Bulletin Board

In Your Questions, Oct. 13th, Alexander D. asked about books on the British side of the Sevastopol campaign. May I suggest the Sgt. Jack Crossman series by Garry Douglas Kilworth. It's the closest I've found to Sharpe for that era. Daniel Thomas

In an earlier question Mark Durant mentions a TV documentary which concluded that Agincourt-era longbow arrows couldn't pierce plate armour. I saw the same documentary and, fascinating as it was, I believe it made one assumption which was wrong. They tested a piece of armour made immediately before Agincourt, which proved to be steel. They then used contemporary iron arrowheads in a testing rig to try and pierce the armour, and found they couldn't. Their assumption was that ALL French knights rushed out and bought the latest steel armour as it became available, in the same way that some people now rush to High Street shops to buy the latest fashions. I know that armour was expensive even then, so I doubt that many would have been able to buy the new steel version. I imagine that much plate armour was handed down from father to son, so I think their results were erroneous - or at least I perefer to think that they are! David

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Thank you for many hours of reading enjoyment. Your books bring the past to life. And I must admit that I fell in love with Derfel, despite the fact he bathed infrequently. There is an element in both the Arthur and Grail Quest books that has detracted from my overall enjoyment. In each story you have a minor character with a cleft lip. You use this birth defect as a way of 'enhancing' the character's repugnance. As the mother of a child born with this defect, I couldn't help but cringe when I read the description, not once but twice in two different trilogies. Perhaps my reaction is unjustified, but it is a real one. I would appreciate your comments on this. Sincerely, S. Martin

HI, I am an Englishman living in the United States...Alaska actually, and I have recently rediscovered Sharpe. When I was in school, I watched the ITV Sharpe series. I remember seeing the 1st trailer for Sharpe and thinking 'that looks good', and being especially pleased when I watched it and found that it was. Well, being in Alaska I was feeling a bit homesick, so I went to Borders and bought Sharpe's Company (I agree it's the best episode) and thought I wonder what the books are like. Well that was about 2 months ago, and I am 1/2 way through my 8th Sharpe book. I hope they make some new episodes about the India trilogy. I just wanted to say thankyou. I really like and appreciate the fact that you research a campaign before you write about it. Write more Sharpe books please! Regards....John Roffe

Rather than an evil twin, I think Hakeswill probably has an older brother who was more evil than Hakeswill and taught him everything he knew, and joins the army in the ranks to get even with the bastard Sharpe who he has heard gave his brother so much grief. Revenge being in the scriptures so to speak. All yours. CP

Hello, after taking a gap form reading Sharpe I've been reading Wellington: the Iron Duke, a Dorset Rifleman and Rebels and Redcoats, I'm back on Sharpe now though! I've still been glancing at the website, and there's been a lot of Obadiah talk recently. You're cooking up something with him, I can feel it. A new novel? Evil twin Jedediah? You're not gonna tell me are you? Oh well. James Trethowan

I've had the pleasure of reading all of your Sharpe books. I enjoyed them greatly. I just finished Gallows Thief and liked that a lot as well.

I'm sure you get a great many notes praising you to the skies and I just wanted to add my thoughts to the long list.

I greatly enjoy your historisaty and your characters. I'm currently writing two books for TOR myself using that same time period for the background but adding in a fantasy element of dragons and wizards. I hope to do half as well as you do in your effort to recreate the real past.

Respectfully,

James M. Ward

Dear Bernard, I have been a fan of your writing for many years now and I am currently reading The Last Kingdom - and enjoying it. I wonder if it would be possible for your site to link to a brand new message board dedicated to your writing? We are all very keen to talk about your work, but unfortunately there are only a few of us there at the moment. The site is: www.hookton.com. I hope you can help us with this matter. Sincerely Tony Blackwell.

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I came late to reading any of your books. I rather thought, from afar, that Sharpe was rather kids stuff. I have now read some of Sharpe's exploits and a few of your other books and am now quite happy to be considered a 'kid'. Am currently reading Sharpe's Eagle, picked it up in a place called Belfast. A place I left over fifty years ago but one to which I return whenever I can. Many thanks for many hours of more than enjoyable reading. Regards, David Gough

Dear Bernard, Several months ago and with some sadness, I finished your Warlord Chronicles Trilogy and was inspired to paint this picture as a result... (Link to image only. No attatchment included) www.renderosity.com. It is not mean't to portray actual characters from the story although I definitely had Derfel and Ceinwyn in mind and the theme of Celts fleeing the Saxon invasion as it took shape. During the Summer holidays, I took my children to the cinema to see the recently released King Arthur and whilst they enjoyed it, I couldn't help thinking what a shame they didn't use your books as the basis for the film. I've been telling anyone who will listen the same thing ever since. I am now reading Harlequin and have Vagabond and Heretic already on the shelf waiting. Whilst I have never read the Sharpe books, I have seen all the TV episodes and have also read the Bloody Ground from the Starbuck Chronicles which was another great read. I'd just like to say thanks for some great books and I hope the ideas and ink keep flowing for years to come. Very best wishes, Tim Winfield

I saw your books at Borders today so was intriqued enough to find your website. But I am a little disappointed with the following remark about Harlequin Publications: "... they were buying a bodice-ripper with heavy breathing, find instead that they had a tale of the Hundred Years War with arrow-spitted Frenchmen. So what? Maybe they would have enjoyed the read, because more than one bodice gets thoroughly ripped in Harlequin...." Have you read a Harlequin romance? It appears unlikely. Nonetheless, I intend to get to your books as soon as I'm done with Jonathan Strange, as I adore historical medievel-set novels. Best wishes, ~Tanya Hanson