Bulletin Board

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I have just recently become a devotee of the Sharpe novels. I have long been a fan of historical fiction and read "An Archer's Tale," "Vagabond," and "Heretic," (which my mother, a librarian, got me to read) but if I ever saw the Sharpe books in the library or bookstore, I wouldn't have picked one up. Military fiction usually leaves me cold, since it often contains too much detail of the fighting and not enough human emotion. And the Napoleonic Wars have always seemed an especially boring period in British history. (Anything after the Revolution, I mean the American one, of course, seems boring to me.) But several weeks ago I began recording the Sharpe films on BBC America, ostensibly for my husband, who likes military history. We watched them together and I found myself hooked! At first I thought I had simply fallen for the charms of Sean Bean, but then I decided to read the Sharpe books that predate the films, the ones set in India. I now find myself addicted and spend every waking moment reading Sharpe novels, watching Sharpe films, or checking up on Sharpe on the internet! My husband also likes Sharpe, but is bemused by my complete absorption. I found on your website that another Sharpe book is coming out in September, 2006. By then, I will probably have read the other 20, as I'm reading them night and day. Thank you so much for bringing such a dynamic character as Sharpe to life.
Joan Carr

Dear Bernard Cornwell, I thought you would be interested to know that for several years I have been reading your books, in particular the Sharpe series which has led to my wife and other family members having a laugh and giggle at my expense as it has has made me into a bit of a Sharpe anorak. To the point of me having really vivid dreams of me being Sharpe (I'm a Geordie and in my dreams I think he sounds good with a Geordie accent). Once I had read the series the dreams calmed down. I have had similar happenings reading other authors books about the romans in Britain. But then I found the Uhtred series and of course him being from Northumbria we clicked and the active dreams begin. Of course it is all an exciting read and gives us all here funny stories to tell. I wanted to thank you for your books and cannot wait for Uhtred to return and am now eagerly awaiting the new Sharpe book. Thanks again and all the best, regards, Marsh Easom.

Hi, Mr. Cornwell. I'm a big fan of your books, and have read most of them and I'm currently reading The Saxon Stories. I'm thoroughly enjoying the series. I notice that you concequently refer to the Vikings as The Danes, regardless of what area of the British Isles they attack/occupy. For instance the Vikings who attacked Lindisfarne, Ireland, and the northern parts were traditionally from Norway, while the Vikings in south were Danes. Although Norway or parts of Norway from time to time were under Danish rule, I still think it should be held separate in this time period. Cato Myrkaskog

Mr. Cornwell, I just wanted to drop a quick note of thanks. Your storytelling is so vivid and brilliant that I cannot put your books down and feel like I've lost and gained many friends through your work. Your works and Robert Heinlein's are some of the few that truly become real as I read. --Dan Granados, California. p.s. I've decided to order The Lords of the North from the UK since the US release date seems so far away. Daniel Granados

Posted on 30 June: "Are you planning to watch the World Cup's "Napoleonic rematch" between Spain and France? :) Sean Storrs" Your reply: "This is terrible - your question didn't reach me until after it was over. Sorry. But France won't win the cup."

Mr. Cornwell: You were right, but that was a close final match. Zidane's carte rouge notwithstanding, did you see one of the French players take his second place medal off while he was still on camera and that Coach Domenech put his in his pocket? That, to me, is also inexcusable behavior. Sean Storrs

I feel I must write and complain about your Sharpe novels! Since discovering them my life has gone to pieces. I spend hours searching my local bookshops for the 'next in the series' and I am neglecting domestic duties. The cats need washing, the koi carp need 'walkies', and the grass on my lawn is long enough to hide all the 95th. Seriously though, I want to thank you for all the pleasure and knowledge your stories have given me and long may you continue to produce! Chris Windows

I just wanted to say that the Arthur seriers were my favorite three books I've read. I was always King Arthur fan, reading several novels and seeing Excalibur. I picked up The Winter King because I couldn't find anything else in the book store. Who would have guessed, I could not put down the book from the time I brought it home, and I couldn't wait to read the other three. I even named my youngest son Arthur (middle name). This was years ago and since then you became my favorite author, reading Sharpe ,and the Grail seriers. I didn't know about the Saxon Seriers, till I stumbled on to your website. I'll pick it up this summer. I saw I a chance to contact my favorite Author, so I took it. Jose

Well Mr Cornwell, I almost don't know what to say! The first book I read of yours was Stonehenge, one of my most favoured places to reflect and relax. I loved it to say the least. I am now reading The Saxon Stories with almost ocd obsession! I find everything that you have written that I have read has touched me in a way that is very personal to me. Stonehenge has always mystified me and I go there a few times a year to take in its history and ambience, and I always delight in taking someone there that hasn't been. I have always lived in the south east (England of course!) but I have some nordic ancestors so Uhtred's loyalty to both sides is familiar and endearing to me. I also am fascinated by this particular period in English history. Although I am quite sure you are in fact not writing these books specifically for me, with all this in mind I just have to tell you...... I love your books!! I am in fact, I think, falling a bit in love with Uhtred! So, please keep up the good work, and thank you for giving me such a thrilling read. Your most obsessional fan, Natalie.

Mr Cornwell, I'd just like to let you know that the Sharpe novels have inspired me to write a historical novel myself. I have recently finished planning the plot and have started the first draft, although my story has a military background it is set in a different era. You are right about reading historic fiction leads one onto reading history books, as I have done and so has many of my friends. Although I find you're novels tend to stick very closely to the actual events and I find one learns a lot from reading a Bernard Cornwall novel. I have been writing for around five years and I love history - after reading your novels it seemed adding the two was the right thing to do. Thanks for inspiring me and thanks for helping to make history cool - never thought I would talk about Liam Gallagher and Lord Wellington in the same conversation. Look forward to your new Sharpe and Starbuck novels. All the best Yul Meredith.

Mr. Cornwell, Regarding maps - I did a quick search on the Bulletin Board Archives for maps, and saw a couple posts inquiring about maps (or the lack thereof) in some of your books. I'm reading the first of the Grail Quest series, and I'm actually astonished there aren't some maps, or even a single map, detailing France and the key regions and battles in the book. With all the movement of troops and characters, across multiple rivers, cities and towns, it gets extremely frustrating for the reader not to have some kind of reference. I just finished Lonesome Dove and that highly acclaimed novel was plagued by the same problem - simply amazing to me when the heart of the story deals with such a significant amount of travel. I think you mentioned how the publisher removes maps due to cost, but I think it's totally unacceptable - a map for historical novels isn't some small 'extra' or 'add-on' - without a map, it detracts from the reader's experience and I think negatively impacts the book's delivery. I guess I sound pretty frustrated; I find your books to be fantastic, other than this one seriously annoying issue. One potential solution (or workaround) that perhaps the publisher could accept: Provide an online map for each book - this way your readership can access a map off your web site, perhaps print it for reference. Sam Scharpf