Bulletin Board

BERNARD I do not care how good your new books are or how good they are going to be. Stop writing them and finish what you started. The STARBUCK CHRONICLES. What sort of storyteller will not finish his stories. Trevor Chandler

I have read most of Sharpe's early books and enjoyed them but after the Starbuck series I was left wanting more. My hope is somewhere this might be in your future works along with more of Redcoat. Thank you Gerald Kane

Hello, my name is Abel and I live near Lisbon and I'm one of your Portuguese fans for almost 18 years. I've read all of the Sharpe Books, with great pleasure, specially those concerning the Peninsular War. The Grail Quest was also very entertaining reading. Just want to thank you for so many hours of good reading and travel into time. Yours truly, Abel Borja

I must say I'm sorry to see that you have put any future Thomas of Hookton projects on hold. (At least I hope they are only on hold). This series has been by far my favorite, although I have liked the Richard Sharpe (and several other) novels as well. Ryan

hello! really, really love your books. Have just read The Warlord Chronicles which I think is my favourite so far and I think, although it would be very extensive, it would make an excellent film?! Natalie Ward

I thought when I first read about Sharpe many years ago and that you made him a rifleman you must have been paying tribute to Forester. Glad to have it confirmed in Escape (one of your best, by the way). When I first read Rifleman Dodd and The Gun in high school it got me hooked on historical fiction and the Napoleonic Era in particular. Currently, I think Richard Sharpe's only serious rival for best fiction hero is Midnight Louie. I also like Thomas of Hookton very much. I only wish the horses did not get hurt so much (I know that is unrealistic of me). John Schwirtz

Dear Bernard, Whilst having a look through the site I noticed your opinions on the movies 'Braveheart' and 'The Patriot', I agree completely with your opinions about Braveheart. It was an utter sham; I have not seen the Patriot (after reading the reviews I decided I wouldn't dignify it by going to see it, I also think Mel Gibson must have something against the English). The problem is that a large part of the audience will have taken Braveheart at face value, despite the fact that it was historical nonsense. There have been occasions where you have altered events slightly so Sharpe can be in the thick of it, now this is Ok because in essence the novels are historically accurate, its just detail that gets changed; e.g. Sharpe's division may make an attack at a certain place when it was actually the light division, the attack did, however, take place, and in much the way described (and you always own up to the facts in the historical note). But Braveheart wants to rewrite history completely and seems to have partially succeeded; a statue supposedly of William Wallace was put up in the car park of the national William Wallace Monument. It isn't a statue of William Wallace at all; it's of Mel bloody Gibson! I would suggest that this was simply a cynical attempt to cash in on the success of the film, and I would lay goods odds that plenty of Scots find it embarrassing (well it is, isnt it? It's an absolute mockery of the real man). And then we get the enigma machine captured by an American submarine, presumably King Arthur was American and Horatio Nelson came from a little town just outside Boston. I really do object to our history being so abused and misrepresented, but what is historical accuracy next to the rapacious greed of Hollywood? Richard Griffiths

re "Old Trousers" query. Old Trousers (Seann Triubhas) was a Highland Dance. Its movements express abhorence of the Act of Proscription which banned the wearing of kilts etc. How this came to be connected to the Pas de Charge, I don't know. Info from www.celticnationsworld.com/ Ron Fox

Hello, I have read every book you have ever published (to the best of my knowledge) and thoroughly enjoyed them all, the thrillers are regularly returned to. A return to the Starbuck series would be appreciated but one man can only do so much I suppose. I look forward to your next book, Many thanks for the years of pleasure and to many more to come, Tim McGee Devonport Tasmania Australia

I have recently picked up a copy of your book The Archers Tale. I am in shock at how good the book is. Thank you for writing these books it is great. I have just graduated from high school and think it is great that I can now have a series of books to read because it is usually hard for me to find good books. Christian Jennings

I am a 14-year-old high school student and I chose one of your books from The Starbucks Chronicles, Rebel, for an English project and I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed it. I really haven't read many other published Civil War novels but after reading this one I assure you that I am going to read any other Civil War books that you have written. I really enjoyed how you made the situations life like and full of excitement, like when you first introduce Nathaniel Starbuck and he almost gets tarred and feathered. I also enjoyed how you made the content easy to follow and understand. Another great thing about this book is that the battle scenes are great. They have so much action and adventure in them that it just wants to make you read on and on. Once again I would just like to tell you that this book is awesome and I am definitely going to read the rest of the series. Thanks for writing a Great War novel that teens can read and understand. Lance Bubak