Bulletin Board

Mr. Cornwell, I've just finished reading The Arthur Books and I have to say that it's been a long time since I don't read such a fascinating story. Now I'm about to read The Grail Quest, but unfortunately here in Brazil we have only the two first books. So if this other trilogy is as good as the first one, I will be very pleased to spend my money to continue reading these fascinating stories. Thank God for letting us have such a brilliant writer as you, and I wish Derfel could have a happier ending, anything is better than stay the rest of life with Sansum. God bless you and greetings from Brazil. Mauricio

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I thought it about time to add my praises to the bulletin board. Having stumbled upon one of the Starbuck Chronicles by chance in my local library some 6 or 7 years ago was the best thing that can happen to someone from a "reading-perspective"! However, my true interest lies in the Dark Ages, and especially the Viking Age. I await "The Last Kingdom" with great expectation, the first chapter is great and somewhat reminiscent of "The Warlord Chronicles" (with an older man looking back at the story, giving additional "meta-information" so to speak...very cleverly done). The Warlord Chronicles rank among my most favourite books ever, a place only shared with the ubiquitous Lord of the Rings! The depth of the story, the grim world, the humour and the intensity of the battles are unsurpassed...at least, before having read the Last Kingdom. Another advantage is that I learn a few new English words in every book (I`m Dutch). I also have a question: besides reading I also paint 28 millimeter miniatures as a hobby, especially Viking Miniatures (I`ve already reserved one to act as Uhtred). The funny thing is that these two hobbies are more interconnected than one would expect at first glance: you can recreate battles with those mini`s ("wargaming") and I have seen some photographs of a recreated battle of Mynedd Baddon, including Dervel`s wolftails with 4 and 5 pointed stars on their shields! Do you know that your books (especially the Warlord Chronicles) are quite famous with, and inspirational for, wargamers? Maarten Mulder

I wish to thank you for many hours of pleasure. I have all the Sharpe, Starbuck and Grail Quest series plus Stonehenge. I am 71 so please finish the Starbuck Chronicles. The Grahams

Dear Mr. Cornwell. Once again I am sleep deprived due to staying up late to finish Sharpe's Escape. But what exhilaration to see Sharpe and Harper in action after a 2-year layoff. Is it my imagination or does Sharpe seem more confident and jovial, quick with the repartee in the newer books. Your older books revealed a brooding, fatalistic. tortured soul. Now it's Sharpe Lite! Just an observation. I'm not complaining, because I'll take Sharpe in any form, and his adventures make for compelling reading. Anyway, I'm so sorry I couldn't go to the SAS convention this year. First time I've missed it! Will you be leading any more SAS tours? Wanda in Texas

bc, great reading, I'm on the my nineth Sharpe. love em. going to see if you're a must read in the school system here in Fl. Uli Baumann

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am savoring the last few chapters of Excalibur, very slowly because I don't want it to end! But I had to thank you from the depths of my Aurthurian Legend loving soul for these books. Your take on the legend, mixed so beautifully with as much historical background as can be found, rings so true. I only wish you could bring back Derfel for one more book. But I am being selfish. The work is complete as it is. So again, thankyou for such wonderful work. Micky Shirley

Sir; A close friend of mine gave me a copy of, "The Archer's Tale" (and "Master and Commander"), while I was recuperating from bypass surgery. Well, I loved it and went on to read the other two in the series. He told me that I would like both Cornwell and O'Brian, which turned out to be true, and after I finished off the O'Brian series, I began to attack the Sharpe series with the same gusto. But, I waited quite a while to start Sharpe, because (and this will sound extremely narrow minded and morbid) I was drained and depressed after reading the last book only to find out that it never resolved what happened to Aubry/Maturin, because Mr. O'Brian had died without finishing this classic series. I can't believe that as of 2004, you actually want the ending of Sharpe/Harper to be that they lived happily ever after. So, if I may be so bold, and narrow minded, as to ask if you would be so kind as to write the ending book (of course with out telling any of us) just in case something, God forbid, unforeseen happens to you before you actually intended to end the series. I find it truly enjoyable that you keep adding new Sharpe novels to this masterpiece series and I hope that new ones will be focusing on both Sharpe and Harper. Between O'Brian and you, this American has learned a hell of a lot about the British, from both on land and sea from the last quarter of the 18th Century until the first quarter of the 19th Century. Respectfully, Steve Ellis

Dear Bernard, As a follow up to the Salamanca visitor's centre-No it isn't on the battle field but is a small centre tastefully built in Arapiles Village. Best wishes, Neil Brownlee

Sir, The first time I read "Sharps Tiger" I absolutly fell in love with your books. As you might have guessed I am in the American Air Force stationed here in the UK. I guess because I am here and a soldier myself I have come to enjoy your books that much more. I really envy Sharpe....to be as brash as he is...but I would certainly be put into jail..again, I just want to thank you. Jaime Perez

Greetings from Slough in Berkshire. I would like to congratulate you on the excellent Grail Quest Series. I have read the first 2 books so far and cannot wait to get the last one. I have these books to be an absolute riveting read, better, dare I say, than the Warlord Chronicles which I also thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you for taking the time to read this. David.