Dear Mr Cornwell,
I’m 60 now: I’ve never read Sharpe. ITV put me off him when I was much younger, and it’s stayed with me. I haven’t read that much fiction either, not until an old friend gave me a copy of The Last Kingdom and TOLD me to read it. That was about three years ago. Before that there was a bit of Wilbur Smith and Leon Uris back in my twenties, oh and of course Tolkien from the age of 16; I’ve never put him down, and read him more as history than fiction. And that’s what I’ve read for most of my life, pure military history to accompany my passion for painting model soldiers. I’ve had a varied life from heavy industry to caring, with lots in between, and your writing has a depth of authenticity about it that draws me further in and has me nodding my head in agreement.
Well I’m up to date with Uhtred, Derfell and Starbuck and about to start on your “one offs”, and I just wanted to say thank you.
I’ve laughed out loud and choked up with emotion.
You’ve taught me history like a time machine and added to my knowledge like an encyclopedia. You’ve improved my understanding like a philosopher, and painted pictures in my head like a grand master. You’ve sewn seeds of inspiration like a diligent farmer and filled the long empty moments like a best friend.
And that’s enough sycophancy for a life time.
Well done, and many, many thanks.
Live long and stay fit, for all our sakes. :-)
Michael Nichol