Bulletin Board

Hello Mr Cornwell. Allow me to begin by saying how much I enjoy your books, particularly the Sharpe series. I teach history at the Royal Military College of Canada and also conduct War of 1812 battlefield tours; I make use of excerpts from your stories describing battles for conveying what smoothbore era warfare was like. Indeed, these passages sometimes bring a tear or two to my students eyes. My main reason for writing is to bring your attention to a new biography of Lt Col Thomas Pearson, written by Donald E. Graves. Pearson wass commissioned in 1796 and fought in the West Indies, Europe and the Peninsula. At Albuera, Pearson was a senior major in the 23rd Foot and by then end, he was the only senior officer left in his brigade and as a result, in command. Pearson was later wounded at at Aldea de Ponte and sent to Canada for a "quiet" posting, only to find himself in another war; he participated in many of the major actions in 1813 and 1814. Anyway, if I read the end of Sharpe's fury correctly, our hero finds himself back in Portugal in 1811 and happens to find his way to Albuera, Pearson - who was a soldier's soldier - might be a wonderful character to include in the story. Find more about the book from the publisher at www.rbstudiobooks.com. Thank-you again and I look forward to Sharpe's next adventure. John

Dear Mr Cornwell, Firstly let me thank you for the signing of my photograph From Thomas of Hookton,in Southampton's Waterstones, ref War bow Archers of England,I forgot to tell you that I was actually on the Battle field of Azingcourt,in a full re;enactment,and most of the archers have been Thomas at one time or another(little boys).When I ask of a possible follow on to the Quest series you said there could be (no pressure but please) If you every had the time have a look at www.englishwarbow.com and will see the tradition still carries to this day.I know it sounds cheeky (as I am )if you do look sign the guest book the lads would love it. THANKYOU again. Martin C.H.R.

Mr Cornwell: First of all let me say that All your books that I have read are extremely fun, interesting, compelling, action-packed, and very hard to put down. Thank you for that. As a former history teacher I appreciate the excellent research and the honesty in any anachronisms. I've introduced your works to a couple friends, and I hope they will be as hooked as I am. Your writing is so vivid that I have often wished that more of your novels could be made into big Hollywood movies. (Particularly the Arthur Books or the Saxon stories) Do you have any plans for this? Thank you Brian Mosbey

Dear Mr. Cornwell, First, let me tell you how much I love your work! It was a rather fortuitous accident that I came across your work, and I'm glad I did. I'm a huge Patric O'Brian fan, (which is quite puzzling to many people due to the fact that I'm a young woman living in the Midwest, i.e. Michigan) yet I know good historical fiction when I see it! I read the entire Aubry/Maturin cannon three times then branched out into Allan Mallinson's Napolionic tales of young Dragoon, Matthew Harvey. And from there, in conjunction with straight history, I tried many others. But the crux is, that I too write historical fiction but for the female audience, yet I love reading historical fiction written by men. I took a break, thinking I should concentrate more on the market I'm after, and began re-focusing on getting my own work sold. ButI keep getting turned down because, or so I'm told, people aren't interested in Viking folklore, an 18th century nautical tale told through the eyes of a Norwegian woman, or Americans writing about England--which very well could be true, but I'm rather passionate about good stories, history and the influence the Norsemen had on Europe before the turn of the 1st millennium. So, I wandered the bookstore again in search of answeres, when all of a sudden I turned the corner and found a Viking Dragon ship staring me down! It was a brilliant cover, and the title was The Last Kingdom. I knew then that there was another person out there who shared some of the same interests as myself. But it wasn't until I picked up the book and read the 1st chapter, a chapter that was set in Northumbria, at Bamburgh Castle (I don't know the old spelling) near the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne, that I knew I found a real treasure. Of course, I bought the book, much to my husband's dismay (he's used to my strange proclivities by now)and devoured it. I loved how you handled your main character Uhtred, and the struggles he has with the two vastly contracting religions. Your detail on Viking (or Norse) pagan rituals and superstitions was wonderful, as was the way you portrayed the two clashing cultures. Anyhow, I next purchased The Pale Horseman, and again, I was hooked. I am now patiently awaiting the US release of Lords of the North, and in the meantime have been systematically picking off all your other novels. It's so refreshing to find (after all this time) such a gifted, prolific author of historical fiction! Please keep up the great work, and someday, (I know many fans probably say this, and you likely wish the contrary) if the weavers are kind, I would love to chat with you on history in general. I can tell by your work that you're as passionate about a great historical story as am I. Anyhow, I'm going to keep on plugging away here, attempting to convince American agents that Historical Fiction is not dead. If you have any suggestions or anicdotes about your personal experiences with the publishing industry, I'd love to hear them. But if not (I know writers are very busy people) I'm still, and will always be, a huge fan! Best wishes, and thanks for all the great stories! Sincerely, Darci Hannah

