Bulletin Board

Bernard, I noticed an inquiry for similarly satifying reading for the World War II genre. I must agree that W.E.B. Griffin is a great choice. In fact, your books and Griffin's are my favorite fictions. I have read both of you over and over. Thank you for the wonderful writing. Phil

Mr. Cornwell, I've just finished my second go-round on the Sharpe books. I completed my first as you did in the 80's and 90's avidly waiting for each new one. When you began writing about the "India" years, I started again and followed Sharpe all the way to Waterloo. I even read a book on the battle just prior to reading your book to understand "Sharpe's role" better. I compliment you on a great series. Perhaps I'll only wait 10 years to read them again next time. Now then, since I have all this free time on my hands, why don't you finish the Starbuck Chronicles? I avidly await the next. Thank you for an entertaining and educational time. Glenn Ross

Since this was inspired by your Sharpe Books, I figured it only right to share it with you. I just finished Sharpe's Prey by the way, Thank you very much for the effort that you must put into these stories. For me at least it is worth it every dry history book you must wade through (better you then me I must say :-) ). Enjoy :-) James Fryer

Battalion

---------
As I sit upon the western shore
and see the tall ships sailing by,
I think that I will breath no more
and I look back on my life and think why?

With the east wind blowing through my hair
and the sounds of the docks nearby.
I know that in my heart so fair
that she has gone and I can't cry.

The call to arms I have received
to serve country, god and king.
I will leave behind no bereaved
when the ship does take its wing.

The eastern lands are amok with war,
and the dictator dominates all.
But this army will beat him back and more,
beat him back against the wall.

Our thin red line of men shall stand
four rounds a minute we shall serve.
By horse and steel and gun and hand
we shall give them what they deserve.

The scottish bagpipes sound.
The deep tight drums are struck.
The orders given, and we are bound
to stand still and die, don't run amok.

And die we do, and die damn well
for the enemy cannot move us.
"Talion raise arms" the sergeants yell.
Flint is locked, no need to fuss

"For King and Country!" is the cry,
the command of "Fire!" does follow.
The world disappears, we cannot see them die,
and I kneel to reload, feeling hollow

The world shrinks down,
to just me and my fellows.
I see that my red coat is torn and brown
and all around me, the cries, the bellows.

Onward they march, will this never end.
Four rounds a minute and my shoulder is raw.
But we stand and we hold, never to bend.
And the world can but rightly hold us in awe.

For we are the redcoats, the goddamns, the scum,
the pickpockets, murderers and thieves.
But we march like the rest to the beat of the drum,
and we will give them gladly what they must receive.

We will march o'er the hills and far away,
to fields of battle that we sow
With loaded muskets into the fray,
and onwards we will ever go.

Bernard - I enjoy your books immensly. I particularly appreciate the historic accuracy of SHARPE and STARBUCK series. I was somewhat disappointed in 'A Crowning Mercy' which gives a rather stereotypical depiction of Puritans. They were just evangelicals of the 17th century. Whilst it is to admitted that some of them were extreme, to just tar them all with the same brush of dourness and repression is a gross misrepresentation - which I (as an evangelical Christian of today) do not appreciate. They promoted the arts, education and commerce, and for the most part were good and simple people. (e.g. Guy - who founded Guys hospital, was a puritan). They were passionate about their religion and Bible when the papists were no less so about the pope and Roman Catholicism. I feel that that you have spoilt a good read for me by the historic inaccuracy and sweeping generalisations of this novel. However, as your boat in America is called 'Royalist', I can see where you are coming from! Incidentally, only a minority of Puritans had short cropped hair - mostly in the army. Disappointed of Erith in Kent - Peter Millist

How in the world have you kept A Crowning Mercy a secret for so long? I was shocked to see it displayed at the local supermarket book section... mainly because I had never heard of it and have read so many of your works I thought I knew about them all. Anyway, I purchased the book, of course. I was not prepared for the immense pleasure I garnered from it, however. It is truly a rich jewel among works of historical (and yes, even romantic!) fiction. I simply COULD NOT put it down! What a delight to find a story placed in a period of time rarely focused upon. You are truly a writer of extreme talent. Now... I am confused about Susannah Kells... the name is YOUR pseudonym, correct? So WHO is JUDY Cornwell, as mentioned on the back cover of the American edition? Again, thanks for your hours of enjoyment. I'd love to see another book set in this time period. Cynthia Coan

You sir are not just MY favorite author, but in my humble opinion, the very best living author. I hope you live a long, happy, productive life, and never, ever stop writing[except on vacation] so you can keep us all in reading material! Wilbur Hutson

My copy of "The Last Kingdom" showed up today (30 Sept.) in the mail from Amazon Canada. Unfortunately my wife says I can't read it for another three weeks when I go to Montreal on course. I am looking so forward to this as I am sure it is up to your usual excellent standards. Paul Morgan

I apologise if one of your readers has already brought this to everyone's attention but I've just discovered a great website about the subject of Sharpe's Tiger - the Seige of Seringapatam. Lots of information and pictures that add to the story told in your excellent book. See - www.nationalgalleries.org.uk. Philip Orbell

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have recently been made aware of your Sharpe series by a sailing friend, to whom I complained that there no more Foresters, Popes or O'Brien's to read. So now I am working my way through the series (eight down, 103 to go!) and enjoying them hugely. I ordered everything I could find, and several are still on their way from booksellers in the USA and Britain The dvds from the television series, which has not yet aired here, are also on their way from the States. It is the existence of videos and dvds which really prompted this letter (although I also want to thank you most warmly for creating Sharpe and his adventures for us, and teaching me more about the Napoleonic wars on land). You make a remark about the necessity of ensuring that videos are in the right format and dvds made for the right region. This is good advice, but there is a solution easier than restricting oneself to a single format or region. In Australia we stand culturally between Britain and the US (we have apartments and flats, lorries and trucks, lifts and elevators) so we tend to buy our videos, dvds and other items from both sides of the Atlantic. For this reason it is unusual for us to buy a video player which is not multi-format (usually PAL and NTSC although I have seen some which also play SECAM, the French format). Similarly, it makes sense to buy the region-free dvd players. Your warning, therefore, might be modified to include advice for those buying video or dvd players, or upgrading them, to consider looking for multi-format and region-free hardware. I apologise if I have been prolix. Sincerely, Kate

I would just like to take the opportunity to tell you how much I've enjoyed your books. Just finished reading Heretic--hope that is not the last we hear of Thomas of Hookton. If I have any complaint, it is that just when I think I read all the Sharpe's books, you release a new one. Now there are ones I've not read, but because jacket design changes, I forget which ones I've read. I suppose the only solution is to do what I did with Patrick O'brian's book...read them all in chronological order all over again. An enjoyable penance for forgetfulness. Ron Moore