Bulletin Board

Received "Sword Song" yesterday, finished it today. Unputdownable!!

David Eric Coote

Bernard, thank you for teaching me the value of literature as a boy. Your Sharpe books filled me with a sense of awe and the Saxon books are the best so far. I am very eager to know when the new one is coming out and if you are coming to Ireland in the near future so I could meet you in person. Thanks a million for your work. Phil

Hi Mr. Cornwell. In an August 27th posting, Dirk "Leo" Solterbeck asked about any novels dealing with Napoleon's Northern European campaigns. I can recommend the following: 1."Seven Men of Gascony" by R.E. Delderfield. This is a wonderful novel dealing with the adventures of seven friends who fight in the Grand Army from 1809-1815. 2."The Complete Brigadier Gerard." This is a collection of all 18 of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories of his French Hussar hero, Brigadier Etienne Gerard. I thoroughly enjoyed them. 3.French author Patrick Rambaud's Napoleonic trilogy. These books examine three incidents from Napoleon's life, seen through the eyes of various characters. "The Battle" deals with his first defeat at Aspern-Essling in 1809. "The Retreat" tells the story of the terrible retreat from Moscow in 1812. "Napoleon's Exile" deals with his year on Elba. 4.The "Bonaparte's Son's" series by Richard Howard. This series went six novels before it was canceled. It tells the story of a squad of French dragoons, and goes from the 1797 Italian campaign to the battle of Eylau in 1807. I am not that enthusiastic about these, I found them rather shallow, a pale imitation of Sharpe, but they may serve to pass the time. 5. And of course there is "War and Peace" of which I need say nothing more. All these titles are available from Amazon.co.uk or used book services such as abebooks.com or alibris.com. I hope this helps. Alan Kempner

Having finished all the Sharpe books, I have just started reading Arthur Bryant's The Great Duke - because my library has a copy and because it focuses on Wellington's military career. This book has things in it that Longford/Pakenham did not cover. For example, in 1794, ". . . Lieutenant-Colonel Wesley's 33rd regiment proved an exception and, by its discipline and its steady musketry, plugged a dangerous breach in the line and, when others were failing, firing company volleys in extended line beat off a strong attack by a French column." Quite a baptism of fire for young Dick Sharpe, I would think. Ed Hume

Hi Bernard. Just finished Sword Song and have to say it is a worthy addition to the Uhtred/Alfred series. Great characters and descriptions as ever and a damned good read. Thanks for hours of enjoyment Andrew Moore

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell. In an August 23rd posting, Frank Kramer asked about books on the Romans in Britain from the Briton point of view. He should read Manda Scott's 4-volume novel on the life of Boudica. They are tremendously stirring and show a deep level of research on life among the Celtic tribes. They are "Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle", "Boudica: Dreaming the Bull", Boudica: Dreaming the Hound", and Boudica: Dreaming the Serpent Spear." Alan Kempner

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I came across your website completely by accident; it must be prophetic, since your Arthurian series has been on my mind since I first read it many years ago. I was pleased to learn it was your favorite, and that your favorite character was Derfel. Reading your comments, I am glad you did not compress the beginning of that first book. I can never explain to others how, as a boy, the legends surrounding Arthur grew within me, just as I can't explain the resulting code it somehow instilled within me. Perhaps at heart it is just a sense of justice and the desire to defend it, but it seems more complex than that. Perhaps it's childish, but children do feel the smack of injustice much more keenly than adults, and of course, much of our childhood education seems bent on subverting the child's seemingly innate sense of honor and justice. I thoroughly enjoyed the contrast you drew between honor and religion: I previously could never put my finger on the conflict I felt between some of the seemingly dishonorable concepts urged by religious doctrines and my own sense of right and wrong. Isn't chivalry a much better model for conduct than that historically expressed by religion and politics? I can now proudly say that my own childish code of conduct remains fully intact. Though I can't explain it to others, and despite my everyday astonishment when people fail to possess it, it cheers me immensely cheered to see you express it so well in your stories. As a grown man, I work as a criminal defense attorney, and behind shield, beneath my cloak I defend the weak and innocent, and when I have to, I fight. Hard. You will never know how heartening it is to read as an adult those stories that I loved as a child, about great men, hard men, good or bad, but all unyielding, experienced enough to be afraid down to their very souls, but who stand nonetheless when they must. I was also surprised and charmed to see your section on writing, and to thank you for the encouragement that you give struggling writers. I will take your advice on the dissection of my favorite novels; despite the difficulties I have faced writing, better than anyone I know a great storyteller when I read him. Though I myself loved the Hornblower series as a boy, please take it as the ultimate compliment that I would prefer to model my own attempts on your work, which I dearly, dearly love. Cordially yours, David Suro

Dear Mr. Cornwell: I just completed Lords of the North, and I just wanted to thank you for another very enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to Sword Song. I was amused and gladdened by the prophecies regarding Uhtred's sons' and daughter's achievements, with the implied prediction that this will be a nice, long series. Like many, I was sorry to see the warlord series end, as it naturally did, with the death of Arthur, and am happy you are setting the groundwork for something more epic in length. Best wishes, Michael N.

Hi. I have read many of your books and think that they are excellent. I have been trying to find photos of Gawilghur Fort on the web, as have many others it would appear! Apart from your site there didn't at first appear to be any. You may be interested to know that there are in fact quite a few, but the search word to use is 'Gavilgarh' not 'Gawilghur'. The Maharashtra Tourism site is good. I hope this small piece of information is of interest to you and may help satisfy fans enquiring about such photos. Regards Simon Guy

Hi Bernard. Just thought I'd drop you a line to say that I'm about half way through Sword Song and it is (as expected) fantastic. Really enjoying the Uhtred series. Keep up the good work! Mike