Bulletin Board

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I realize you probably get inundated with hundreds of emails a day and more than likely don't have time to read them all, let alone answer them. so I'll try and make this short. I just wanted to say thankyou for introducing me into the world of literature. I'm 25, a sales manager for a hydroponic centre in Staffordshire, England, and up until I found an old copy of Sharpe's Company on my father's bookshelf, had absolutley no interest whatsoever in sitting down and reading a book. Being both bored and curious, I decided to open the book I'd found and see if I could kill some time.....it's now 12 months later and I've worked my way through your entire series (currently engrossed in the first half of Sharpe's Fury which I was given for Christmas). Since reading your books I've found myself hunting down other titles I've heard mentioned and quoted, I've started collecting first editions (Ulysses, Brave New World and Nineteen Eightyfour amongst many, many others), I've found myself making time and excuses just so as I can reopen a book I have started, just so I can reenter a world I didn't even know existed until I first found a book that you'd written called Sharpe's Company). Your work has both educated and inspired me more than words can convey. So once again, thankyou. Simon

Dear Mr Cornwell, This is such a great website. Thank you for being so welcoming and having time put aside for your many fans. I have been a reader of your stories for many years. For some reason I was unable to get into the Sharpe series until recently. I now can't put them down. I think it is my need to read in chronological order that has hindered me. I love history and historical fiction and appreciate the history notes at the end of your stories. I am a Primary school teacher in Australia and try to enstill into my students the importance of stories and history. Thank you for doing what you love so well and sharing it with us. Being in a highly litigious career I understand what you have written on your website and appreciate your friendly honesty. I taught in the UK for 18 months and this just reinforced my love for history. The English preserve their history well. Thank you once again. Stephen Josey

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am thoroughly enjoying your Richard Sharpe books on tape and CD. I listen to them in the car and they turn an uninteresting 45 minute drive into an enjoyable ride. I just finished listening to "Sharpe's Fury" and enjoyed the new reader and the tribute to Patrick Tull. I have listened to his readings of Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey series and Ellis Peters stories of Brother Cadfeal. I have enjoyed them all. When the reading for your next book is taped would you please ask that the reader include your "Historical Note" to the end of the reading. I have found these "Notes" most interesting, placing your story in its historical context and they have lead me to read further and this facinating historical period. Thanks for the great stories. I am looking forward to the next adventures of Mr. Sharpe and Sgt. Harper. Sincerely, Arthur Woodford

Mr. Cromwell, I was reading over your question qnd answer section. The person inquired if the Sharpe Series should be read in order. I had the opportunity to do just that. It really helps when you mention an item that was in a previous book. Thanks again, John Eaton

Hello, I'm sure you get fan mail such as this all the time, but I wanted to express to you my overwhelming adoration for your work, to pass on the good vibrations. I have only read the Arthur books, the first two Dane/Saxon books, and Stonehenge. I have not yet had the chance to pick up the other series but when it comes to "What should I read next?" they are always my first consideration. I am myself a student of History and Medieval Studies in university so you can see the initial attraction to your books. I think it is most important, but often neglected by other historical fiction authors, to indicate where the author has deviated from known facts and where he or she has stuck to them. You do this beautifully. An author of fiction is not expected to strictly follow what historians have put forth, but I think it is a mark of professionalism, and of a real enthusiasm for the material that you do take the time to show your readers that you have done the leg work. I also appreciate the detail with which you embellish the stories, from clothing to weapons and armour, from architecture to landscape, from language to literate and/or oral culture. It makes the story an enriched learning experience aswell as an escape. I have studied to a fair extent the dynamics between orality and literacy in the Middle Ages in England specifically, both Anglo-Saxon and around the twelfth century so I tend to be sensitive to any references made to this. Your descriptions in the Dane/Saxon books (which I've recently finished) of reactions to written communication and of song composition were spot on and thrilled my academic sensibilities. I also am consitently amazed and thrilled by the dynamics between pagan and Christian traditions which are central to the Arthur and Dane/Saxon books. I get the sense that neither triumphs over the other, but there is perhaps a sympathy for the pagan outlook, which I think is clever and diplomatic. This is another area of academic interest for me. I think it creates excellent subplots and added colour to the main story. I especially appreciate how the Arthur books are not "girly" (this is how I begin many of my descriptions of the books to other people). There is a sense of magic but it is not magic. There is a sense of miracles, but they are not miracles, and the reader is always unsure whose gods performed them. There is no superfluous romance. You are not shy about describing the grisly. I feel that your work is down to earth and realistic, but still offers a sense of the exotic. The past after all is like a foreign country. I know that my father who has read all the Sharpe, Starbuck, Grail, Arthur, Dane/Saxon books yet published as well as Stonehenge feels the same. He would have even more praise regarding the military historical aspects of your writing, but I am not so well versed in that area. Anyway, thank you very much for giving birth to such wonderful and stimulating pieces of literature. I wish you continued success. Sincerely Alanna Ranger

