Bulletin Board

I am a resident of Virginia in the US and most of my 63 years was spent reading WWII books, mostly non-fiction. A friend introduced me to your books and Patrick O'Brian's books. I have become a dedicated Sharpe fan and also Jack Aubrey. I am sorry to hear that O'Brian has died. I found out through a good friend in Iraq about your web site and a couple short stories of Sharpe that I didn't have. Thanks to The Sharpe Appreciation Society and You, I now have those books. I won't offer suggestions for a book and I hate lawyers to the nth degree, but I figure we need them some times. Keep on writing Sharpe books, I really like them and you do a fantastic job of writing them. I would also like to thank you for the Starbuck series. I had hoped you would write more of his books. Thanks for all the great books you have written up until now. A reader of Sharpe books, James Crumpler.

I enjoyed your Sharpe books. I also liked the Arthur books and the Grail quest and I have now read the Last Kingdom which was first rate as are all your books. Just an idea or two but I would like to see something about the War of 1812 in Canada perhaps with a comrade of Sharpe. Another idea is Prince Henry Sinclair who sailed for Nova Scotia about a century before Columbus. I am eagerly waiting for each and every book you write. John Sparkes

To Mr Cornwell, Now before I start writing I promise I am not going to make this an embarrassing by saying, "Oh I am your biggest Fan," as you will probably have plenty to do and will just be a waste of time for you as you actually have a life. I am 17 and live in London and have just come out of Boarding school life 2 years ago. It was when I was at Boarding school in Uppingham that I first saw your book Sharpe's Tiger and I have been reading the series ever since, including the Grail Quest, Warlord Chronicles and etc. Sorry I am going off the point, I'll try and make this quick for you as you probably have thousands of other E-mails to reply to. Well it's only when I finished Sharpe's Honour yesterday that I realised that you always write stories based hundreds of years ago. Now reading what you said before onto this E-mail account about how you don't want people suing you for their ideas I promise I won't, if you want I will sign my name on a contract saying that it will be your idea and anyway why would anyone sue you of all authors. I don't really need to as I have already written 100 pages of my book so far that isn't really the case. Well the idea I have is why don't you write a short series about a British Paratrooper regiment during World War 2, from the start of the war to the end!! I'm sorry I didn't listen to your statement about giving you ideas but it has just been bugging me. The only thing I have written about this idea is 4 lines above. Anyway sorry for drifting, could you send me a letter back saying whether you can or can't do it and I will send you, if you want a copy of my short story, just for easy reading if you have the time. Anyway thanks for your time and keep up the good work. from faithful reader Nick

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I've devoured the Sharpe series several times, but have just watched Sharpe's Rifles, the first of the videos I've seen. At the risk of offending everyone.........it's terrible! I expected to be disappointed - characters transferred to the screen are never as you visualise them when reading a book, and I was aware the storylines weren't the same as the books - but I didn't expect to be this disappointed. All the letters on your website rave about the TV series as much as the books - I thought it would be a good show even if it wasn't the same as the books. Unfortunately, I don't think I want to even watch any of the others - the story seemed over-dramatised, the acting was awful - a great pity, as British drama is usually very good. I'm not expecting an answer (after all, what do I expect you to say?!), I just couldn't help commenting. And I did want you to know how much I do enjoy your books. I've learnt a huge amount of historical fact from them as well, not just large but also small things, like where the name "shrapnel" originated. My father and I used to discuss these little bits of trivia with great interest (he never read your books and passed away 6 months ago) and I greatly miss being able to share them with him. Please don't take my criticism of the video personally, and I'm excited to see you write that more Sharpe books are planned! I live in Australia, just by the by. Regards, Jenifer.

GREAT BOSTON GLOBE ARTICLE-RIGHT ON THE MARK WITH GREATEST WRITER OF HISTORICAL NOVELS-HAVE READ JUST ABOUT ALL YOU HAVE WRITTEN-THANK YOU. BILL MCLAREN

I recently discovered your writings at my local library. I'm hooked on your Sharpe's series.Thank you for writing such exciting stories and adventures . I shall read all your books. Thank you again. Carl Sims

I've been reading your books for quite a number of years. I love history, expecially English and Scottish history. Your Sharpe books got me interested in the Peninsular War, a period of British history that had previously not been of much interest. Now I'm hooked on that period. I also love historical fiction and Richard Sharpe has become my favorite fictional character of all time. You are a masterful story teller. Thank you for the many pleasurable hours of reading your books have provided me over the years. Please don't ever retire. I look forward to you coming to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area sometime in the very near future. I wish you and your family a wonderful Holiday Season, and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Patricia Gooch

Mr. Cornwell, I am Assistant Store Manager at a Barnes & Noble in Iowa, and have just had the pleasure of reading an advance of Last Kingdom. Wonderful! I had long hoped you would do a Viking Era story. It was worth the wait! I will recommend it to all my customers looking for historical fiction. My favorite works of yours are the Grail Quest series, so as you can see I love the Dark Ages/medieval stuff. Keep up the great work! Sincerely, Steve Olsson

Dear Bernard, I love your books. I think I've read about all of them. I'm a big reader of historical fiction, among other things, and you are my favorite. I am also a big fan of Kenneth Roberts, who did a wonderful job of capturing colonial New England. I love his characterization of Benedict Arnold. And like you, he wasn't afraid of a good plot. I enjoyed the Globe article today (12-23). It had a lot of interesting detail. I can't wait to read your new series. It was fun to hear that you enjoy the Flashman series...they are such a kick. Keep up the good work. And don't be overly cautious about taking on American icons, that's where the fun is. So go ahead & write that book about the battle at Castine. All the best and Merry Christmas, Neil Cronin, Exeter, N.H.

I just read the article about you in the Boston Globe. I was lucky enough to live in England for 4 years (97-01) and as such was already familiar with your work. I was chatting with a fellow father on the way to our son's football match and the subject turned to books. He mentioned he had just heard you speak and recommended your Starbucks Chronicles. My interest piqued, I asked a few more questions and was surprised to find that you were British (given the subject matter of the Starbucks Chronicles). To get to the point - I enjoyed the Starbucks Chronicles immensely and only after exhausting them did I turn to the Sharpe Series, and even then only with some trepidation not having much interest in Britain's long history of Colonialism. I will admit that I did enjoy them but I have to say that after 8 or 10 of them my interest has wained. If you are truly interested in increasing your local readership I would respectfully submit that you may get more local interest in a continuation of the Starbucks Chronicles. I know I would enjoy it. Good luck and best wishes for a pleasant holiday season. Cheers, Phil Giguere