Bulletin Board

I apologise if one of your readers has already brought this to everyone's attention but I've just discovered a great website about the subject of Sharpe's Tiger - the Seige of Seringapatam. Lots of information and pictures that add to the story told in your excellent book. See - www.nationalgalleries.org.uk. Philip Orbell

Dear Mr Cornwell, I have recently been made aware of your Sharpe series by a sailing friend, to whom I complained that there no more Foresters, Popes or O'Brien's to read. So now I am working my way through the series (eight down, 103 to go!) and enjoying them hugely. I ordered everything I could find, and several are still on their way from booksellers in the USA and Britain The dvds from the television series, which has not yet aired here, are also on their way from the States. It is the existence of videos and dvds which really prompted this letter (although I also want to thank you most warmly for creating Sharpe and his adventures for us, and teaching me more about the Napoleonic wars on land). You make a remark about the necessity of ensuring that videos are in the right format and dvds made for the right region. This is good advice, but there is a solution easier than restricting oneself to a single format or region. In Australia we stand culturally between Britain and the US (we have apartments and flats, lorries and trucks, lifts and elevators) so we tend to buy our videos, dvds and other items from both sides of the Atlantic. For this reason it is unusual for us to buy a video player which is not multi-format (usually PAL and NTSC although I have seen some which also play SECAM, the French format). Similarly, it makes sense to buy the region-free dvd players. Your warning, therefore, might be modified to include advice for those buying video or dvd players, or upgrading them, to consider looking for multi-format and region-free hardware. I apologise if I have been prolix. Sincerely, Kate

I would just like to take the opportunity to tell you how much I've enjoyed your books. Just finished reading Heretic--hope that is not the last we hear of Thomas of Hookton. If I have any complaint, it is that just when I think I read all the Sharpe's books, you release a new one. Now there are ones I've not read, but because jacket design changes, I forget which ones I've read. I suppose the only solution is to do what I did with Patrick O'brian's book...read them all in chronological order all over again. An enjoyable penance for forgetfulness. Ron Moore

Hi Bernard, Firstly, I wish to just say that I have just discovered your books, and I am totally hooked. I was lent a copy of Sharpe's Tiger, which sparked my love of your work. Subsequently, I have gone out and purchased nearly everyone of your books - All the Sharpe novels, (apart from Sharpe's Escape - getting that very soon), All 3 of the Grail quest books, the 4 Starbuck chronicles, and Stonehenge. I usually have this impulse to buy all the books of an author that I like, as I work away from home during the week, and this gives me great pleasure on an evening, disappearing into another time and place. So, this is just a short note just to let you know that you have got another great fan of your works, and, who knows, if you decide to come to Leeds, I will hopefully get to meet you, and even get some signed. All the best Stuart

Dear Mr Cornwell. Just as a first note - I am from Zimbabwe in Africa - then the rest will make sense! The name Bernard Cornwell first reached my eyes about 5 years ago when my mother picked me up a book from a second hand book shop (called Books Etc.), it was called Excalibur... I read that book twice in a row... not wanting the story to end... I was so engrossed in the lives of the characters, my mind would often wonder to think what I would do if I was Derfel or Arthur. Little did I know there were 2 books before that! Well, this was only found out 2 years later when they finally reached Zimbabwe (3rd world...), except it was only Enemy of God that crossed the border... how did the story start I asked myself... I didn't care I would read them all again just if I got my hands on the first... but it was another 3 years before I left Zimbabwe and arrived here in Toronto, Canada that I got The Winter King. The books are amazing, thank you. They really capture you and take you away. And now im really looking foreward to The Last Kingdom!! Thanks again Lawrence Alvarez, Toronto, Canada

Sir Cornwell I'm a great fan of yours! I really love your books. I live in Brazil, and unfortunately here we just have The Arthur Books and The Grail Quest (which I've just finished to read, The Heretic have just been published here). I would like to buy your other titles, but my english is not good, and I really want to see them published in portuguese. Congratulations for you books. They have changed my historic view. In fact, they have changed my life. Thank you! Amanda Lima Rodrigues

Dear Mr.Cornwell, thank you so very much for the Rifles. I am a 63 year old retired Rifleman from The Queens own Rifles of Canada '59-79. Keep them coming. Light infantry battalions were first employed by the British in America against the French and Indians in 1755. Two years later Wolfe selected all the best shots and employed them as skirmishers. In 1777 Col.Ferguson was given orders to form a Corps of Rifleman for service in America, and so on. If you want more info just let me know, it's free. A proud X Rifleman, Hans

You sir are not just MY favorite author, but in my humble opinion, the very best living author. I hope you live a long, happy, productive life, and never, ever stop writing[except on vacation] so you can keep us all in reading material! Wilbur Hutson

My copy of "The Last Kingdom" showed up today (30 Sept.) in the mail from Amazon Canada. Unfortunately my wife says I can't read it for another three weeks when I go to Montreal on course. I am looking so forward to this as I am sure it is up to your usual excellent standards. Paul Morgan

Mr. Cornwell, just a short note to thank you for the many hours of enjoyment I've gotten from your books. As a civil war reenactor the Starbuck series was a special treat. I would like to extend an invitation to you, if you ever attend a reenactment in southern New England please look me up. I'm sure we could find some scraps of uniform and a musket. It might just give you the chance to hear the rebel yell, of course there's always the odd cup of something floating around. Best regards, 1st Sgt. Tom Kneeland, 4th Alabama/15th Mass.