Bulletin Board

Dear Mr Cornwell,

I think I must have written this email 3 or 4 times in an attempt to put into words what can be really said in two. Thank You.

I wanted to reach out and say thank you for everything you’ve written. I’m sure many of your legions of fans have written to say the same but I just wanted to share my story reading your works.

I have very recently signed a publishing contract to publish 3 of my own books (www.ben-baldwin.co.uk for more info - let me know if you want a copy in November!) and quite frankly I’d have never achieved this dream if it wasn’t for you and Mr Sharpe.

Let me start at the beginning, I was ten - failing at school, dyslexic, could barely read, until the day I picked up my dad’s Sharpe’s Honour. (Now that was an interesting conversation at school in English I can tell you - try telling your teacher the protagonist just gutted a frenchman!) I even mention it in my own bio!

From there my grades flew up, I fell in love with reading, with history. I was able to go to university, I met my wife who I’ve gone on to have two children with. All for that moment when I picked up your book!

I’m sure we all have life changing moments, (I enjoyed reading how you met your wife in the Square Mile interview) and I genuinely don’t think I’d be sat here if it wasn’t for reading your books. They were the kick start I needed in life.

Now as I start my own writing career I wanted to come back to the start and say thank you. I love that you’ve started writing Sharpe again, I always think your writing is the perfect example of someone who genuinely loves their character. I hope to have the same relationship  in my own works.

I look forward to reading more of your works and hope one day to have inspired even one person like me with my own works.

My regards to your wife Judy and wish her well in her health.

All the best

Ben Baldwin

My late father, Roy Hayden of Manor Road in Thundersley used to say he knew your elder brother well, and that you as a child (on at least one occasion) came to my father's home at 10 manor road.

I do not expect you to remember him personally, but is that possible?

Thank you. I love the Sharpe collection.

Neil Hayden

Placed my order for Sharpe's Command August 2022. It arrived April 2024. Worth the wait. You just get better.

Nancy Christiansen

Dear Mr. Cornwell,

 

I had the pleasure of appearing on Lowcountry Live with you some years ago in Charleston. (You were gracious enough to donate your time to an event LILA held to raise money for Little Free Libraries.) I asked you how you felt about The Last Kingdom's portrayal on television, and said something I've never forgotten. You told me it was best just to champion it, because what else was there to do at that point?

 

As I went on to become an author of historical fiction (early medieval) with Simon & Schuster, I kept your words close when my books were optioned-- and throughout the rollercoaster that has been the development process, still ongoing.

 

I continue to look up to you, as, among your many books, you've written one of the most compelling Arthur series in existence.

 

It's a world my books also encompass, although they're different. My series centers around a historical 6th century queen of Strathclyde, a briton named Languoreth, who has intriguing ties to the historical figures who inspired the Arthurian legend in Scotland.

 

Your talent for transporting readers into historical worlds is unparalleled. And your success has been an inspiration to me. I just wanted to let you know.

Sending you best wishes from Charleston SC.

- Signe Pike

Dear Bernard,

I'm starting the tenth book from your Saxon stories. I'm from Spain, but I lived in England some time ago. I used to hike and enjoy the old Roman roads there, and while walking, I sometimes found places that really resemble the ones you describe in your book.

I just wanted to thank you for the great memories you brought me back from these times, and for giving me an excuse to live, through your books, in a horrible, dark and magnificent age like the Middle Ages. Take the best care of yourself, and thanks for the great moments.

David

 

Dear Bernard

If there's one unit Sharpe should or could meet, it's the Colonial Black Marines, ie the Black Redcoats. Cochrane and Cockburn did the Emancipation Proclamation 50 years early and a number of escaped Slaves formed a highly effective Combat unit that fought at Bladensburg and North Point. Sharpe should fight with these guys at some point. If you've not read it Matthew Taylor book the Black Redcoats is an excellent and fascinating book on a unit that many aren't aware of and I'd recommend

Regards Geraint

This video interview by the author maybe of interest https://youtu.be/jae88yaVCb8?si=A8zDQm460ew-UWVN

 

Hi Mr. Cornwell,

 

I hope this message finds you well, and writing!

I finished the Warlord Chronicles and felt compelled to write you.

 

As a former historian, and lover of all things Arthur / Arthurian legend, I just wanted to thank you.

 

This series is a gift to the world, and we can never repay you for the story you told us.

What a joy to have experienced this world, these characters, and your words.

 

I wish there was a way for us to experience the world once more, however the ending is perfect. If you wrote fifty more books in that world, I would read them all.

 

Thank you once again for the stories.

Very Best,

Laura

Simple request…please complete the Starbuck Chronicles!

 

Thank You,

Joe T.

 

Simply put.  Please write a continuation of the Starbuck Chronicles.  I have just finished reading book 4 and I was wondering how you were going to finish the series and I found out that you haven't.  It was a very good series and I am sure there are many others who would like to see a conclusion.  Thanks and I really enjoy your books.  I think I have read most off them.

Ken

 

--

Sir,

 

I have, in the last hour, finished the last audiobook of The Grail Quest and I am feeling a wild array of feelings.

 

Some context: some many years ago, that I dare not count, I picked up a copy of Harlequin from a local charity shop having seen it was by you and I already loved the Sharpe series. It was magnificent and eventually managed to find Vagabond, which equally blew me away.  The third has always eluded me and with life getting in the way I have never found the time to purchase and binge as I wished to.  This is where I thank Audible for a 3 month subscription deal and when I saw it in April, I knew what I had to do.

 

So it has taken me possibly 20 years to get here. To this moment. From book one I knew what the grail was (not a brag I promise, it just stuck out from the page to me) and oh how I have shouted at Thomas whilst both reading and listening.

 

So I now feel a little lost. I have completed my own grail quest, to finish this most wonderful series. I wish only to extend my deepest gratitude for it. I wish it were as well known as Sharpe or The Saxon Stories but I will always treasure it and I know I will revisit.

 

With love and thanks

 

Meghann

 

P.S. I have a private yard of 7 horses and while they were still coming in overnight in April the sounds and smells of the morning muckout while listening really helped Thomas's world have an extra dimension I feel most people would not get to enjoy!

Dear Bernard

I thought this article might be of interest. It's about Birge Western Sharpshooters who were basically the counterpart to Berdan Sharpshooters and fought in the Western battles in the American Civil War

Regards

Geraint

https://www.westerntheatercivilwar.com/post/the-men-out-front-birge-s-western-sharpshooters-a-k-a-the-66th-illinois