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I am a female who came upon the Sharpe series of books because I saw Sean Bean in the "Fellowship of the Ring" and did research on his other films, discovering he played Richard Sharpe in a large number of British movies. I began "Sharpe's Tiger" on March 31, 2004, and fininshed "Sharpe's Devil" this evening (July 22). I would have finished the books sooner but unfortunately had to go to work five days a week. They are wonderful, heart stopping adventures. Sharpe is a MAGNIFICENT character and I was amazed at how you got him out of all the peril he put himself into along the way. He also seemed to have a better character for all his lack of "breeding" than most of the upper class he had to deal with in the army and elsewhere. Thank you so much for such a page turning adventure series. I look forward to reading them all again maybe sometime next year. Bobbe Klimovich

Mr. Cornwell- Recently, I began reading Wildtrack, (which is, by the way, excellent) and was quite surprised that it seemed so critical of the media. The media figures in Wildtrack are largely callous, manipulative, selfish, and dishonest. What surprised me, truly, is that you yourself worked for the BBC, and I wondered if some of the inspiration for Wildtrack was taken out of your own experiences. (Exaggerated, of course, I doubt most TV moguls murder their wives and have their hired Boers beat up VC recipients' at least not on a regular basis, anyway.) I suppose this sort of rattled me, because of an event that happened about a month ago when I was at the 60th Anniversary of the American invasion of Saipan. This celebration included a visit by General Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay, who was returning to Tinian for the first time since flying the Hiroshima mission. After a dedication ceremony, at which the General spoke, the photographers swarmed around him, snapping at each other like dingos fighting over a kill. Not only were they pressing this poor, 90 year-old veteran, (who was so exhausted after his speech he had to resort to a wheelchair) but they were jostling each other aside like children in line, screaming at each other to "Get the hell out of frame." I watched this, shocked, with my own camera dangling lifeless around my neck. An aspiring journalist myself, I was completely aghast at these "professionals" who seemed to have little personal civility and no compassion. Not one of them thanked the General when he left. In any case, what I'm trying to state is this: you really hit the nail on the head when you wrote Wildtrack. There truly are people in the media who are interested in telling stories, but not feeling them. People who write human interest, but without showing any themselves. PS: Glad to hear about the Lifetime Achievement Award. Even if it makes you feel old. (Which it shouldn't, anyone who can reply to a historical query with the sentence "Nah, Nelson rules," clearly does not qualify for that category.) Regards, Robert Rath

Dear Mr Cornwell, Thankyou for the brilliant Warlord Chronicles. My children were happy when I finished them because they got their Mum back again. There were many occasions when it was impossible to put the book(s) down, I got away with this by saying that I wasn't honouring the story or the author by abandoning the book at such an intense moment. Thankyou for plunging me into another time and place and introducing me to such wonderful characters. If only all the people we met were as loyal and likeable as Derfel. Thanks for your time. Regards Jo Dugan

Did you know about the 250th anniversary of the KRRC at the Peninsular Barracks in Winchester on 12th July 2005. You have to be an honorary rifleman, and I'm sure they would want you to be there if you could spare the time. Please let me know if you require further information. I have enjoyed all your Sharpe books and am now into your other offerings. Regards Roy Dole

Just started reading your books and have enjoyed them. I wanted to know what it was like to have bullets flying past me, (I entertain the idea of writing a few stories myself) so I got involved in large scale paintball games. Is this a good idea for getting first person experience in writing a combat scene or possibly the silliest thing you have ever heard of? Keep up the good work, Mike

Whilst in Rhayader, in Wales last week we came upon information that one Major Edward Jones was buried in the local church. A man, is was said, who came up through the ranks during the Peninsula wars. We wondered if you were aware of this soldier during your research for Sharpe novels. Thank you for such interesting books. Ron and Lyn Wheeler

I have just finished reading Sharpe's Devil and have now completed the Sharpe Series in roughly chronological order, except for the novella/short stories. Before I go go into "Sharpe Cold Turkey", I will gather my wits about me for a comment on Sharpe's Waterloo. I have read numerous books on the battle. I have played Waterloo wargames, both boardgames and computer games. I have never gotton a sense of actually being more "there" than in Sharpe's Waterloo. The only dynamic that was a tad phoney was Sharpe and Harper ranging across the entire battle field with little to do but snuff the occasional Frenchie. That is, ironically, the chief strength of your book in that we get to view first hand the major events of the day. Alas, now I must curl myself into the fetal position bereft of Richard Sharpe et al. Guy E. Orr

Hi, Will there be any more Starbuck books? I thought they were great. Bert Connell

A big fan of yours, the series I enjoy most is the Starbuck Chronicles. I hope you will one day write more of these book. Derek Armstrong

I don't normally write things like this but I am a 19 year old student with far too much time on my hands and just want to say what a great author I think you are. The Sharpe TV series were amazing but they are not a patch one books which tell the stories of Sharpe and Harper so fantastically. I have also begun reading the Starbuck chronicles but feel somewhat cheated that this young 'copperhead' seems unable to finish his rebellion. I hope you make time to write more Starbuck novels despite his obvious Sharpe resemblance as I found this as gripping as any of the Sharpe novels. I am also just about to start reading the first grail book which I look forward to reading with relish. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I wish you the best of health in the future and hope you continue to write quality books for myself and many others to enjoy. Michael Gartside

Mr. Cornwell: I "discovered" the Sharpe books by recognizing Sean Bean in the LOTR movies and sort of traveling back in time and connecting him with the Sharpe series I used to watch on PBS. I blogged around until I figured out the TV series was actually a series of books first. I got hooked. Then I turned my bother on to them, and then my Mom. We're pretty much addicted. Now I'm half way through Enemy of God. One of my grandfathers was a miner in Wales, and I'm part Welsh, so your re-telling of this legend touches a chord deep within. By the way, I rank you up there with Patrick O'Brian. Joel Hicks