Bulletin Board

As a history honours student, a personal Anglophile and huge admirer of the British Empire, I would like to take this opportunity and congratulate you on your historical fiction novels; they not only provide a historically accurate insight, they are also wonderful for reading in spare time.
I have read 15 Sharpe novels, and would particularly like to congratulate you on Sharpe's Prey; I could never stop reading that book in a million years.
Other novels I had the pleasure of reading are the Saxon novels, Azincourt, the Warlord trilogy, the Grail Quest trilogy, and Gallows Thief. I confess I was somewhat saddened over Catholicism's image in the Saxon novels, being a Catholic myself.
I also have the honour of introducing your wonderful works to several of my friends, who found your works as amazing and pleasurable as I did.
Regards,
Theo

Hi again, Mr. Cornwell.  I love the new website look!  in a June 1st posting, John Buffum asked if you knew of any historical novels set during the time of Charlemagne.  Giles Kristian's Raven trilogy takes place during this period, and Charlemagne appears in the second novel, "Raven: Sons of Thunder."

Alan Kempner

Dear Mr. Cornwell,
No, I am not sending a manuscript but just a message telling you how much I enjoy reading your books.  I am presently an AP English teacher here in Houston, and my reading includes rereading Heart of Darkness, Macbeth, Jane Eyre and other literary greats over the school year.  One night as I watched my husband reading the latest Sharpe adventure (we must have at least twenty or more of your books all over the house), I picked up The Last Kingdom and began reading it for a diversion.  My husband, amused,  said oh, you won't like it because of all the killing and battles.  Obviously, I did not believe him because I just finished all of the Saxon titles and thoroughly enjoyed them. Yes, you became my diversion from grading timed essays, and I would reward myself by grading five papers then reading ten pages from your book.  Now, I want more and just saw on your web page where you have a new book out.  Actually, I was writing to tell you to don't stop with the Saxon Tales--please
continue the saga of Uhtred.  Also,  now I am fascinated with the Danes and the Saxons and just saw a documentary about their lives.  Before this, my only knowledge was through teaching Beowulf.  Where is all of this going?  Well, I thought you were just writing "boy books," however, I not only enjoy your style but the content.My summer break just started today, and I am racing to Barnes and Noble to purchase Death of Kings.
Thank you.

Sherridan Briggs
A Devoted Fan

I just finished "Death of Kings" and as with all books in the series, I enjoyed it immensely.  It is funny though that for some reason I do not like Aethelflaed's character.  I love Uhtred's bravado, but he to me is 50/50 in terms of likeability.  Point being I enjoy reading books where the main characters are not necessarily squeaky clean.  By the way, The Warlord Chronicles I loved, loved, loved!  Thanks for the entertainment.

Lonnie in Burtonsville, Maryland

Dear Mr Cornwell.
Thank you again for an exciting read.  I'm finishing the latest in the Saxon Series.  I think for a clear visualization of the genre, people might harken back to the Prince Valient series in the papers.  Agincourt was a fabulous romp and a clear insight into the historic clumsiness of the French battle demenor.  Of course, the blessing from heaven of a rainstorm over a freshly plowed field was miraculously helpful.  After reading your bio, I realized that you had a lot in common with another of my literary icons, Rudyard Kipling.  Are we to presume Starbuck died at Fredericksberg?  At the Pleasanton Scottish Games, I met an aquaintance of yours, who is an real major in the British Army (dressed in uniform with kilt).  He said that you were considering hanging it all up!  If C.S. Forrester was your inspiration, then I'll wager that Sharpe, as did Hornblower with Forrester, will come calling with more exploits, and you won't rest untill you've put them down.  Thanks so much for your great work.

John May

Love the look of the new site.
Bruce Strange

Dear sir,
In all my life I have never had the opportunity to thank an author for the works they produce. The enjoyment and enlightenment garnered from your work has been an ongoing blessing for me. I sincerely hope you never stop writing and that I never stop reading.
Thank you,

Terry Miller

Just a simple message from a huge fan. I own every book you have ever written, and have read most of them many many times. Every time you come out with a new book, I re-read the entire series before reading the new installment. I get a lot of time with your books due to my U.C. and just wanted to let you know that your stories bring great joy to me in times of great pain. If you ever come to the St. Louis area I would love to know! Thank you so much, and please, never stop writing!

Tony Jokerst

Dear Bernard:   My wife Cindy and I, even though we are Americans  have been avid readers of your writings for the past 15 years.   I believe we’ve read virtually everything you’ve written including all of the Sharpe series, the Arthurian Series, Agincourt, the Archers, the American wars including the only book you’ve written that I didn’t like – the Fort – in fact my wife believes you were not quite yourself when you wrote it, etc.  We are currently engrossed in the Uhtred series including  Death of Kings– so much so in fact that my wife had me take her to England again last month so she could visit the majority of the locations you reference in Uhtred’s travels.  Twenty five hundred miles later – travelling from Northumbria – Berwick-on-Tweed, Lindisfarne and Bamburgh Castle – we were almost trapped on the Holy Island as the tide came in – to Winchester and Longstock where the Viking ships were repaired having come all the way up the Test River and also
visiting Stockbridge to see the old graveyard where our Hawkins ancestors of long ago were buried.  In between we visited York (Ragnald’s home) and Nottingham and Chester and a hundred other towns and then on down to London so my wife could gain a better grasp of the area referred to as Mercia.  She of course loves Aethelflaed and wanted to better understand her kingdom.   We both love the Uhtred story even though we know ultimately Aethelflaed must die – sometime in 918.   Which brings me to our reason for writing.  Neither you or we (my wife and I) are getting any younger.   We are guessing of course but we think you probably plan to write two more books before you conclude the Uhtred series.   After all Uhtred is 42 years old in Death of Kings and over the next 20 years Edward, together with Uhtred has to conquer Essex, East Anglia, extend the borders of Mercia up to Northumberland, gain Ragnald as an ally and ultimately be at Edwards side when he is killed in battle fighting the Welsh around Chester.    Edwards death releases Uhtred from his oath  which gives him the opportunity to take Bamburgh from his uncle and then to die there peacefully at a ripe old age – probably in his 70’s which is incredibly old in that day and age.  Therefore, we are respectfully requesting that you focus entirely on writing these books.   I’m 70 and your only a couple of years younger.   Who knows how much longer we have left on this side.   I’d hate for either you or us to pass over to the other side without having these books completed.   We love your writing – you provide us with many hours of incredible enjoyment and an infinitely greater understanding of the history your characters and stories bring to life.  Please don’t let us down.   Finish these books quickly.  Yours sincerely,

Art and Cindy Hawkins.

Please continue with the Starbuck series and finish it, Please! Thank you.

R.S.