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
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 Cornwell, I'm a fan, of course, and a kind of writer in my own right (poetry), though I'm utterly unknown and broadly unpublished.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
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.
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
Dear Mr Cornwell, I have just started reading your Sharpe novels, beginning with Sharpe's Tiger. I hadn't read novels for several years until I read a number of George Fraser MacDonald's Flashman novels. These novels pointed to yours, bringing the early imperial era alive. Though I enjoy the obvious authenticity of your historical novels, I was a little troubled by the arbitrary sentence of 2000 lashes passed on him for assaulting his Sergeant, particularly as it was pronounced so casually by a single officer without any advice or discussion. I researched and found that regimental court martials were made up of 3-5 officers, or on occasion a Sergeant, corporal and three privates, according to GA Steppler, English Historical Review, October, 1987. The average of the judges' proposed numbers of lashes was then pronounced as the sentence, part of which was often remitted. Sentences for striking an NCO averaged 244.4 lashes in the 44th Regiment of Foot, while on average, 187.1 were inflicted. The most severe sentence I have discovered was 1500 lashes, inflicted on a Revolutionary soldier in the American War of Independence. It also seemed fanciful that Sharpe was able to walk all through the night immediately after receiving his punishment, and then unhorse two Mysorean horsemen, admirable as they were for their military bearing. Yet one reason flagellation was not more frequent was that those who so suffered were incapacitated for several weeks, if not maimed for life. While Sharpe actually received a number of lashes close to the average, the sentence and the way it was reached seemed to be for dramatic effect and to inspire outrage at British military injustice, rather than being based on historical veracity. I am sorry to quibble, but I expect many of your loyal readers are as annoyingly fussy. Yours sincerely, Greg Deane
Officially, in 1807, the maximum number of lashes was set at 1500 (a reduction!), but diaries and letters record that more savage sentences were still being handed out. Larpent, Wellington's Adjutant-General, complained about sentences of 2000 lashes . . . . so I'll stick with what I wrote, with the due acknowledgement that Sharpe survives better than most men would.
Mr. Cornwell, In May, 2006, a law partner of mine gave me "The Last Kingdom" to read. Because of my love of history he thought I would enjoy it. He had just started "The Pale Horseman." Naturally I fell in love with your books from the beginning! I finished volume 2 before he did! Since then, much to my wife's dismay, I have finished 41 of your books! I just finished "Sharpe's Devil." I am happy Sharpe and Harper live happily ever after. Thomas of Hookton is my favorite character and have re-read that trilogy twice. Thank you for many, many hours of fantastic reading!! Patrick
Have recently read Fury and now just got hold of Havoc & Escape; all excellent, made especially pertinent as I'm presently living in Porto but normally live in Jerez de la Frontera Be advised though that gunpowder is a low explosive which burns rapidly causing an expansion of hot gases and increased pressure. If this pressure is confined - in an frangible shell, the confined pressure will cause an explosion. Detonations are the result of a high explosive being detonated by a detonating wave: this is not burning but a complete molecular breakdown of a substance at speeds of up to 8000 metre per second. It is therefore incorrect to use the term detonations when describing the noise and effect of pre-high explosive shells and munitions as used in the Peninsular War. Thanks for giving me so much enjoyment from your Sharpe books. Harry Weeks, Lt Col (Rtd) Ammunition Technical Officer RAOC and RLC: 1966 to 2002
Wow, I think I stand corrected. So thank you! I would gently point out that the word precedes high-explosives! It was first used (to describe the explosion of gunpowder) in the early eighteenth century. So I think it is fair to use it in the Sharpe books, but I confess I did not know how the usage changed subsequently - and for that knowledge, and for your kind comments, thank you.
Hi Bernard. I read Harlequin a few years ago and for some reason never got round to finishing the tale of Thomas of Hookton. However, I came across the audio book as read by Sean Barrett and had to get it to listen to on my way to work. Superb. Now I have finished Thomas' story with the other two audio books read by the same narrator and I was not disappointed. Why am I writing? Simply to recommend these audio versions to your other readers. Listening to the stories gives another dimension to reading. I have listened to and read many of your novels and get a different slant on the characters and situations in both forms. My ideas of how they sound are always different to the narrators. However, I must have the unabridged versions, I recommend the Edmund Dehn versions of the Arthur novels, the Sean Barrett versions of the Grail Quest novels and the William Gaminara versions of the Sharpe novels, others... I'll let you know when I've heard them. Keep up the good work and may your pencil always be sharp! Andrew.
I've read some of your books and I love them, your choice of word, scene, in fact everything. I pray to write like you one day. from Nigeria am saying well done sir. Darlington Uzoigwe
I wanted to take a moment to write and tell you how very much I am enjoying the Sharpe series. Several years ago I read the Arthur series, then moved on to the Starbuck Chronicles. A month ago I became joyfully immersed in Richard Sharpe's adventures. You've created a character so believable and so 'real' feeling, the kind of character little girls would like as a father and young women desire as a husband and men admire as hero. I appreciate your creativity and your writing style. Thank you. Beth Crouch
I just wanted to drop a line to say that your warlord chronicles of Arthur and Derfel are the best books I have ever read. Never have I been (before or since) as engrossed in the lives of 2 characters as Arthur and Derfel nor have I been as upset when I finished reading the 3rd of the trio as I knew there would be no more to follow. Thank you for a fantastic read. Stuart Hall