I have really enjoyed the Sharpe books over the years. I recently found a grave stone in my loacl church yard you might like to know about. Its of an old soldier called James Wakeling of the 4th regiment of foot. It list his engagements of 14 battles. In 1799 under H.R.H. Duke of York in Holland. In 1806 under General Whitlock in south America storming Bueros Ayres. In 1809 under the Earl of Chatham at the siege of Flushing. Then list the battles he was in under General Moore and Lord Wellington in France Spain and Portugal. 1 Nive, 2 Nvelle, 3 Pyrenees, 4 Vittora, 5 Salamanca, 6 Corunna, 7 Vimera, 8 Rolica, 9 Ciudad Rodrico, 10 Orthes, 11 Toulones. He died in sept. 27th 1865. The grave stone has been restored and the lettering painted black so it can be read. This is all in a little grave yard in Hatfield Peverel, Essex.
Robert Mowlam-Tett

Dear Mr. Cornwell. I am a big admirer of you work. I have bought every book in the Sharpe series except two, one being the new book and the other I cannot find, I have all the Starbuck Cronicles, all the Arthur books, all the Saxon stories and I am currently reading the Grail Quest series. I have never found an author before you that I have enjoyed each book more than the last. I happened upon you work through the Sharpe replays on UK T.V. Gold and found myself wondering whether I would enjoy the books as much as the television programme. I actually enjoyed the books more than the programme and have been buying more and more of your books since I bought 'Sharpes Tiger'. While I must confess a fondness for the Sharpe series and an anticipation for the new book, when I find the time and money to buy it, I must admit I am looking forward to the next installment of the Starbuck series more. I have found myself growing more fond of the Confederate Generals of Robert .E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Old Pete Longstreet the more I find out about them. I look forward to the time when Starbuck goes into Battle at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. I want to thank you for the stories and characters that you have created if only for the enjoyment I have recieved from them. I hope you will continue the Starbuck Cronicles sometime in the future as it would be a shame for his story to end after Antietam when the Confederacy has more interesting times ahead. Your fan, Martyn Russell.

Dear Mr Cornwell,Having just read the final page of Sharpe's Fury,once again Richard and yourself have warrented the Telgraph comment that you are both national treasures.I don't normally read the same book twice but with Sharpe and his chosen men it's different, I feel as if I'm there with them in their wanderings through Spain and Portugal,with the description of each engagement leaving nothing to the imagination,long may he and Patrick keep marching.

R N Kettlewell

Dear Mr Cornwell Thank you once again for the many hours of pleasure and interest your books have given me. No matter the subject of your novels they all bring history alive. I am a keen fan of Sharpe and while the current series of books fills in gaps in Sharpe's career and brings back to life many of the interesting characters from the first series, I miss the mystery about what is going to happen to Sharpe, knowing that he survive at least into the 1820's. Having said that I really can't wait to see what happens to Sharpe after the Fury. I also hope that you will return to Starbuck in the not too distant future as I rate the four Starbuck Chronicles as the best American Civil War novels I have ever read. Finally I regret that you have not turned your talents to a Scots historical novel. What a story you could tell from that nation's rich history. However, perhaps that is too much to ask of you. John Pilkington

Hello, just to say a big thankyou for your patience at the recent Nottingham event, you signed a fair few books for us and it was really appreciated. Dave.

I'm sure you get lots of emails regarding your work but this is one from a dyslexic who had never read a book before being given one of yours from my wife, and I'm now an avid fan. I admire your inventiveness and the way your books stimulate the imagination. Keep up the good work. Harlequin awaits me. Might even try to emulate you one day when I get a minute to myself. Anyway enough of the back slapping from a fellow Brit.
George