Bulletin Board

Q

Have just listened to your Desert Island Discs. Sunday for my husband and I is breadkfast with the Observer and an endless pot of tea followed by DID. We thoroughly enjoyed the discussions and choice of music - though your lack of a Beatles number was noted. Though I work in education, teaching adults who struggle with reading and writing, I rarely read novels - but my middle son swears by you and you have got him through many late nights when he was supposed to be studying! We too love America, well the 50% that didn't vote for GB, lived in Pittsburgh with our children in 93/94 and loved driving the interstate listening to C&W Willie was a great choice. Thanks again but you really should listen to the Beatles. Madeleine Edwards

A

I do listen to the Beatles. Honest. But there's only eight discs on the desert island, and it's horribly difficult to choose them. I wanted to take a trunkful of Mozart and another of Faure, and yes, some Beatles too, but eight is eight and somehow they fell through the cracks. Sorry.


Q

Mr. Cornwell, we feel we must write and thank you for all the many hours of pleasure your writing (and History TV) has given us. We live in Spain and regularly drive to UK and have your Audio Books for company whenever we do or I read one of your books to my husband whilst he drives. We needless to say have all the Sharpe videos, books and tapes (courtesy of Amazon!) and have enjoyed seeing and reading them over and over. Thank you so much for our pleasure and we are starting on your other works next!. Dot Friend


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell,[Bernard] I read with great enjoyment 'The Last Kingdom' but lost count of the number of times I checked on the names of the towns etc at the front of the book. May I suggest that in the follow up book, a bookmark with the key to the place names be available so one can read smoothly onwards. Thanking you for all your wonderful stories. Please do a follow up to ' Gallows Thief' YOurs sincerely Bill Aves.

A

I think that's a brilliant idea and I shall suggest it to the publisher who may or may not agree with me. Or should we just abandon the Saxon spellings and use the modern town names?


Q

Mr. Cornwell, We of British decent could not in good conscience let the opportunity pass to tell you how thoroughly wonderful indeed are your entire collection of writings. We who have deep British and Southern Roots (Sommerset & Devonshire- Mississippi & Louisiana) are fully aware of the wonderous detail and history you have brought to light for ardourous readers such as we profess to be. We understand that Jesus of Nazareth as a youth frequently visited the Glastonbury area with his uncle Joseph of Aramathea. We would like to hear more of the trials and tribulation in that context (magic feats if any). As you know the people of the region seem to take it for granted as there are no written records of his travels in those years. Please write more and if you are ever in the South (US) Biloxi, Mississippi, we would be honored to have you visit our home and see a centuries old live oak that was proabably an acorn when Jesus walked the earth. Regards, Hamilton and Deanna Cole-Bickham Sharpe Fans

A

It's a lovely legend, and I'd love it to be true! Even if it is not it inspired Blake's wonderful poem, Jerusalem - 'And did those feet, in ancient times, Walk upon England's mountains green'. I'm not sure how much truth can be ascribed to the legend, or to the more persistent story that Joseph of Arimathea carried the grail to Glastonbury after the passion - but the town and the Tor are very special places. And if I'm ever in Biloxi I shall come to see your oak! Thanks.


Q

A man was in the local library running his hand along the Bernard Cornwell section. Suddenly he noticed his hand was bleeding. The librarian rushed over and said "What happened?" The man replied "It must have been all those Sharpe books." Boom Boom Came to me suddenly as I was burning the late night oil at work. Thought I'd share it. Nigel James


Q

I have just finished THE LAST KINGDOM and can hardly wait for the next book in this series. It was a wonderful story, but it also gave me insight to life during this period of history. I can trace my lineage back to Aethelred I through Godwin of Wessex, as I am the "grandchild," many generations removed, of Tostig Godwinsson, and have wondered about life during this time. I also found interest in culture of the Danes as another set of my ancestors were vikings, included in my line is Harald Hardrada who invade England with the help of Tostig Godwinsson in the fall of 1066 right before the Norman invasion. The story is almost a family story for me...October seems so long to wait until the next saga but I will be first in line for the next book! Thanks for a wonderful journey into the past! Best Regards, Christie


Q

Dear Mr Cornwell, Thank you for the hours of reading pleasure that you have given me. With the exception of the Sharpe series, which I shall begin very soon, I have read and in some cases re-read, everything you have written. My all time favorite is the Arthur trilogy which I have pored over about seven or eight times. As an historical ficton enthusiast I commend you for the depth and imagination of your research which enlivens the characters and settings in a uniquely Cornwellian way. I'm enjoying "The Last Kingdom" as we speak, and it doesn't disappoint. Keep them coming and thanks again. Sincerely Mick Fowler (English, living in LA, sound mixer on "CSI")


Q

I just finished reading The Last Kingdom...Bravo! You have once again made me a very happy reader. I have read many of your series'--from Starbuck thru Stonehenge. The story and characters in this last book were fantastic. I really look forward to the next book in this series. I teach History and often use excerpts from your novels to set the mood for a particular topic in class. Thank you very much for your talent. Curtis Nightingale, Kansas


Q

Mr Cornwell, I don't know whether to thank you or curse you! Until about 5 years ago I had the freedom of the book shop shelves - picking my next read on a whim and a fancy. Now my first port of call is the shelf labelled "C" and, more often than not, I return home empty handed, content to reread one of your earlier offerings (I'm currently reading Rebel again!) rather than risk the disappointed of another author! Seriously, I want to thank you sincerely for giving me, as near as I am ever going to get, the experience of living in a vibrant, adventurous and 'real' history. On that note, are you aware of your books being studied/used in schools as part of a History or English Literature course? I only found my love for History upon leaving school as I, like may of my peers, was subjected to turgid facts and dates, described as 'history', that left me cold. Your work serves not only to entertain but to educate and I have no doubt that it would be a valuable teaching aid. I apologise for, and deeply regret, taking up your time especially when you should be working on my next history lesson! Kind Regards and many thanks. Mike Lavelle (a fellow Brit in exile)

A

Thank you! And I'm not aware of them being used in any formal courses.


Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell, Just this past weekend in searching for a good book to read I saw your new book "The Last Kingdom". After reading a little about the book I opted not to read that one (don't worry, this isn't bad!). The reason being that I had just finished a book by another author that took place in the same time period. But the book still caught my interest, so I looked for other books by you and ran across "Stonehenge". Which I purchased on Friday, began reading on Sunday and finished on Tuesday...couldn't put it down. I loved the book. I will be reading "The Last Kingdom" next...and most likely the Arthur & Grail books following. I had passed those up as well due to having just seen the recent movie on Arthur and having read Blake and Lloyds "Pendragon". Your other books sound interesting as well, but I tend to go in phases where I read a certain type of novel. Lately it has been anything from Renaissance to ancient history. Before that American Westerns. Being a writer I don't know how much time you have to read, but I have two books that I would recommend. The first would be the one that I just finished that takes place at the same time as "The Last Kingdom". It is "Ceridwen of Kilton" by Octavia Randolph. Not a popular author, but a great read. Someone who did their research on the time-period. She has another that she wrote that leads up to this one but is not actually published in book form, but is on her website in full. Copyrighted, but not sure how that sits with your whole legal stuff..?? The second would be Louis L'Amour's "The Walking Drum". L'Amour is usually noted as a author of American Westerns, but he has a handful or so that are not. This would be one of them. Anyway, I shall leave my email at that (I tend to be long winded). Best of luck on the success of "The Last Kingdom", and I look forward to reading it. Sincerely, Sean P. Holt Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, U.S. P.S.: I do apologize for any american slang that I may have used that you may or may not have understood!

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Thanks for your receommendatons.