Bulletin Board

Bernard, Thanks hugely for a real treat in Bath. I really enjoyed your talk. Worth every mile in the trip from Hampshire to hear you. Your insights into the research were very informative and I look forward to the next book and every one after that!. By the way, your comment about the death of Hakeswill was interesting, the idea that he might have a twin (or perhaps a brother?) who comes looking for revenge is a great one, and No it's not my idea, it's yours (for legal clarity). I have to say that you wrote the character to be so evil that I would have cheerfully murdered him myself so glad was I to see him go! Thanks too for signing my two books and booklet almost at the end of the signing. You are a very tolerant man,I didn't realise that some people had brought their entire library for signing! You commented on the booklet you signed. This is from the DVD collection - Sharpe, The Collectors Edition which I mentioned had been given to me for my 60th in October. Finally, I bought Mark Urbans book, The Fusiliers, following your comments on his ability, I hope you are on commission. You also remarked about the fact that the Roman period had been done very well already. If you haven't read him and can find the time, I would recommend the books of Simon Scarrow, an excellent read. Finally, I have been a fan since day one and have everything that you have written.....Long may you reign. Thanks, an inspiration.
Kevan Timms

hi there,first of all may I just wish you and your family a merry xmas and a great new year. I am a big fan off your writing and have just started to read the Starbuck books for the second time,please can you write more of these books as I would love to wrap up the story of young Nate. Keep up the good work and I hope to here from you. Thankyou. David Smith

You answered a question about new Starbuck episodes back in 2001 by saying that you really would like to do some more. That was over six years ago and eleven years since the last Starbuck. Any news on the Starbuck front?

Tom Quinn

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm two thirds of the way through SWORD SONG, and I wanted to write to tell you how very much I'm enjoying the experience of it! I'm a huge fan of your work (earlier favourites including the Arthur trilogy, STONEHENGE, and the Grail Quest series), and this current series is just as thoroughly engrossing and well-written and compelling as everything else of yours. The amount of research you must do is quite impressive as well! I'm a university English professor with a particular interest in early British history, myths and legends and fairy tales, and fantasy lit. I particularly love anything Norse or Celtic. As it happens, I've just finished teaching BEOWULF, and it was a happy coincidence of timing that I was reading SWORD SONG at the same time! Could not have been more perfect. Another thing: I happen to be pagan, so I especially enjoy the slant on early Christianity and how really repressive and damaging it was, in so many ways-- and how the old ways and spirituality made so much more sense. Seems a shame that two of your most compelling characters-- Derfel and Uhtred-- both wind up forced to profess a belief in Christianity that they do not truly hold. (Of course, Derfel's situation is far worse than I'm guessing Uhtred's will be, but still, with all the foreshadowing I'm seeing in SWORD SONG, it doesn't look like things end all that happily for Uhtred either. I'm expecting he'll lose his beloved Gisela in childbirth and then Alfred will force him, years hence perhaps, to marry the pious shrew of a Christian woman he keeps referring to as his present wife.) You've also got me pondering how Alfred's daughter will figure in things to come. I've been wondering since THE LORDS OF THE NORTH whether Uhtred will wind up marrying her years from now as well! One last thing-- I write, and I want to say that your work is truly an inspiration to me as a model of clean, crisp, incisive prose that is marvelously descriptive and tremendously powerful. I get the sense that you self-edit mercilessly! The results speak for themselves. Thank you for your wonderful books! Renee Tone

I have read your series of books on Sharpe, Starbuck, Arthur, Hookton and Uhtred. And I loved most of them. I also had read some of your shorter stories like "Redcoat" and "Scoundrel". Your best, to me, was in your Sharpe and Uhtred series. The story is easy to follow, the characters not too numerous to confuse me and there are MAPS to guide the reader along. I gave up reading "Redcoat" and "Scoundrel", and very nearly gave up reading "Heretic". The 2nd and 3rd books of the Grail series were good though. I personally felt that they were badly written, when compared against your Sharpe. Far too many characters coming into the plot at one time, and there was too much telling of facts, and not enough character development. Same for the first 200 pages of "Rebel" that I skipped. I jumped straight to the battle of Manassas, where you wrote true to your great form. The rest of your Starbuck books were great, and I didn't skip the 2nd - 4th book. BTW, I love your Sharpe series very much. I had read most of them at least 3 times, and will continue to re-read them. They have a very high re-read value, as compared to most other books I have read. I am in the midst of writing my own novel, and I am using the quality of your Sharpe and Uhtred novels as a benchmark of quality. I am not a full-time writer, just some guy holding down a regular day job, and writing is just a hobby of mine. Merry Christmas and God-bless, Bernard. Mark

Hello Mr. Cornwell I just wanted to let you know how much your books help me to get through some very difficult time in my life right now. I know I can escape with Uhtred or any of your other characters at the end of the day. I love history and make my living finding and selling rare books and prints and finding an author like yourself is such a treasure. Again keep up the great work , I will continue to travel down roads I've never been. warm regards Patricia Suttle

I've read all the Sharpe, Grail Quest, Arthur, Starbuck, and Saxon books. I can't wait for the next. Your stories help take me out of the stresses of my family and work and I just wanted to say, "Thank You."
Bill Folsom

dear Mr Cornwell. I am a sailor so i have a lot of time on my hands to read. I would just like to say that I have read nearly all of your books from the Sharpe stories to the Saxon stories, and out of all of them the ones I find most enjoyable are the Saxon stories. Don't get me wrong I enjoy reading all the books but for me the Saxon stories stand above the rest. I cannot comment on the grail quest because I am yet to read them, although i have purchased them. i am glad after reading the questions answered page on this website that there are to be more in the series as Uhtred is one of the most incredible characters I have read about. Thank you very much for so many enjoyable books and best wishes with more in the future. Kelvyn Vance

Dear Mr Cornwell, Just a quick note to wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas and New Year. Thank you for many hours of enjoyable reading. Tony

I've read most of your books and just finished Scoundrel and really enjoyed it, will there be a sequel. I think Scoundrel up there with Sharpe. Thank you, Jack

Dear Bernard: Just a quick note to wish one of my favorite authors a Merry Christmas Season! May you enjoy the blessings of a safe and joyous holiday in the company of family and friends! And thank you for the great gift of non-stop entertainment you bring your reading public with your most exciting novels! I anxiously await the next one indeed! With warmest regards, Jim M. Gau Hancock, MI USA