Bulletin Board

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

Hi Bernard, I discovered your books by chance through our local library book bus. I read them walking to work in the morning, and back again at 5pm. I'm sure the sight of me walking along reading a book must give people some amusement, but I don't care. Thanks for the great yarns! Richard Sharpe and all your other characters really come to life in my mind. I really get lost in your stories, imagining how I would act...imagining the scenes with clarity helped by your great storytelling. Tony Auckram

I just finished reading The Archers Tale. Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed it very much! I had never heard of you . But I am lookng forward to reading your other books. Thank you ! Regards Nick Jones.

Dear Bernard, cheers for collecting so much historical fact and making it into something worth reading. You've brought us so many great books about our wonderful country that most authors, and historians, fail to contend with. Truly art that is a pleasure to behold, so thank you. See you in Winchester in a couple of months. Danny.

I first enjoyed the Sharpe series on PBS, now I am reading the first Sharpe book (Sharpe's Tiger) The book is great! I have not had the time or interest to read in a few years, now it's hard to put the book down. It's very exciting to me because my GG Grandfather was Lieutenant James Todd of the 73rd Regiment and was in the battle of Seringapatam 26 april 1799 and was wounded but recovered to become a Captain of the 33rd 4 January 1800. He was promoted to Major 3 December 1810. He retired a Major 4 February 1818. I am still researching my other Family members and their Military Historys. I am finding that my Family has a lot of British Military History. I love your books and they make me proud. Thank You for your work! Sincerely Charles Thomas Todd.