Bulletin Board

Hi, I was listening to NPR today (1 Feb) and heard you talking about your new book dealing with the history of King Alfred the Great. The fact that someone is finally telling the story of Alfred and his children is very exciting to me. When I was in high school one of my history teachers told us about Alfred the Great, and ever since then I have done some research on him, and even gave on informative speech on his life in one of my college classes last semester. I just wanted to write to you and say how much I appreciate you writing about my favorite part of English history. I look foward to reading your future works.
Bethany Beck

I met somebody recently who had just read their first Bernard Cornwell book and had that same look that I remember when I became addicted! I sat with envy as they raved about Sharpe (of course) knowing they could look forward to a long line of uninterrupted reading pleasure without having to wait eagerly for the next release. "Ah well" I thought what the heck and I started reading all my books from the beginning yet again! I'm sure you're sitting somewhere in the sunshine Bernard but I hope I don't make you too envious when I tell you I sailed out of Salcombe, Dartmouth and Teighmouth last weekend, the weather was appalling (of course) but that gives more time for reading!! James Brookes

Dear Mr.Cornwell Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL of your wonderful books. I was introduced to your work via a Sharpe and several Thriller audio books and was hooked. I thoroughly enjoy your attention to detail in the descriptions of everything from the mundane peasant to the 'glorious' uniforms of the regiments. You can almost smell the smoke and taste the sea. One question, which you have more than likely been asked numerous times, why does the Sharpe character in the film series not even vaguely resemble the Sharpe of the books in appearence, ie. black hair, well scarred face? Blonde hair and little scarring more acceptable image to the filmakers? Why can't they just go with accuracy - they're wimps. At present I'm reading The Last Kingdom and finding it another fascinating read. Once again a heartfelt thank you from an Aussie fan. Ellen Hayes

Mr. Cornwell, I am just dropping a note of thank you for making my time woodcarving even more enjoyable. I am a woodcaver located on Martha's Vineyard and I am hooked on books on tape. I am now working my way through your excellent books. I carve a variety of items and I am able to survive by my web page, it's truly an amazing way to communicate. I remember when a family shared a phone line with several families and we had a local phone operator who of course knew everyone's business. Well again keep up the great work and if you get a moment take a look at what your books help to produce. www.jpuwoodcarver.com. Joseph Paul Uranker

When Sharpe was still young you toured Toronto and I interviewed you, when I worked for chfi radio. I have a loving 16 year old daughter who read my christmas wish list, and got me your latest Sharpe, and your new series on the Danish invasions of England. I've read everything of yours printed, and all I can say is, your two latest are some of the best yet. My only complaint, and I know you're not a machine, I need something every three months! Truly, my only thought is will there be more Starbuck, for I am a civil war buff as well as a Napoleonic fiend. Thank you for the historic insight, from not only Napoleonic times, but the black prince and the American civil war. Yours truly Doug Farraway, Sports Director, fan 590 radio. (formerly an interviewer with chfi radio Toronto).

Mr.Cornwell, all my life, I have enjoyed scanning the "stacks" at a library, looking for interesting reading material. While looking for a murder mystery Patricia Cornwell, I found "Sharpe's Eagle " and was hooked. Soon after, "Sharpe's Battle" was shown on local public television. Sean Bean is Richard Sharpe when I read the books. I enjoy books about sailing and the sea. I recently found Josua Slocum"s "Sailing Alone Around the World" great adventure. I thought I had read all of your books until I saw here your "Traveler" series, I will have to find them too. Reading the Bulletin Board I notice there are some young readers, though most of us are older. My experience is that a lot of young people do not read for pleasure. Too bad more of them haven't dicovered your books, I feel they would enjoy them as much as I have. Thankyou for hours of enjoyment . Steve Lee 51.

Your finest work yet (TheLast Kingdom). I have read all your work and await the next in this series. Thank You, Jim

Dear Sir: I believe that you receive a great deal of mail of this kind, but having just re-read Sharpe's Escape, I felt compelled to personally thank you for giving us Richard Sharpe and connecting him to the 95th Rifles and your own creation of the Prince of Wales' Own Volunteers. Sometimes it takes a fictional character to remind us of how best to live our own real lives. Sharpe is flawed, profane and impatient; in sum, real. But also trustworthy, honest to his men and himself, and loyal to those deserving. Of course, those who betray him have a real problem, and Sharpe's idea of turning the other cheek seems to be the other fellow's over an open fire; but I won't quibble. He's a soldier. Sharpe is an ideal, and one which at least I sorely need. Thank you again for this vast world in which I love to vacation time and again. "First on the field and last off-The 95th!" John H. Dixon

Just thought I'd drop you a quick line of thanks - your work has given me many many hours of pleasure Mr Cornwell. My father introduced me to the Arthur trilogy in 2003, which became (with the honoury exception of Lord of the Rings) my favourite novel of all time. I have since read much more of your work, and the standard rarely, if ever, drops. I've just raced through the Grail series in the last week or so, Thomas is one of your finest characters. As an Englishman from Salisbury now living in Australia, I do find myself pining for the southern England countryside from time to time - your books can make me feel like I'm back there...Phil Dean

Mr Cornwell I first started reading you Warlord Series and could not put any of them down. Usually after a series is over I want another book to come out to tell me what happened to the charaters after wards, however you left the series concluded with a finality that is rare. I've just finished the Grail Quest series and again couldn't put them down. You tell your stories with such imagination that your readers get trapped in the story and become part of it. I've just picked up Stonehenge and I'm sure it's goning to be great. Best of luck to you and please vist us here in San Antonio when you get a chance. William Todd