Bulletin Board

Q

I just read where you have thought about sending Starbuck West and I got really, really excited. Consider the battle of Franklin, November 30, 1864 or the Battle of Nashville about 2 weeks after. James Lee McDonough's "Five Tragic Hours" is an excellent source. Also Stanley Horn's "The Decisive Battle of Nashville" or Wiley Sword's "The Confederacy's Last Hurrah" formerly titled "Embrace an Angry Wind" or Shelby Foote's 3 volume series on the Civil War. Since you will need to come and visit for your research, stay in Nashville and enjoy our Southern Hospitality. You won't find friendlier people anywhere on the planet. Take a side trip to Lynchburg and visit the Jack Daniel's distillery, and be sure to eat at Miss Mary Bobos. Jonathan

A

I've been to Nashville and agree wholeheartedly with you!


Q

Hi Bernard, I have thanked you once before for the Warlord Chronicles and I would love to thank you again as I have just reread them and my interest for the Celtic culture, Arthur Legends and the Dark Ages has been ignited again! When I first read the Warlord Chronicles I bought a lot of Celtic history books and Arthur myths and I've only just picked one of them up due to rereading your series. I'm reading Mysteries of Celtic Britain by Lewis Spencer. Which is very interesting, I'm on the 2nd Chapter at the moment and at some points it can be a hard read for me but the information and the theories on where the Celtic religion comes from is fascinating. He believes that it comes from the same origins as the Egyptian religion, and that it all originates from West Africa. Also it's very interesting to read his take on the fall of the Druids and how many of them pretended to be Christian! Mainly on the Island of Iona and that many of the Christian myths from the early period of the British Christians are based in celtic religion. The day I started reading this book an article appeared in my local paper the Portsmouth News, it was about a local historian called Gordon Brooks who is from Gosport. He believes that Camelot was on the Cams Estate which is located at the north end of Portsmouth Harbour. His evidence for this is that for one thing the area is called Cams which is a celtic word for the bend in a river which occurs around the estate as the River Wallington joins Portsmouth Harbour. Also the River Wallington and the Village Wallington is located just north of the Cams Estate. Wallington apparently means village of the Britons. His other evidence is that Hampshire is the perfect location for Arthur to Have his castle as it is on the border of the British held land and the Saxon held land. Also apparently there is a story of one of his Knights Geraint who was in control of Arthur's fleet and apparently this was at Portchester castle which is at the north of Portsmouth harbour. It was attacked by a rival British and Saxon force and Geraint was killed but Arthur survived. He beleives Camelot or a residence must have been near by for Arthur to retreat to. He also states that Camlann was probably really close by and the fleet in Portsmouth Harbour was able to take him away maybe to Brittany like you said in your books. I realise that many places say they are the home of Arthur's Camelot but it just reminded me of the Sea Palace! Maybe this is a real contender to the home of Camelot! It does seam strange that it still holds the name Cams! I just thought it was an interesting piece in the paper and it has spurred me on to research more of the Celtic world and the myths and legends surrounding Arthur. Are there any books you could recommend about the Arthur legends and the Celtic Culture. Thanx again, Clare

A

I'm not sure the existence of the syllable 'cam' means a thing! The name 'Camelot' was invented in the 12th century by Chretien de Troyes (in Brittany) and his inspiration seems to have been the Roman name for Colchester - Camulodunum. My preferred candidate is South Cadbury, and there happens to be a village very close called Queen Camel and another called West Camel, so there are the magic syllables again! But I doubt they're significant. Camel here doesn't refer to four footed beasts, but was probably the Saxon name of a person (at least that's what the Cambridge Dictionary of English Place Names says. The Oxford one says something else so you pays your money and takes your choice.) The best source for Celtic stuff (but get it from the library because it's horrifyingly expensive) is The Celtic World edited by Miranda Green.


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a huge fan of yours and my mother would also like to thankyou for the ability you had in convincing me that picking up a book was actually a good idea! I especially adore the Sharpe and Grail series, and I was just wondering whether after the new Alfred series which I await with particular interest, that you are going to concentrate more on filling out other series such as those of Thomas of Hookton and wrapping up the superb Sharpe series. Thankyou for the repeated pleasure your books have brought me. Many Thanks for your time. Andrew Wallace, England.

A

I am working on a follow-up to The Last Kingdom now - and then? It's a possiblity Sharpe may march again.


Q

Please forget about Sharpe although I am sure the books are very good. But Mr Cornwell you are sitting on a gold mine with the Athur books and the Grail quest, how I would love to see the passion and determination of staying alive in a shield wall brought to the screen would be fantastic. You could bring our English heritage to the screen with strong characters and a fully believable story. Thank you for the books. Gary Ramsden


Q

Hi Bernard, I'm a huge fan of your books, and I was reading your FAQ archive when I came accross you saying that titles are getting harder to come by. I know you probably don't want suggestions for titles, but my wife came up with one that I think is so good I just can't keep it to myself. How about Sharpe's Glory? Promise I won't sue for royalties. Neil

A

Thanks for the suggestion (I've actually considered that one in the past).


Q

Having never submitted to anything like this before, I am not sure what to say, but having been transfixed by the Arthur books some years ago, you have excelled yourself yet again with The Grail Quest. I have just finished Heretic having waited most twitchily for its release since being hooked by Harlequin, then the ignoring the whole world whilst reading Vagabond.Thank you for transporting us back to a much simpler, more brutal and most fascinating period.Sharpe eat your heart out, Thomas of Hookton has no equal, he will be missed. Best Regards Simon Green, Sussex,UK


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I will be brief as always. I want to thank you for the excellent Sharpe series. Last summer I read every Sharpe book on my lenghty train commute. It was a difficult time for me and your books were a very welcome and needed form of entertainment. So welcome in fact that I have named my newborn son Harper Schroppe. I was wondering if any other reader has been so bold or perhaps foolish. Thanks for the books and really you have no idea how much enjoyment I got from them. Regards, Scott V. Schroppe

A

Congratulations on the birth of your son! Best wishes to little Harper.


Q

Mr. Cornwell -- I begain with the Warlord Trilogy and quickly moved on to all the rest. I have read, and loved, all of the Sharpe novels --which I read in (Sharpe) chronological order. I've enjoyed reading both the questions and your replies on your website, and (after reading all the controversial and conflicting fan comments about the Sharpe TV movies) I belatedly and reluctantly rented Sharpe's Rifles. I have to say both I and my wife loved it. I frankly don't understand or agree with all the negative quibbling over that production. Of course, the film is not literally faithful to the book of the same name, nor to the chronology you developed for Sharpe. But it is extremely faithful to the feel, and the spirit, and to the story lines of the Sharpe novels. I was determined to take the film on its own merits, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was sort of an "alternate universe" Sharpe (to borrow a phrase from my SF friends), but one that is very true to Richard Sharpe and the world your created for him. And I agree with you, Sean Bean is a wonderful Sharpe. I plan to add the other Sharpe movies to my Netflix queue. Thanks for creating these great characters and stories for us. Jack Clemons


Q

I just finished "Sharp's Escape". As always a great read. The most welcome line is the last line of the Historical Note, "Sharpe and Harper will ride again." This requires no answer but it is a great day when I see a new Bernard Cornwell on the shelf. George Wilkins


Q

Just a note to say how much my husband and I are enjoying your books - all of them. I'm so glad there are many so we have much to continue with. My husband is a prolific reader and I'm not sure how he'd not read your books sooner, but now we're enjoying them together. Here's to your continued success. Josh and Mary Miner