Bulletin Board

I am sure that many people tell you how much they love your books, and you can include me in that group. I appreciate your not including foul language in the stories. The use of "colorful language" may make a story more life-like for some readers, but I find it unneccesary and even detracting from my enjoyment. Steve Elmore

Mr. Cornwell, Simply to thank you for your work which affords me a great deal of pleasure. I have especially enjoyed the 'Grail Quest' series not least because of the obvious research and topographical delineation. I am grateful! Tom Turner - (Septuagenarian)

No need to return my email. I just wanted you to know that I am a new fan, having devoured "The Pale Horseman", and the "Last Kingdom", within a three day period. I am anxious to read the rest of this series, but must start on the "Arthur" series, while I wait. Thanks for the adventures and history. My mother is Scottish and English, so learning about our countries histories, is exciting. Velrie Mayberry

Mr. Cornwell, love all your books, could you please write a little faster! I have read two links dealing with the Alamo. My hobby is reenacting the Texas Revolution. If you ever choose to bring Sharpe to Texas, please don't use the Alamo as a back drop. The Goliad Massaccre is a better untold story. 400 men who were suppose to relieve the Alamo but didn't make it. There are many reasons Sharpe would be in Mexico. The Mexican army used the Brown Bess musket. The settlers in Texas were of Irish/Scottish heritage. The Mexican army actually had several European officers. I think Sharpe would of been with Santa Anna until he saw what was happening. Anyway if you are in Texas from March to April come by and catch a reenactment. Scott Wendt

I just wanted to tell you I think James Frain is the perfect reader for the audio version of Gallows Thief. I am loving the book and loving how he reads it. (I don't need a response--thanks.) Peggy Brown

Dear Mr Cornwell, I recently discovered your novels, and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed reading them. I started with the Starbuck Chronicles, and have moved on to Sharpe's early adventures in India. I've been most impressed by the historical detail in the novels - I have a degree in History, but was surprised how much I learnt from the books. You clearly put a lot of research and effort into your novels, and I (and I'm sure many others) appreciate it. I hope at some point you will return to the era of rifles and black powder, although no doubt the fans of your novels set in other historical eras have strong views to the contrary! Best regards and keep up the good work! James, Greenwich, London

Hi Bernard I wrote to you recently regarding 'Winter King', an excellent novel in the Warlord Chronicles trilogy, & mentioned I would write again. I am almost finished this and eager to start 'Enemy of God'. Just wanted to mention what I think were a couple of highlights... Arthur's mistress 'Aileann' understood him better than most and described his soul as a chariot drawn by 2 powerful horses, one was ambition and the other conscience... a moving analogy - one that I feel would apply to a lot of leaders past & present who had difficulty achieving their goals. Also the moment where Derfel confesses his love for Caenwyn was very well conceived and a powerful and memorable sequence. The character of Nimue is a complex masterpiece, a slight yet resolute girl able to influence all around her. Merlin, as we would expect, appears & disappears but his presence is always felt from a distance. Thank you for the best in Arthurology. Cheers.....Darryl

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a Portuguese currently reading the Sharpe series, which I greatly enjoy. I have just finished «Sharpe's Havoc» and I would like to congratulate you on the amazing description of the «battle of Douro», that is, the conquest of Oporto by Wellington in May 1809. However, I would like to submit the following: in the notes to «Sharpe's Havoc» (paperback edition), you mention that the Mizarela bridge (also called the Saltador) is now submerged in a reservoir basin. This information does not seem correct. Mizarela bridge is still very much in place and often visited by tourists, as it is surrounded by legends (for example, some say the bridge was built by the Devil himself, and that a woman blessed by a priest while standing on the bridge will soon conceive a child). Any Google search by the words «Ponte da Mizarela» will provide you with useful information and photos; two good links with a 360º view are http://www.360portugal.com/Distritos.QTVR/Braga.VR/Natureza/Mizarela/index.html and (english language) http://geoimages.berkeley.edu/wwp904/html/SantiagoRibas.html . After seeing these impressive photos I formed a truly vivid image of the final confrontation between Sharpe and Christopher which takes place there. I hope this information can be useful to you. Best Regards, Patricia Gomes.

Mr. Cornwell, Just wanted to thank you for your great epic book series. I read them and can't wait to pickup the next book. I just began the sharpe series and since I work for the US Coast Guard I really enjoyed your painting of what life was like aboard ships in the age of sail. I also thank you for painting a clear inside view of what kind of agents and the role intelligence agents did for nations at this time. Thanks for the smile on my face as history blends with fiction making for vivid view of a time long past. A.Warrington

Dear Mr. Cornwell: In response to a March 17 posting, you said that you probably will keep Starbuck in the Eastern rather than the Western theatre of the Civil War. I can think of two instances where you might want to reconsider, both of them times of prolonged inactivity in the East: 1. There was almost a 10-month gap between Gettysburg and the opening of Grant's 1864 campaign and the Battle of the Wilderness. During this time, you could send Starbuck west with Longstreet's reinforcements to the Battle of Chickamagua (October 1863). 2. During the year-long siege of Petersburg, you could send him west a second time to serve with Jubal Early in the Shennandoah Valley campaign, culminating with the Battle of Cedar Creek (October 1864). We want our boy to see as much fighting as possible! Alan Kempner