Bernard Cornwell

[manephelien]

I need to read these too. Sharpe is great, and I have a soft spot for Sean Bean.

 

[Rosemary]

I must admit I haven't read any of his books yet. The Saxon Chronicles sound just right for me, being somewhat interested in that particular time frame. So far I haven't found a copy in any of the bookshops or even in the second hand shops. Next stop the library and keeping fingers crossed.

 

[Uylsse]

I read Sharpe's Tiger first and followed him through his army career book by book until BC wrote books based on times between those already written.
haven't read the Saxon Chronicles but the Grail Quest series are good books,not great but gruesome and true to the times

 

[Aleen]

I thought the Sharpe series was great. I read them chronologically rather than by publication date and would recommend that approach if possible. Sharpe is a great character!

Am anxiously awaiting the release of "Sword Song" which is the 4th in the Saxon Chronicles. So far, I enjoyed "The Last Kingdom" (#1) the most, but the others are excellent too. Just wish BC would include a list of characters at the front of the book giving phonetic pronunciation of the Saxon names. Alfred is a wonderful character - frustratingly pious, amusing at times, and always true to his beliefs with sometimes disasterous results.

 

[Connavar]

I just bought my first book by Cornwell and it is The Last Kingdom.

Even though i have read HF ,arthurian legends books about Saxons invading britain i still look forward to reading this.


I hope its one his better ones.

 

[Parmenion]

its excellent mate...you will enjoy it

 

[woodsman]

Saxon Chronicles are superb, enjoyed most of his books but went off Sharpe a little after reading so many which seemed vaguelt similar, but then I'm just given to complaint, so.....

 

[jackokent]

I've read a few Sharp and the Saxon ones and find his main characters a bit annoying. His main protagonists seem a bit stupid. Things happen to them that make me lose patience with them.

Cornwell once came to our reading group and I mentioned this, polightly of course. He did say that he was trying to make them very real. I agree he's succeeded there, but just as I don't choose to go round with annoying people I don't like reading about them either so I've found it easy to lose patience with the books.

 

[Connavar]

Im reading The Last Kingdom and so far its very uneven book. I like the way he writes The Danish Vikings and thier world,The english,the different religions etc

But the first person perspectiv is one of the most annoying i have seen in a book. Too much foreshadowing that it doesnt feel like you are in the present. Too many lines like " later i learned Alfred... bla bla..." Please tell me the hole series isnt written in that way.

Uthred isnt the most interesting main character exactly so i clearly see what jackokent means...

I do hope all his main characters arent like this..... HF is all about an interesting main character, its through them you see their time. I want people like how Conn wrote Ceasar,Marius,Ghengis Khan etc

 

[Parmenion]

i think you will find the whole series like this mate, i found the main character really grew on me so i did care what happened to him...keep going you may yet be hooked.

 

[Connavar]

Is the hole series full of the same annoying first person ?

 

[woodsman]

Just got Heretic (cheap SH) and was wondering if it's part of a series or a standalone?

 

[Riselka]

woodsman:

"Heretic" is the third book in The Grail Quest trilogy. The first book is "Harlequin" and the second book is "Vagabond".

 

[woodsman]

Cheers Riselka, thats kind of annoying though!

 

[biodroid]

Has anyone read the Starbuck Chronicles, Rebel, Copperhead etc.? It looks interesting.

 

[chump]

Has anyone read the Starbuck Chronicles, Rebel, Copperhead etc.? It looks interesting.

I've read them. They are pretty good and are quite a bit like the Sharpe books. However it is an unfinished series that has been on hiatus for a long time.

 

[sloweye]

Hellow again, its abit of a jump in time but i've finished sword song and loved it.

Moved on to 'Fallen Angles' now. took it out thinking it was a stand alone book but it would seem there was a book befor it.

 

[sloweye]

I know this is for books not TV but that new Sharpe was fantastic

 

[Lysalis]

I have one of his Cornwells books standing in my bookshelf, so far unread, as I'm hesistant to read it. Also cause it's in german, and I don't like that, if it was originally written in english.

It's called Das letzte Königreich (The last kingdom). And I think it's just the first book of a series.

I saw, it's written in first person. A big plus for the book from my side (since I read Robin Hobb ).

But else, is it recommendable?

 

[sloweye]

Highly recommended. the next books are: the pale horseman, Lords of the north and Sword song. i finished the series a month ago and loved it. Cornwell is a great writer, the Sharpe stories are fantastic.