Dear Mr Cornwell I write with the single purpose of stating my sincere thanks for your unselfish employment of a quite unique professional gift; your skilful provision of joy through the escapism from the daily grind into a world of historic literary adventure is remarkable. Unfortunately though (for you) I am unable to curtail my praise for your work in one simple paragraph! Aged eighteen I obtained an A level in English Literature (achieved sadly, without the turning of a single page), it took me a further ten years before I was converted to the pleasure of reading a book. I do not entirely blame my dislike of reading upon my teachers, although they did much to confirm my scepticism as to the purpose of a book being anything more than a source of reference. Dyslexia and the video tape were the other major factors in the demise of my literary studies. The dyslexia simply drove me towards the easier method of absorption and Jonathan Millers fantastic direction consequently allowed me to commit enough visual Shakespearean evidence to memory in order to obtain an examination pass. Were your texts to have been part of the syllabus things may have been very different although I fear the Sharpe TV series would also have undoubtedly tempted me to question the necessity for reading. Why and when one should discover reading for pleasure remains an enigma to me. What I do know is that the difference between a schools compulsory text and the pages which one discovers have the power to unlock the endless imaginary capacity of the reader, is a demarcation teachers fail to teach and compulsory syllabi, by their nature, simply ignore. Sadly for me the History syllabus was also changed in the early 80s with the educational emphasis shifting to post 1945. I realized at that time that my interest lay more towards the Greek mythology (rather than the Pathe News) end of the historic spectrum! You are the third author I have found since starting reading for pleasure and the only historic novelist. I have developed the habit of total authorship consumption in that upon finding an author I like, I read all of their work before moving to another. Although this is very good news for the author concerned (both fiscally as well as appreciatively) it is also worrying as I maybe displaying early signs of OCD, a concern that is supported by my annoyance at finding HarperCollinss error in their 'also by' list in the front of every paperback, (placing Ss Eagle before Ss Havoc) the only benefit being the happy and timeless re-incarnation of Gataker when you follow their chronological order. I found Sharpes Tiger at Heathrow airport in August, waiting to board a plane for India where I ride a Royal Enfield motorcycle once or twice a year in order to cleanse my artificial world of investment banking. Little did I know that your novel would introduce me to a history so relevant and so vivid. Arthur Wellesley is a relative on my mothers side and the region around Mysore one I know well. Your India trilogy has been a fascinating education for me having only been previously aware of Wellingtons achievements in Europe where am now with Ss Escape. Despite the sad embarkation of Ss Trafalgar, a novel I regard as one of your finest I have so far had the pleasure to read. I now ride through Kerala and Tamil Nadu with an added perspective, it is not hard to imagine McCandlas scouting the same tracks as much of the countryside and way of life has changed very little in the last two centuries. In March I will visit Seringapatam for the first time and shall try to find the site of Wellingtons first and only defeat! I hope this longwinded appreciation successfully achieves my aim to explain my thanks for your recent impact on my life. You have opened doors in my imagination and filled precious gaps in my historical knowledge. Moreover you have re-enforced my belief that the finest Storytellers are some of the most valuable members of the human race. Kind regards and best wishes for a healthy and peaceful 2007 Jeremy Adam

Dear Sir, I want to thank you for the hours of adventure that your Richard Sharpe books have brought me. I saw 15 minutes of Sharpes Justice on BBC America on my way out one night, and from just those few minutes i was hooked. I now have all the books and all the video series. I just received Sharpe's Skirmish and Christmas today. I have read Regency books for many years and the hero always was a veteran of the Peninsular War. I finally have a very clear picture of what that war was. I have always heard of Wellington being a great general but never had read any books on his life. I have now started reading his books guided by your own bibliographies. My son is also an avid reader and is now finishing Sharpe's Rifles. Thanks again Nada Lovett

Hello! I'm a long time fan. Have been waiting (albeit somewhat impatiently) for the Lords of the North to come out. Just wanted to tell you that I honestly believe you are one of the best authors I've ever had the pleasure to read. I'm a college instructor (literature, composition, creative writing, etc) and I read a great deal. I particularly love the Arthur books, Gallows thief, Stonehenge, The Archer, and this latest series. I've read a book or two in the Sharpe series, but have trouble finding them! Anyway, just wanted to bestow my compliments for the work that you do. It is greatly admired and much appreciated. Jonathon Wild

I agree with many posters that I would like to read of Derfel's passing, but the series as it is has a nice completeness - as well as mystery. Sometimes it may be better to speculate. I'd have to say that Derfel is one of my favorite characters, probably because of his situation, and the many details left unsaid about exactly how he wound up there and what happened to him. Personally, I believe he had the last laugh. In other books, I particularly enjoyed bumping into Rifleman Dodd. C.S. Forester's great book has always been a favorite. For a while I wasn't sure he was the same guy, but sure enough, so he is. Cape Cod could be the setting for any number of great novels in a number of historical settings. Another Revolutionary War novel in and around the Cape would be very nice. Thanks for some great reads. Steve Sease

Just wanted to thank you for all the good hours I have spent with Sharpe and all of your other books. Bruce Cranstoun