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Dear Mr Cornwell Having enjoyed your novels immensely over the years, I tuned my desktop to Radio 4 this morning to hear your programme on Desert Island Discs. As expected, I enjoyed it immensely however I was unprepared for my own reactions upon hearing of your childhood experiences. I experienced a similar upbringing at the hand of religious fundamentalists, a miserable situation from which I escaped by joining the forces. I am afraid that many years on, this jaded old media manager and yacht skipper burst into tears, amazing how hearing somebody else speak of their experiences can affect one so much. When I look at my own happy family sailing off the cost of our South Essex home, I can indeed understand what should be, though I doubt that I will ever understand the creed of intolerance and injustice that pervades the minds of those who profess piety. So Mr Cornwell, long may you continue to entertain us with your excellent novels, and good luck.

Just listened to last half of Desert Island discs. Very good. I think you said that childhood can be a distorting influence. You're right. An uplifting programme. Nigel Chaloner

Dear Mr Cornwell, Congratulations on an entertaining Desert Island Discs. Your eclectic choice of music was interesting; as were you. I don't mean to sound patronising but I'm struck by your openness and honesty. Keep the books rolling, please. When is the next Sharpe book, after 'Escape'. They don't become less interesting to we readers. Best wishes. Tony Pontin

Mr Cornwell I felt that I had to past comment as your books are the best there are! I have my entire adult life been reading your books (35 now!) Including the famous Sharpe. I have found them all a formidable read. I was wondering have you read Allan Mallison books on Mathew Hervey of the Light Dragons. And what if any, are your comments regarding his particular skill at the continuity in his books? Once again Hats off to you sir!!! Bill Wright

UNABASHED FAN MAIL! Just finished Sharpe's Escape--wonderfully enjoyable! And the best line from the book? p.357, "Sharpe and Harper will march again." Keep it up! How about an early Sharpe, leading up to his "enlistment" and his first months or years as a redcoat? And can you suggest "they" publish a second "Music of Sharpe" for us to buy? Best Wishes, Jesse C. Giles, MD

Enjoyed you on Dsrt Islnd Discs--interested to see you once lived in N.Ireland--do you ever get back this way? --you would notice a change--I have Cornwalls ( I presume same name ) in my own family tree--in C18th Co Tyrone--Dr. Gabriel Cornwall and his sister Margaret married to McReynolds.--Good luck to you--Alister McReynolds.

Dear Bernard, My name is Samuel Rocca. My appreciation came from Jerusalem, in Israel, quite far! I'm a passionate of both Napoleonic wars and of the British Army. The latter interests me for personal reasons. My cousin, who served during WWII in the Royal Engineers in North Africa and in Italy always showed me the photographs he took during the war. Reading on the Napoleonic Wars, mainly the India and Peninsular Campaigns is my main hobby! My first book was of course Hornblower, but that was many years ago. From then I spend my free time reading memories from the period, both British and French, no matter if it's Cavalie Mercer or Marbot! Well your Sharpe read so real, like to open "memoires" from one of the Napoleonic Wars veterans! My love history with Sharpe began many years ago. I began to read my first Sharpe in 1992, when I began my military service. Well, it was the ideal books! Never a dull moment (reading Sharpe of course, not in my military service!). From then till now I always strived with success to get the last Sharpe novel. No matter how. The end justifies the means...Now I'm reading with much pleasure Sharpe's Escape. I visited more than once the battlefield of Waterloo, as my wife is of Belgian origin. Well, with the exception of good beer there are not much others things to do over there, than to visit battlefields. I must say that I do not just like Sharpe, I adore it! As a person that spent three years in the army, and every year has to do a month of reserve, you painted Sharpe not just realistically, but as the quintessence of the perfect field officer. Well, also Harper is the perfect Sergent! I would not mind to see Sharpe fighting also in Southern Italy with Stuart, at Maida (I visited the battleside), or at Buenos Aires with Beredsford. I'm happy that in 1814, your much decorated veteran of the Peninsula, was not sent to North America... Thank you very much for the good time Mr. Sharpe gives me. Your Obedient Servant Samuel Rocca, Esq.

I dearly loved all the Richard Bolitho Series, But Sharpe is so damn real I feel like I know the bloke personally. Thank you for so much pleasure in reading your so thoroughly researched books. Excellent stuff, and I will never be able to get enough of it. BTW, They did a pretty good job with the TV adaptation. I had to import all the tapes from Blackstar in England, and it was well worth the effort. Thanks heaps, and keep them coming if you can.. Regards...........Barrie.

Dear Mr Cornwell, Having only recently been made aware that the opportunity was available to write to you, I'm afraid I have rather a lot to say. I can only apologise in advance for the lenght of this e-mail - I've only waited 19 years to say some of these things. When I was 11, I was introduced by my mother, who was a very well-read lady, to several series of books; Science fiction from Isaac Asimov, Hornblower, Ramage by Dudley Pope, and Sharpe. AT this point, I feel I must confess that I am an Army brat. My father's family going back three generations have all served in the Army, and I now serve in the Territorial Army when I'm not an IT Manager. This background, coupled with the superb stories I was being introduced to, led me to become an extremely avid reader, who is not afraid to re-visit books time and time again. Interestingly, as a side note, I'm sure I read, either on your website or the Sharpe Appreciation Society, that you were originally intending to write a land-based contemporary of Hornblower. I can see why, and my comments would be that the superlatives and honorifics directed at that Naval adventurer over the years can surely also apply to your own works. (I would just like to point out that I have read all your novels, but I am always drawn back to Sharpe's adventures) Now. The TV Series. Oh Dear. I'm sorry, but I was SO disappointed. What have they done? I really don't want to go on about this so I won't. I think the problem I had was that I'd read the books so often i'd established a very strong visualisation my self of the characters, which were in now ay reflected on screen. such a shame. Is there any possibility of a feature-film version of Sharpe? This, I think, could allow the full scale of the written action to be seen more effectively. OK, having admitted to being a possibly overzealous bookworm, and I suspect, rather rudely trampling over someone else's work, I would finally liek to say; Thank you so much for creating Richard Sharpe, and letting us in on his adventures along the way. Once I pick up a "Sharpe's ????" - I cannot put it down again until it's finished, even if I've read it dozens of times already. I'm now on my third copy of "Eagle" and second copy of "Regiment" - they are (so far) my favourites. Once again, thank you. I'm already looking forward to "Escape" which I've been told has been bought for me as a present, so I cannot go out and buy my own copy. Best regards, Gareth Compton England

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have just finished reading 'Sharpe's Escape', and am up to 'Sharpe's Sword' in the series. I love every one of them. I was wondering if there would be any more books after 'Devil' and if there are going to be any films or TV shows of the books in India and Trafalgar. Chris.