Bulletin Board

Mr Cornwell, I've been reading your Sharpe books now for about a year now and am now finally up to Sword. Every time I start a new Sharpe book I desperately hope to meet a character named Scott. In a lifetime of reading I have never read the name Scott in a novel. Could you tell me if in any of the Sharpe books there is anybody named Scott. My friend and fellow Sharpe follower also named Scott would also like to know this. Also I'd just like to take the time to say "thankyou". Without Sharpe my life would be a lot duller. You are by far the best author in the world, and I feel even that is an understatement. So thanks and bear the name Scott in mind. >From your devoted fan, Scott.

Re the Civil War tactics of standing in line formations. Both sides started out doing this. Both sides initially were armed with muskets as well as the new Minie Ball rifle. The term itself is misleading as the minie ball is a hollow base conical head bullet, similar to today's bullets. Its base rested on the powder in the barrel. When the powder ignited, the exploding gas expanded the sides of the hollow base driving them into the rifling. This extended the range from 60 yards to 350 yards. The extended range increased the number of rounds which could be fired from the time of engagement until the opposing line was upon the firing line, from at most two to at least 6 if not 8 rounds. What is more important, is that once a walking man was inside 80 yards he was virtually certain to be hit. However this technological improvement was only invented 6 years before Fort Sumter. The officers and NCOs of both sides had no idea that the new rifles would dramatically increase the lethality of firearms. Prior to the Minie Ball, the bayonet was still the principle battlefield weapon. No more. There were relatively few stand up battles prior to the Wilderness Campaign. Most batlles lasted a single day. Prior to the Wilderness few men would have actually been in combat more than 5 or 6 times. This wasn't enough experience to cause a wholesale change in tactics. The wholesale change started during the Wilderness as this was a prolonged period of combat, really lasting 10 weeks until Grant crossed the James river. During one of these battles, Spotsylvania Courthouse and the Bloody Angle, Union troops forsook the the standing line. They charged as skirmishers under close artillery support. This was really the start of modern battlefield tactics. Don Conrad

This is in response to post left on August 19th by the Christian gentleman named Robert, wondering if he should read your books. I am a devout Christian and I absolutely LOVE your work. The Arthur Triology and Sharpe are my favorites. I would strongly encourage Robert to give them a try. Nothing in them should cause a person of faith any great distress. In fact, I recommended the Arthur books to the preacher at my home church and he devoured all three and thought they were fantastic. To answer his question, Christians are not depicted as solely evil in your books. Colonel McAndless, one of my favorites from Sharpe's Tiger and Triumph immediately comes to mind. So I encourage you Robert to give them a try. If you have conflicting feelings about purchasing a book you might not agree with, you can always check them out from your local library. Jonathan

Hi, I'm from Portugal and a big admirer of your books. Especially the Arthur books and all related to that era. The way you write just puts me in the middle of the story. When I'm reading Arthur tales, I'm completely outside of this world. I'd like to salute you, because the way you give us Arthur novels, without all the fantasy and romance, that other authors, all over the years, insisted to present us, it's perfect and in my opinion, much close to the reality of that times. I was 'picking' on your website and I've noticed that a new novel was coming soon, 'The Last Kingdom'. I've read the first chapter and I can not wait until I have the whole book within my hands. Even though I'm raised and born Portuguese, I have the preference and in my point of view, a privilege, of reading some authors in their mother language. And you are one of them. I also noticed that the novel is coming to UK in next October. Do you know if the HarperCollins edition is available in Portugal at the same time or later? Usually, I look for the books at FNAC stores, because they receive the HarperCollins publishing. In conclusion and make you lose no more time, I wish you my best regards and thousands of books more. Carlos Mira

Dear Bernard, I've recently been on holiday for two weeks and because I've run out of new 'Cornwell' to read I thought I'd try O'Brien and Axexander Kent. Although I sort of enjoyed both they didn't come anyhere near your standard in my opionion. What do you think of these authors (I know you respect O'Brien because of comments on these pages). Regards Ed P.S. On the front of 'Post Captain' it has a quote from the 'Times' that states Mr O'Brien is ' The greatest historical novelist of all times'. I think not!!! The critic/reviewer who wrote this has obviously not read your works. Ed Harvey

Hello Mr Cornwell. This is a little message to say thank you very much for all your lovely books- from reading the Arthur trilogy (which I read in reverse order as my dad didn't realise Excalibur was part of anything let alone the last part and I always steal his books) I have been a big fan and I thought it about time I said thank you for allowing me to indulge in my joint first loves of history and good stories! Also thank you for your website which is very good, especially the reading club; I've got some good reads out of that! It is very distracting, however, but not too much to stop me from doing my A levels (three whole A grades- yay!). As I'm off to posh university in Durham I'm being forced to sacrifice my own computer for money which is highly annoying; so this is my thank you as I will not be logging on nearly so much as I do now, but of course I will still be reading. Thank you once more! Best wishes Becky

Just following on from Ben Fortune's suggestion of Nicole Kidman as Guinevere - how about Cate Blanchett? For my money an even finer actress. But wait - 2 Aussies suggested - can anyone think of any Brits to play her?! Also, how about Orlando Bloom as Lancelot?! As you may guess, I'm a bit of a fan of the Trilogy: it is simply the finest telling of Arthur's story that there is. I'm now looking forward to the Last Kingdom! Adam

I would just like to tell you how much I've enjoyed all your books over the years, from cover to cover each one has been a pleasure to read, I started on good old Sharpey but in the end have read them all, you are a truly talented writer and I just wanted to say thanx............thanx. David Phelan

Hello, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your Arthur trilogy books. I first read them about 6 years ago and just think they're fabulous, thank you so much for so many hours of sheer joy. Having recently watched the frankly appalling King Arthur film, which fell short of being either a historically accurate account of Arthur or a good cinematic experience, I spent the majority of the time comparing it to the Winter King etc and lamenting the fact that a film can get it so badly wrong. Thank heavens I can go back to Derfel and Co to cleanse!! Many thanks, Rhian Derfel and Co

Dear Sir- I enjoy your books immensely. I do not expect a reply or for you to print this. I have been reading "The Bloody Ground" & have noticed a trend in some of your books as time goes by. I guess my question or comment is this....You must have some first hand knowlegde of AA. I have been a happy member for 6.5 yrs & some of the comments that Potter makes in the book are classic. The one where he is telling his wife he will never go on a bender until the next time. I had to share that with my fellows & they got a big kick out of it. So if you are a member i got the joke. If you are not, thanks for the laugh. Christine