Bulletin Board

Thanks! That's all. Just Thanks. Randy Jackson

Dear Mr. Cornwell I just wrote you a message but I left one thing off, PLEASE do no make any more movies of the books, I loved the Sharpe books, but was absoloutely horrified by the films, the only thing that kept me watching them was the comic genius that thought hed edit the script and my amusmant at Sean Bean who I think is a great actor. A few examples, in the film of Sharpes Gold, the only connection I could make with the book was the fact that Sharpe led troops behind enemy lines. 2) Much as I think Sean Bean acts Sharpe well (infact I think the films were very well cast) would it have been so hard to have died his hair black. 3)Sharpe nor any of his men ever miss, even when in Sharpes company the troops are fitted with smooth bore muskets, and fire at the walls of Badajoz from a good 50-100 yards their bulets allways hit. There is quite a long list of complaints, which I can not stress enough are not directed at the books. William Richards

Dear Mr Cornwell, I am an officer currently serving in Iraq (with my regiment the 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment). If not getting Mortared or RPG'd my evenings are somewhat free and so I thought I'd take a moment to congratulate and thank you for writing the excellent Grail Series. I'm half way through and its a great bit of escapism from day-today service in the Middle East. The Arthur series was outstanding and I notice from the web-site another historical adventure is on its way, excellent! My fear is that once you've written enough to retire on some desert Island and live like a king we'll have no more from you (well thats what I'd do but I'm fundamentally lazy) Please do keep pumping out the books they are important and greatly enjoyed by many of us. Regards JD

Just a note to say that I am thoroughly enjoying the Sharpe books. I friend got me started and now I can't stop! I just watched my first video, Sharpe's Company. It was good but I don't think the actor who protrayed Harper was true to the books. Keep up the good work and thanks for some great reading! Gary Woodburn

I bought several of your books as Christmas presents for my (adult) son, and he recommended that I read "Gallows Thief." I took his advice and wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the book. The characters were wonderful, especially Sandman, Berrigan, and Eleanor (I like intelligent female characters, but can't abide the ones who are "fiesty" just to be annoying, so felt that Eleanor was just perfect). I wish to add my voice to the cry that you write another Rider Sandman novel. When I visited Colonial Williamsburg last week, I purchased a copy of "Redcoat," and am looking forward to reading it soon. Now that I have discovered your books, I can see that I have many happy hours of reading ahead! Annette Jackson

I really enjoy your books. I really enjoyed the War Lord Cronicles. The Sharpe books were good too although I have not read all of the them. Stonehenge was a very good story. I have been reading your books for a long time now and have got my father interested in your books also. He likes listening to the tapes of your books while driving. I live in Canada and unfortunately cannot attend your Toronto stop. Many thanks for hours/years of reading enjoyment. Craig

Just reading the bulletin board posting for April 22, like to say that I went backpacking in Portugal twice last year. The second time, in September I went up north to Coimbra and Guarda. I went to Guarda to get to Almeida after reading about it in Sharpe's Gold. Had to hang around half a day for the bus from Guarda and when I got off at Almeida the locals on the bus were looking at me like I had two heads. We're talking back of beyond here. Where I got off , just outside the first barrell like tunnell, it was like arriving in a wild west ghost town, especially as it was late afternoon and very hot, despite being mid September. I was thinking what have I let myself in for but it turned out to be a great experience. There was a lovely pensao just down the road and the walled town itself was amazing. I think I came at the perfect time. Didn't bother with the museum but walked around the town on the walls. It was the atmosphere of the place really, so isolated and eerie in the late afternoon indian summer haze. Then I put my feet up and had a few beers in one of those outdoor cafes inside the town. It was so tranquil that it was hard to picture what happened here in 1810. The people were very friendly depite my pidgin Portuguesse. Thanks for bringing the place to my attention in your book. Tony (from Ireland)

Dear Bernard, Firstly, let me say what a pleasure it was to meet you at Leadenhall Market recently and thank you for the time (all too brief!) that you gave to my son(on his 21st!) and myself. Secondly, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed hearing you on Desert Island Discs. It was the first time I'd listened to that programme since the Roy Plomley days! I loved your choice of music especially the Willie Nelson track you signed off with - have you heard that performed by Willie with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson from their "Highwaymen" tour? It's even better than Willie's version. You almost had me in tears relating your childhood. I'm the same age as your goodself (60 this year) and had a wonderfully happy childhood which unfortunately hasn't quite continued into adulthood but that's how the cookie crumbles. Strangely I've gone through similar religious circles as yourself and now have no belief at all - I even had difficulty celebrating Christmas last year, it all seemed so meaningless. Anyway, enough of the heavy stuff, what really amazed me was the fact that you had been brought up by Wiggins the builder. I spent 35 years in water distribution in Essex and became involved with most builders and developers during the building surge in the 60's and 70's (and later, but it was in that period when so much of the lovely Essex countryside that I'd enjoyed so much in my childhood became covered in bricks, mortar and concrete). Those builders included C.S.Wiggins of Thundersley! Little did I know then that the patriarch of that company was the adoptive father of a young man who was to become one of my favourite authors! If I remember rightly, Wiggins were one of the last firms to use all their own labourers and tradesmen, transporting them around the county in a double decker bus well into the age of the sub-contractor. Many thanks once again, Bernard, for all the pleasure you have given to so many. Sharpe's Battle was on the box again the other evening - in my book that's the best of the TV films. If only Peter Jackson could be persuaded to make a film of, say, Sharpe's Waterloo - that would be an epic! Stonehenge would make a great movie too, don't you think? Anyway, if you're reading this I've taken up enough of your time. Enjoy yourself on your boat when you get to the island! Kindest regards Richard Hobart

Bernard, just typing to say a couple of things - firstly, I love your books. I started with the Sharpe novels, then Starbuck, then Thomas of Hookton. I've now just completed the Warlord Chronicles - these 3 books are great literature, nothing less. Secondly, I noticed a post about Lord of the Rings and breaking squares. You (and the chap who posted) are right that cavalry didn't break squares unless they were incredibly lucky - I just thought I'd say that, in the Two Towers, the uruk-hai are broken by the cavalry because they're blinded by the sun and lift their pikes - as for Return of the King: I haven't a clue how the orcs were broken there! Tolkien hints that they were surprised, but that isn't so with the film (not that I'm a complete Lord of the Rings geek!) Looking forward to what's to come! Best wishes, Adam

Just wanted to tell you that I am reading your Arthur books for the countless time and they are superb. I would guess that you do not like praise but critisism but even though I could write some, I just think they are brilliant stories. The first time I read them, they made me go and read more about Arthur which in one sense was good but on the other it drew me away from beer and football. I also liked the Grail and Stonehenge books. No more praise now, I am off to the pub...........English Badger