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Have just finished 'The Burning Land', and had to say thanks. Your books always deliver what you fans have come to expect. Might I be so bold as to suggest looking up on the accomplishments of Owain Glyndwr, the recent BBC documentaries have stirred up old Welsh feelings of pride, and I'm sure you could bring him back to life. Thanks again
Matthew Howes

Hi thanks for the advice on king Arthur. I think I found the name of the book you said you lent and never got back is it 'Arthur, King of Britain:History Chronicle Romance And Criticism? Thanks, Amy

Your historical novels, in particular the Sharp series, the grail quest and most recently the Saxon stories are a very enjoyable read. However there is always a risk of getting historical or geographical facts wrong! Thus, in your most recent book Aethelred the Mercian's forces prior to the battle of Farnham are stated as being encamped in Silchester. Where its stated that "they are pissing in the Thames". The point is that Silchester is nowhere near the River Thames (Temes), the river's nearest point being 15 miles away at Reading (an Alfredian burgh). Silchester was however, the major regional crossroads of the old Roman road network, despite being a completely abandoned settlement as the Saxons preferred Reading and Basing (5 miles away).

Mike

Hello Mr. Cornwell. In a December 9 posting, a fan asked you if you planned to have Sharpe fight the battle of Albuera in a future novel. You expressed some uncertainty because of the tightness of the time frame. I agree it is tight, but for all that, completely doable. Albuera took place on May 16th, 1811, eleven days after the end of "Sharpe's Battle." I looked at my Atlas, and found that Albuera is about 120 almost due south from Fuentes d'Onoro. The countryside looks easy to march through. I don't have to remind you, this is Sharpe we're talking about, and he could get up off his deathbed and march 120 miles in eleven days. I figure he, the Chosen Men, and the South Essex (sent south by Wellington to reinforce General Beresford), could make it in six day of hard or nine days of easy marching. Either way, they'd be there in time for the battle with a few days for plot development, which probably would have been forming anyway even without Sharpe. You simply mustn't keep Sharpe away from this fight! For a title, how about "Sharpe's Inferno." Alan Kempner

UHTRED, UHTRED, UHTRED!!!!! LONG LIVE UHTRED!!!! Please don't kill him off. Can't wait until January!!!
Geanine Teramani

However strange for a lifelong bibliophile, I only recently discovered Sharpe - curiously, through Amazon's "you might like these" while hunting for Hornblower books to reread. I did indeed "like these." So much so that I acquired all 21 and read them more or less in chronological order. I was bereft at the end of "Devil" and immediately went in search of the short stories as well. You've heard it all before a thousand times but permit me to add my voice to the appreciative chorus. I came to care deeply for the character you created and I am most sincerely grateful that you didn't feel obligated to do something "meaningful" or "arty" with him at the end. You allowed Sharpe and Harper to ride off into the sunset - as it were - to a well-deserved and happy rest. And that's where my dear boy will always remain in my mind's eye; as you said in "Devil"...dozing by the fire as the cauldron bubbles, the children laughing nearby. The other specific item of praise I wanted to offer is my amazement at your consistent ability to offer up telling details that bring the battle into incredible focus and immediacy. As I have told many friends, one can all but smell the gun smoke. And, most astonishingly of all, every battle was different - different details, different telling vignettes evoked in every single one. In all those thousands of pages, you never "coasted." Not once. An amazing achievement, sir, and one for which I needed to express my sincere gratitude.
Jane Garvey

Everybody call for a short story spin-off featuring Derfel Cadarn. pleeeeease!!!!!
Jake William

Dear Mr. Cornwell, I was introduced to the Starbuck Chronicles four weeks ago and finished reading "The Bloody Ground" two days ago. Having done some research on the series after reading the first volume, I suspected I might be disappointed that you had let "Starbuck go on vacation"...13 years ago. Isn't it time you let Starbuck find his destiny? I certainly would appreciate it. Sincerely John J. Mitchell, Colonel, USAF (ret)

Like countless others I am an avid fan not just of the Sharpe novels (who could not be?), but all your books! The freshness, versatility of your writing and breadth of knowledge, never fails to appeal.I'm sure you get loads of messages about Sharpe, but I just wanted to say how much I loved the Arthurian series, which to me is a masterpiece of empathetic writing. I also listened to the Arthur stories as read by Tim Piggot-Smith and there were passages where I was in tears! Like many others I am also eagerly awaiting the next Starbuck novel (please soon!). As a teacher the greatest compliment which can be paid to you is that your writing inspires a real love for history in others and a desire to find out more about periods of history I knew very little about. It is easily and often said that a novelist or film can bring the characters alive, but I think sometimes we need to pause and pay tribute to the level of skill and talent necessary to do so with such ease. Best wishes (and a Happy Christmas!), Anthony Blake

Hello, I just finished reading The Burning Land for the second time, please don't make all us fans wait long for the next book in Uhtred's adventures, two years between Sword Song and The Burning land was far to long!! Regards Craig Jordan