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Dear Bernard, Thanks a lot! You've done it again. I was up way too late last night finishing "The Pale Horesman" and today I'm (happily) paying the price. Thank you for telling the tale of the Saxons. I always felt that they got short shrift between the romantic Celts and the glamorous Normans even though the Saxon ethos permeates our society. Some of my ancestors emigrated from the Taunton area about three hundred years ago. I've always felt a kinship with the West Saxons ever since reading a biography of Alfred as a young lad. Thanks again and please keep up the good work! Tom Safford

Mr. Cornwell, My wife and I winter in central Florida. A couple years ago I was looking for some information on sailing and a local librarian told me about a couple of your books. I read them and was captivated. Thank you for them. Then I started reading others and am now at 13 of your books. I've read the grail quest books this winter and both books in the King Alfred series and am anxious for September when I can buy "Lord of the North." In the meantime I want to read the King Arthur books. I'm saving the Starbuck Chronicles for winter 2007. You should know that I value the stories so much that I've purchased all the books I've read so I have them in my library to re-read sometime. Again, I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Uhtred and friends. Thanks for the most wonderful and exciting reading I've ever had. God bless you. I'd like to know if you will be in the Cleveland, OH area sometime so I can have some of my books signed. Yours, Harry

Dear Mr. Cornwell, One more note, please bear with me. I have no question, merely a statement to make in appreciation for your style of storytelling. While in both the Grail Quest and the Arthur books, there is no shortage of tragedy, loss, and misery, ultimately your heros' win. All too often, I've seen authors infected with the ridiculous notion that their characters must suffer, and evil somehow prevails. In Enemy of God, when Dian was killed, my heart ached (I have two daughters of my own). But later regenge is met. It is, I know, no substitute for her life, but none-the-less satisfying or pacifying, that justice (aka revenge) is delt out. Having just finished The Last Kingdom, I'm left with the eager expectation that Ragnar's death will not be left unavenged. How I do love to see those loose ends tied up. Thanks again for your stories. Best regards, Wayne

I just discovered you via a book-on-tape, Sharpe's Escape, listened to on a drive to Portland, Oregon. Just wonderful. Your detail, knowledge of tactics, weaponry, history and the military character, such as the Sharpe, the mustang officer who is pure warrior, operating as a commissioned officer, but with values and behaviors of the NCO. I will research the Sharpe series and begin at the beginning. Just wanted to give a thank-you to an author. Thanks. Mitch

I read your Sharpe adventures as they were published....fabulous. Your Grail series is terrific, but the Warlord series is awesome!! Inspirational, to be read again and again....and I do! Thank you, Terry Campion

I love your books. I am an Arthur fanatic. I have been looking for a forum on him and can't find one. I would really like to see one on your web site. Thank you!! Brittany Bertrand "Love is bound by Honor" -Guinevere

I would just like to say that I am a huge fan of many of your books, though I have only read a few. I love how they are based off of historical events and people. I cannot wait to read Lords of the North. All I can say is that your books are a wonderful respite from all the other books that I have to read for school. Amelia Martin

Dear Bernard, I have just been reading through your responses to your questions. There is one about a Meet the Ancestors programme. Having watched the same programme the person who wrote in got things a bit wrong, what the archeologist said was that the blow was too far forward on the skull to have killed the horse out right and it would have been likely that its throat was cut, although there was no evidence of this. He also stated that there had been evidence that many horses were sacrificed with a blow to the head then their throats cut. Sorry to be padantic just wanted to clear up the issue. Also one of your other questions is about the new Sharpe, and the death of his wife. Forgive me if I am wrong, but is not Sharpe's wife Jane not Lucielle? Regards Rob

Bernard....I am quite an Arthurian tales fan & know most characters...have been to UK & visited Tintagel, Merlin's Cave, Dozmary Pool, etc.... However, I must say that your story is so-far the very best I have found. I am only 200 pages into 'Winter King' but am hooked & have gone out and bought 'Enemy of God' & 'Excalibur'. When Arthur explains to Derfel about the duties of a soldier & subtly manages to obtain information about Owaine's massacre - a brilliant piece of work.......And the use of the classic characters, Nimue, Tristan, Morgan, etc. plus the maps & historical place-name research you have embedded in the story....thank you for the best in Arthurian literature. As long as you don't feel this a bother or intrusion, I will contact you again when I've read further. Cheers Darryl Grant Potter

Dear Mr Cornwell To save you looking it up, I think I may have an answer for the person who asked about the past tense of 'spin'. The usual simple past tense is 'spun' as in 'the women spun wool', and it's listed as such in the list of irregular verbs at http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm The past participle is also 'spun' as in 'the women have spun wool', and is given in the same list. But there is an archaic past tense 'span', as in the famous rhyme 'When Adam delved and Eve span, Who was then the gentleman?'. So as your setting is the 9th century, it would seem reasonable to use the archaic past tense (the women span) to add a period flavour. 'Span' as in 'to span a gorge' or 'a bridge with a single span' seems to be an independent word, as my copy of the Concise Oxford Dictionary gives it a different origin. Hope this is helpful, and kind regards -Carla