheer satisfaction and joy your writing has brought me. On a more specific note, I would like to say that I utterly disagree with someone who recently criticized the first person style of writing. I, for one, think you use it beautifully and it is, undoubtedly, one of the reasons I take a particular fancy to some of your books. The Warlord Trilogy is a mesmerizing feat and one of the best things ever written. And I cannot really dissociate that from the captivating way it is written and the way we see the world through Derfels eyes. Mind you, I do think your whole work is wonderful, but Derfel will always have a special place in my heart. I do know that it sounds a bit frivolous, but I often find myself more inclined to become interested in works written it the first person. They are more intimate and an quite often more beautiful and stylish. You can, thus, guess my excitement when I first glanced through The Last Kingdom (I am currently navigating through The Pale Horseman). It is enthralling and yes beautifully written. I suspect Ill invariably love your writing in whatever style it may be produced, but please dont be discouraged to do so in the first person. I, for one, would be devastated. Best Regards, Carlos Miguel da Silva Portugal

Dear sir I would like to thank you for the hours of reading pleasure your books have given me. Thanks to your Sharpe-series I regained my lost interest in historical subjects again. I will continue to (re)read your books. Sincerely Marielle de Vries Groningen The Netherlands

Hi Bernard, it was lovely to see you at the 'Sharpe' 10th birthday bash in London. I read all the books without seeing any of the TV versions so Sharpe to me will always be the tall blackhaired, badly scarred cockney and not Sean Bean. The books are wonderful. I have read them all through for a second time and am lending them to my boss, who, like your wife, skips the battle scenes, for me they are superbly written and extremely exciting. I can't wait until October when Sharpe and Harper march again. Love Sue.

I listen to most of your books on tape while driving down the wilds of Georgia Avenue in Washington, DC. Currently I'm up to Sharp's Eagle. I just finished Sharp's Havoc presented by Recorded Books. I have a bit of advice. If you still contract with them, please request a reader other than Patrick Tull. His delivery is like that of a BAD Shakespearian actor. Otherwise, I have enjoyed your books very much (the Grail series put me right into the middle ages). Thank you. Diana Buell

Bernard I walked into my local ASDA store this morning and casually glanced the book isle to be greeted by 'The Lords of the North' the third in the Saxon Stories. I had not anticipated this final? instalment until nearer Christmas (although I now see it was due out June?). I was delighted and placed it straight into my shopping basket, and will start reading it tonight. Now see another Sharpe novel to follow shortly, I'll note my calendar for it's release. What a great year, two more of your novels and a new Sharpe film; had hoped we would see Sharpe's Devil which would allow Sean Bean to play his role without needing to change history, however thought Sharpe's Challenge was plausibly adapted and TV and Film can always get away with such. May I thank you for giving me such a tremendous interest in historical novels, since I started reading yours I have expanded to other authors and non fictional (some from your recommendation). I am particularly interested now in the American Civil War and as with your hero Starbuck have found my support shifting to the South, having realised it was much more than the slavery issue involved. So I add my plea to many before me for further instalments in the Starbuck series - I really look forward to your views on the battle of Gettysburgh. Many thanks, Richard

Got all your books, brilliant is the only word to describe them hope many more to come thanks. Fred W. Sykes

Hi Mr C I have read nearly all your books, but being a history junkie, Sharpe and the Saxon Stories are favorite. The T.V films are good but to a true fan like myself, why do they spoil a fantastic story by trying to ram about three books together it really spoils it. Please keep Sharpe & Harper marching Best Wishes Andrew

You recently guided Alex MacPherson of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada to a used book site Abebooks.com for a copy of a book. another site more regularly used in Canada is www.alibris.com. an excellent site and I don't own shares in it. Very much looking forward to your next two books as shown on your site. Please keep up the excellent work for many years to come. Paul Morgan

Dear Mr. Cornwell, This is just to say how much I've enjoyed The Pale Horseman. Unfortunately I've been hospitalised for many weeks but I've been attempting to trace my ancestry and by many routes have found that it goes back to a Dane,Mault who founded Maltby in Yorkshire, in 865a.d. Brought up on Alfred Duggan's good novels I had sort of felt that the Anglo-Saxons were 'goodies' and the Danes 'baddies'.Indeed that was my main reason for starting a heptarchy penny collection. Now that I read Uhtred's story I can sympathise, but it also leads to mixed feelings about this period now: I shall be reading runes next! What a brilliant character creation! congratulations and thanks! Yours sincerely. Dr. Michael Maltby Gilmore. BA,BSc,BVetMed,MRCVS