Bulletin Board

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have read and enjoyed Sharpe's Trafalgar and was particularly interested in your comment in the post script that only one person was known of who had fought at Trafalgar and Waterloo. I thought the following might interest you. In the sixties I worked in London as a secretary and on one occasion, between jobs, I was sent as a 'temp' to the medal department at Spink, the antique dealers. One day a fairly elderly man came into our little office holding a pair of medals in a frame, one bar Trafalgar and one bar Waterloo, which had been awarded to his ancestor. He was very reluctant to sell them but he needed the money. A deal was struck and he went sadly away. I was upset too, particularly as they were promptly sold at an obviously necessary profit to a collector. I never knew the man's name and I cannot remember the exact year - perhaps 1961 or 65 or 69. But the medals are presumably still in the hands of a collector and may be known of or resurface at some stage. Perhaps you have already been told of them. Thank you for all your enormously enjoyable books. Yours sincerely Rosemary Gorton

I just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed your writings. I have the collections of the Grail series as well as most of the Sharpe series, and Gallow's Thief and the Archer's series. You are a wonderful story-teller, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I've purchased. I greatly anticipate any new Sharpe book, and hope to complete my collection- unfortunately, book stores here do not have a good selection, but I am still working on it!! Hope you have a blessed and peaceful holiday! Kathleen Paul

I've just been reading through the 'Your Questions' page. in answer to Geraint, there was indeed a Rifleman of the 5/60th who fought at both Albuera and Fuentes de Onoro. His name was David Lochstadt, and he was one of only two men who received fifteen clasps to the Military General Service Medal when it was finally issued in 1848. This was the maximum number of clasps awarded, and I am only surprised that he actually lived long enough to get his medal! An officer of the 60th, Brevet Major Galiffe, also fought at and survived both battles. I don't know if he ever got his MGSM, or how many clasps he got if he did get it....Keri Tolhurst

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just finished reading "Gallows Thief" this morning and I wanted to say that I found it an excellent book. In fact, I'd say it was one of the most enjoyable books of yours that I have read to date. I do hope that you plan to write more novels involving Captain Rider Sandman and his friends [and enemies come to think of it] as he is such a wonderful character that you could develop in so many ways. I begun reading your novels with your Arthurian trilogy and from there have gone on to begin to read the Sharpe books. I'm up to the end of "Sharpe's Gold" at the moment and I'm waiting for "Sharpe's Escape" to come out in paperback before reading on, so there are still plenty of your novels for me to look forward to reading. It has occurred to me that perhaps Sharpe will encounter Captain Sandman in a book that I have yet to read, but I have many miles of Sharpe yet to enjoy before I will know whether the two will meet. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my short message, and thanks for continuing to write such enjoyable novels. Regards, Stephen Avann

I just wanted to say that I have been reading your books now for about three years, I have read the Starbuck chronicles, the Grail Quest (and I was really pleased to learn from this site that there is a third book to read), Stoenhenge, Gallows Thief, and the Warlord Chronicles/Aurthur books. I have enjoyed reading your books - not much gets done around the house when I am reading one of your books, I am too engrossed in the stories!! I read the Warlord Chronicles first and thought they were fantastic, I wanted to read them as quickly as I could get hold of them, but when I had finished reading them, it felt strangely like I had lost friends. I have found other readers of your books, I never knew what my uncle read until he saw my copy of Stonehenge on the table, strange that I have known him all my life, but it took one of your books to really know him! I have a tendancy to ramble, so I will go now, but I wanted to say thank you for your fantstic books, they bring so much pleasure. With best wishes Ayshea Bygrave ps I working my way through the thrillers next, builing up to the Sharpe books, Thank you. Ayshea Bygrave (Mrs)

Hi, I sent you an email a few weeks ago asking about the order in which to read the Sharpe novels in. And i just wanted to write back to you and say that i am totally hooked, im getting through nearly 2 a week. I will have to stop soon as Im running out of money to pay for them. Ive nearly finished Sharpes Prey which i am enjoying so much! What i shall have to do is re-read Tiger, Triumph, Fortress and Trafalgar all again before the next pay packet comes in and i can buy Sharpes Rifles. But im not sure i can wait. I have even tried to get it out of the library but it seams that they are in high demand! And who can blame the people of my town for loving your books so much. I really liked Trafalgar, my Family has a keen interrest in Nelson as we are all from Portsmouth and the book brought it all to the present for me. It has triggered a interrest in the battle and the whole history behind and about the Napoleonic war! I can't wait to start reading all about it. I liked the way Sharpe's life was kind of running parallel with Nelson's with the love of Grace. And the hardship that both Sharpe and Emma had to face without their loved ones. I can't wait to read the next books in the series, thanks for writing them. Clare

Well from all accounts, this new Arthur film doesn't exactly make the grade. From what I've heard there is a distinct lack of emotion in it and only Keira Knightley's Guinevere makes it worthwhile watching. I find it difficult to understand how they made Arthur into a half Roman half Russian warlord in any event. It seems now, more than ever, that Hollywood has made a huge mistake in not using your material for Arthur. Point made, I hope you enjoy your holiday - well deserved! Rachel Malone

Hi Bernard With the release of Antoine Fuqua's film about King Arthur, I could not help but think your Arthur series would have made a far more interesting film or even TV series. And probably more accurate. Ashley Baldwin-Smith

Mr. Cornwell, My father and I are avid fans of your novels. We have read almost all of your novels, and loved them. I have a history degree, which explains my passion for your novels. I wish to be a writer, and your style has inspired me, although I am a big fan of fantasy, so I'm looking at historical fantasy right now. I just wanted to say that I am a scout leader in the Province of Quebec, and came back from summer camp with the kids. Every evening I told them some Sharpe stories (Havoc and Eagle), and the kids absolutely loved them. The fact that it is in Quebec is important. Being a bunch of French Canadians, we usually tend to favor the French MUCH more than the English (I don't count, I'm something of an anglophile). The kids still kept on asking me 'are you gonna continue Sharpes stories tonight?'. One kid even threatened a revolution if I stopped. I was going to tell the Arthur story at first, disguising myself as Derfel and using props. But during spring camp, the kids asked for a story, and I told them about Sharpe. That was it. Thank you for the work you do. Jean-François Gagné

hi b.c., just finished Sharpe's Sword and think its one of your best. the library says two weeks to get Sharpe's Enemy, so i'll buy it. have a great vacation !! uli

When your first book was released here in Brazil, I was in pure ectasy - Cadarn kicks ass. Have you ever thought about making a movie about Arthur General and Thomas the french killer? James Gerald Marko