Bulletin Board

Q

I have just finished Lords of the North and have loved every minute of the trilogy. Some of the insults that are thrown around had me laughing out loud. "I shall have your skin tanned and made into a saddle so I can spend the rest of my life farting on you." Classic. I look forward to the fourth, but in the meantime I shall be moving onto the Grail Quest. I shall ever be grateful to the man in Greenwich market who sold me "Stonehenge" for a pound! Charles Miller


Q

Hello Mr Cornwell, I am not sure if you recall visiting a group of potential army officers at Worthy Down last year. I was present during our curry lunch and subsequent question time and enjoyed your visit. I am writing to inform you that we are now nearing the end of our commissioning course and graduate on 10 Aug; most of us are joining the regiment/corps of our choosing. I have been accepted by no less than the Rifles, I do not know if you keep up to date with the latest changes to the Infantry but the Rifles are an amalgamation of the Royal Green Jackets, Light Infantry, Devon and Dorsets and RGBW. As an ex-soldier and a newly accepted member of the Rifles I think I can claim the title of first ex-soldier in the Rifles (well, maybe Sharpe beats me!). I would again like to thank you as you were an inspiration to many of us and we all take an interest in your new books, many of us are addicted. I hope all is well in the future and look forward to your new book. Yours, David Freeman

A

Congratulations! I remember the visit to Worthy Down extremely well! And how impressed I was by the men and women we met on that course (my wife just thought the men were 'so cute'). It also struck me as a very good scheme, and thinking that the quality of you guys was very high! So I'm delighted for you, and hope you all graduated! And my best wishes for being the first up-from-the-ranks officer in the Rifles! Sharpe would be proud of you.


Q

Mr. Cornwell, I just wanted to thank you for the outstanding books you have written. About three years ago I picked up my first Bernard Cornwell book during a long lonely voyage across the Pacific, while serving as a US Naval Officer. From the moment I start reading one of your books it takes all my strength to put it down without finishing the story in one sitting. I am currently halfway through Lords of the North and I am once again spellbound by your writing. I have encouraged a few of my friends to read the Saxon stories and they have all said ¨outstanding¨. I have to admit I am a little saddened each time I finish one of your books, because I know I am that much closer to having read everything you have published. You are truly a master of your craft. Once again I thank you. Very respectfully, Jon Langley Bloomington, Indiana


Q

I just wanted to say thank you. I have been reading your books since I was around ten years old ( I know they are sometimes a little graphic for a ten year old). I can honestly say I haven't got round to reading them all as I am a Sharpe freak and am constantly re-reading them and Starbuck too. I look forward to every new book from you and my family and friends always know what to get me! Thank you for enriching my mind with these stories of long forgotten places and times. Yours sincerely, Mike Pearce


Q

Mr. Cornwell Your books have brought many hours of pleasurable reading; thank you. Will Rogers never met a man he didn't like; I have never read a Bernard Cornwell book I didn't like. I have a newly formed goal of acquiring all of the Sharpe novels. At least my children will have some idea of what to get me for Father's Day, birthdays, et al. Unfortunately, my wife will require that I divest myself of one old book for each new book that comes into our home. Perhaps I can replace some unused socks with books; we shall see. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing. Again,

Larry Harp


Q

Lords of the North--magnificent! I just read it, and I'm almost breathless. Please take no time to reply, just keep on writing! Please also store this away: I'm an ex-pat Yorkshireman living in Philadelphia, and if ever you pass through the city I would relish the opportunity to feed you a fine meal and, over a dram perhaps, talk about Cwm Isaf, where my cousin Carol lives in a small Elizabethan cottage, among mists, woods and wild grasses, and stories, and who first recommended your books to me. . . . Great work! May you write many books about Uhtred and his England. With best regards, Patrick


Q

I've just completed The Saxon Stories...I absolutely LOVED them and I'm eager to read the upcoming sequels...You don't need to write back. I just wanted you to know that your work is appreciated! Thanks. Rebecca


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Just picked up your book THE LAST KINGDOM. Could not put it down. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK OF YOURS I FIND. Lona


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I'm a fan, of course, and a kind of writer in my own right (poetry), though I'm utterly unknown and broadly unpublished. Have read all your books, so far as I am aware. My favorites would have to be the Arthur books. Derfel is a favorite character. I wanted to write and say I found your writing advice helpful (the essay on your website under www.bernardcornwell.net/chapters/writingadvice.htm). You know, you claim there that you're not writing high stakes literature but fiction, yet, in my opinion, the opening paragraph of the first book of the Arthur trilogy is nothing short of fine literature. The plot for the series is also very fine, and much of the subject matter is of great 'historical' import, including the conflict between Christian & pagan religions. Perhaps you only meant to tell the tale as best you could, but isn't that really what high-stakes fine literature is all about? At any rate, I also wanted to tell you, for the sake of courtesy if nothing else, that I put the link to your 'writing advice' on my blog. Actually, I put it up there almost a year ago, so my courtesy notice is a bit late. But you see, I was in the process of revising the blog's HTML tags and remembered it. I hope you don't mind. You are welcome to tell me whether I've read anything into your 'advice' that isn't there. I wouldn't want to misrepresent a favorite author! But I do wish to point other nascent writers to your 'advice,' because too many of them are likely to pay for those horrible writing workshops, rather than learn by reading and emulating successful authors. Good day, --Matt Barber

A

Thank you very much! I still shy away from the idea that I'm literary! I like being a story-teller . . . I guess the difference being that literature should contain some transcendental meaning of life. Don't think I try that! Unless it's to keep your powder dry.


Q

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you for realizing that Uthred's story could not be contained in a trilogy. I don't know when I've enjoyed a series more (probably The Grail Quest, or maybe the Arthur Books!). May you live 150 years and keep writing your magic 'till then! Gerry Curro Golden, Colorado