Bernard Cornwell..........

cougarfreak · 09-08-2008, 01:13 PM

Anyone read him? Likes, dislikes? I'm thinking of starting one of his series, and am debating on which one to go with. Any favorite series if you do read him?

rowech · 09-08-2008, 02:36 PM

I read The Archer's Tale and the books that went along in that triology. He writes well and I enjoyed that series. It's shorter than a lot of his others and is more my era of history. If you like Holy Grail type stuff in Medievel times, I'd say to maybe go with that small series.

whomario · 09-08-2008, 02:54 PM

I´ve read his "Saxon Stories" series that´s not yet finished (and isn´t having a schedule other than the lifespan of the main character) and found it quite entertaining. Obviously you are going to find negative reviews on autheticity like with most mainstream historical novells, but being interested in history he´s close enough for me and his style is pretty fitting for the era, you really get absorbed into the character and his story and especially his "quality". He´s lived in a violent era without much formal education and so the language isn´t exactly sugarcoated for the dialogues or his recaps.

So i can recommend that series pretty much, only frustrating thing is that it´s not finished so if you get to love it be prepared that the conclusion of the story might not be told for another 3 or 4 years

Calis · 09-08-2008, 04:06 PM

I read a couple of his Sharpe books and enjoyed them. They are a fun action-adventure romp that is surprisingly accurate historically.

The Sharpe books are definitely his bread & butter, so seems like a good place to start.

Groundhog · 09-08-2008, 06:30 PM

I've read the Archer's tale series and the first three books of the Saxon series. I like his writing style, very easy to read.

SackAttack · 09-08-2008, 10:00 PM

One of my favorite authors ever, but that's on the strength of his Civil War series, which has not had any new additions since I was in junior high.

That's why he's merely "one of."

whomario · 12-28-2009, 11:50 AM

gonna have to bump this one

His newest book in the Saxon/Alfred The Great Series was released a couple weeks ago over here and will be out January 19th in the US.
It´s pretty good again.

Still no conclusion in sight and i guess it´ll be 2 or 3 more books before we´ll get there.

His main character really is a good one, pretty neat idea having this "unwilling warrior" whose torn between 2 (and sometimes more) sides.

Samdari · 12-29-2009, 07:48 AM

Cannot believe I missed this thread.

The Warlord Chronicles is one of the best series I have ever read. Its a retelling of the Arthurian legends from a more believable (i.e. no real magic) point of view. Its up there with Song of Ice and Fire as my favorite series other than LoTR.

DaddyTorgo · 12-29-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samdari

Cannot believe I missed this thread.

The Warlord Chronicles is one of the best series I have ever read. Its a retelling of the Arthurian legends from a more believable (i.e. no real magic) point of view. Its up there with Song of Ice and Fire as my favorite series other than LoTR.

wait...what? that sounds cool!

Samdari · 12-29-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

wait...what? that sounds cool!

I loved it. Starts with The Winter King. IMHO better than either the Grail series or the Saxon Chronicles.

DaddyTorgo · 12-29-2009, 09:52 AM

must...read...now

DaddyTorgo · 12-29-2009, 09:52 AM

or maybe i have read it in the past and just totally forget...LOL

whomario · 12-29-2009, 10:16 AM

I personally like the Saxons Series best, but then again i tend to overrate recent material over older ones + have a huge affinity towards scandinavian history and the british/scandinavian clashes during that time period allways interested me.

chesapeake · 12-30-2009, 08:44 AM

Cornwell is the male equivalent of chick lit. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I've read the Saxon series and 3 Sharpe books so far this year. I may have to d'load The Winter King onto my Kindle after I finish what I am working on now.

Celeval · 12-30-2009, 08:57 AM

I've had a FF tab open to his wiki page for about a month as a reminder to toss a couple books of his onto my reading list. This thread may move that up a bit.

cschex · 12-30-2009, 09:10 AM

I agree with Samdari on Warlord Chronicles. It's the best Arthurian story I've ever read. The Saxon series is not as good but very enjoyable, the books tend to be fairly short, quick reads.

cougarfreak · 12-30-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesapeake

Cornwell is the male equivalent of chick lit. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I've read the Saxon series and 3 Sharpe books so far this year. I may have to d'load The Winter King onto my Kindle after I finish what I am working on now.

It's not available for kindle

, I checked. That's kind of weird, all of his other books I've read have been available. I was able to grab it from my local library last night.

Samdari · 12-31-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whomario

I personally like the Saxons Series best, but then again i tend to overrate recent material over older ones + have a huge affinity towards scandinavian history and the british/scandinavian clashes during that time period allways interested me.

