Bernard Cornwell

[sparhawk]

I finished reading the second part of the Warlord trilogies today. There are two. One is about Arthurs saga, which I found also an excellent read, but compared to the Harlequin series I found it much weaker. But now that second trilogy, about Uthred and King Alfred's war against the Danes in 880 I'm really impressed. I can't say how much I loved that book, and Oddity's recommendation for Cornwell was the best I got so far. I'm quite sad that it was only three books, because I really would love to read more of it, because it really was great. And I can only recommend it to anybody who like to read historical novells. I guess I will reread it soon, because it was one of the best experiences I ever head. I really don't recall reading any historical books that were better than Cornwell's so far. I also ordered now the first book "Sharpe's Tiger". I rather would like something from more medieval or beyond, like the ones above, but since all of these books were so good, I thought I should give the Sharpe series a try, as I also heard only good things about it.

[oDDity]

I must read that Danish war with Uthred then, it's one set of Cornwell's books I haven't tried yet.

I'm sure there's more of the Archer's Tale series to come, since it hasn't even got to the Battle of Agincourt yet.

Like I said before about the Sharpe series, I don't recommend you read the whole series back to back, because they get quite repetitive, and there's a lot of them.

I prefer when he keeps it to 3 books.

[sparhawk]

Well, I only ordered the first one to see if I like it (Sharpe's Tiger). On his website there is the real order, because it differs from when he wrote them. The Danish war is really great. Quite brutal and gritty, but still so lively, that you believe you were there. I wrote Cornwell an email reminding him of his promise, to write more of this, but I don't want to spoil it for you. I guess there is not that much to spoil anyway, because it is written such, that you know some things right from the start.

 

Cornwell said on his website that he wanted to write more about Thomas from Hookton, but then he dumped it, because there were some movies interfering, and then he felt that it would be wrong. The story is done and I think he is right. He could write about this particular character again, but then it would be quite independent from the Grail story, so it wouldn't really matter wether it is a new character or not.

[oDDity]

He's making too much money with the Sharpe novels now I suppose, sicne they all get turned into TV episodes, but they really are long past their sell by date.

Maybe he could even go back and write books set during Roman wars or Greek wars.

[Schatten]

Sounds like you might enjoy the Flashman books.

[sparhawk]

He's making too much money with the Sharpe novels now I suppose, sicne they all get turned into TV episodes, but they really are long past their sell by date.

 

Yes. That's what I also fear. It's the same with King.

 

Maybe he could even go back and write books set during Roman wars or Greek wars.

 

That would also be nice.

[sparhawk]

Schatten, I must look at this Flashman. Usually I prefer earlier history, some szenarios I find intriguing nevertheless, so I need to look at it. Thanks for the tip though.