The main focus of the Warlord Chronicles is Arthur leading the Britons against the neverending invasions of the Saxons.

whomario · 12-31-2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samdari

The main focus of the Warlord Chronicles is Arthur leading the Britons against the neverending invasions of the Saxons.

yeah, i know as i´ve read it

In any case, anglo-saxons were invading from what later became germany (more or less) and is not connected to the latter events of "vikings" coming to Britain.
But what i really meant to say that what i like about the saxon series is that it is told with a "nordic" point of view/mentality through Uhtred. Yeah, he´s technically "english" and fights on their side most of the time, but he´s doing it reluctantly and still has ambitions as a dane and friends and alleys among them.
It´s not as clear cut and more ambigous, imo.

but that Warlord series is good as well, no doubt about that.

09-08-2008, 06:30 PM	#5
Groundhog Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia	I've read the Archer's tale series and the first three books of the Saxon series. I like his writing style, very easy to read. __________________ Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce

12-29-2009, 07:48 AM	#8
Samdari Roster Filler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cicero	Cannot believe I missed this thread. The Warlord Chronicles is one of the best series I have ever read. Its a retelling of the Arthurian legends from a more believable (i.e. no real magic) point of view. Its up there with Song of Ice and Fire as my favorite series other than LoTR. __________________ http://www.nateandellie.net Now featuring twice the babies for the same low price!

12-29-2009, 09:52 AM	#11
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	must...read...now __________________ Get bent whoever hacked my pw and changed my signature.

12-29-2009, 09:52 AM	#12
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	or maybe i have read it in the past and just totally forget...LOL __________________ Get bent whoever hacked my pw and changed my signature.

09-08-2008, 02:36 PM	#2
rowech Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2006	I read The Archer's Tale and the books that went along in that triology. He writes well and I enjoyed that series. It's shorter than a lot of his others and is more my era of history. If you like Holy Grail type stuff in Medievel times, I'd say to maybe go with that small series.

09-08-2008, 02:54 PM	#3
whomario Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2007	I´ve read his "Saxon Stories" series that´s not yet finished (and isn´t having a schedule other than the lifespan of the main character) and found it quite entertaining. Obviously you are going to find negative reviews on autheticity like with most mainstream historical novells, but being interested in history he´s close enough for me and his style is pretty fitting for the era, you really get absorbed into the character and his story and especially his "quality". He´s lived in a violent era without much formal education and so the language isn´t exactly sugarcoated for the dialogues or his recaps. So i can recommend that series pretty much, only frustrating thing is that it´s not finished so if you get to love it be prepared that the conclusion of the story might not be told for another 3 or 4 years

09-08-2008, 04:06 PM	#4
Calis College Starter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kansas	I read a couple of his Sharpe books and enjoyed them. They are a fun action-adventure romp that is surprisingly accurate historically. The Sharpe books are definitely his bread & butter, so seems like a good place to start.

09-08-2008, 10:00 PM	#6
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	One of my favorite authors ever, but that's on the strength of his Civil War series, which has not had any new additions since I was in junior high. That's why he's merely "one of."

12-28-2009, 11:50 AM	#7
whomario Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2007	gonna have to bump this one His newest book in the Saxon/Alfred The Great Series was released a couple weeks ago over here and will be out January 19th in the US. It´s pretty good again. Still no conclusion in sight and i guess it´ll be 2 or 3 more books before we´ll get there. His main character really is a good one, pretty neat idea having this "unwilling warrior" whose torn between 2 (and sometimes more) sides.

12-29-2009, 10:16 AM	#13
whomario Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2007	I personally like the Saxons Series best, but then again i tend to overrate recent material over older ones + have a huge affinity towards scandinavian history and the british/scandinavian clashes during that time period allways interested me.

12-30-2009, 08:44 AM	#14
chesapeake College Starter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Arlington, VA	Cornwell is the male equivalent of chick lit. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I've read the Saxon series and 3 Sharpe books so far this year. I may have to d'load The Winter King onto my Kindle after I finish what I am working on now.

12-30-2009, 08:57 AM	#15
Celeval Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Cary, NC, USA	I've had a FF tab open to his wiki page for about a month as a reminder to toss a couple books of his onto my reading list. This thread may move that up a bit.

12-30-2009, 09:10 AM	#16
cschex High School Varsity Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Austin, TX	I agree with Samdari on Warlord Chronicles. It's the best Arthurian story I've ever read. The Saxon series is not as good but very enjoyable, the books tend to be fairly short, quick reads.

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