We get BBC America, which carried the series, but I got only through six of the
episodes while it was available for streaming. Then it vanished. I assume it
will be back.
There's another similarity between Cornwell and me: our wives. My wife very
much dislikes battle scenes, and dismisses my arguments that while sometimes
they are gratuitous, at other times they are integral to an understanding of
the characters and the period. Which is to say, I only can watch such programs
when she isn't around. Since her retirement, that isn't often. <g>
I recommend the Sharpe books, particularly the original set, Rifles through
Waterloo. The later books are good, sometimes as good, but if the number of
Cornwells is overwhelming, go with the originals. The Saxon stories also are
quite good, and put together a convincing narrative of how England came to be
England. Apparently, the issue was in doubt for some time, and the fact that
England is England is why Alfred is the only king with the Great following his
name. I thought the actor who plays Alfred in the tv series was particularly
good.
Cornwell ultimately is responsible for a sizable personal collection of actual
histories, because after I started reading the Sharpe series many years ago, I
developed a desire to see how his stories stacked up against history. He's done
a fair job, and where he's moved this or that, he says so in historical notes
at the end.
Hornblower sparked my interest in Nelson and the Royal Navy of that period, and
one of my personal highlights was a leisurely dinner at The Gun in London in
2006. My cousin arranged it; I either didn't know or had forgotten it is the
establishment where Nelson and Lady Hamilton had many of their scandalous
assignations, and where, some like to say, Nelson first worked out the lines of
perpendicular attack used so effectively at Trafalgar. The manager of The Gun
kindly took me up a narrow, winding stair, to the very room said aforementioned
assignations took place. I was overwhelmed. Now, my bookshelves are
overwhelmed, too. Just put the latest Trafalgar history on my Kindle.
I have a bottle still of Hurricane Bob, a novelty wine produced after the
storm. Never had the courage to drink it. But I've never been to Cape Cod. May
have to go some late fall week. In summer, it's madness. Been to Charleston a
few times. Don't like it much.
Sorry. I get carried away sometimes. Now Bamburg is on my list, perhaps in
concert with a tour of Hadrian's Wall and the Scottish Borders (assuming I ever
can break away from the Islands.)
--Bob
Sent from my iPhone 6s Plus. This is a perfect mobile device. Any perceived
errors in spelling, grammar, or logic are figments of your imagination.
> On Feb 11, 2016, at 8:50 AM, Piers Hemy <piers@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> And thanks again for the pointer to Cornwell, Bob. You motivated me to check
> his relationship to two other Cornwell writers, David (aka John Le Carre)
> and his cousin John (who I once worked with). There is no relationship at
> all, but
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/8765565/A-Page-in-the-L
> ife-Bernard-Cornwell.html has some uncanny parallels in his life -
> Carolinas, New England, even Hurricane Bob (that is you is it not?).
>
> Haven't read any Bernard Cornwell books, but did rather enjoy the BBC
> adaptation of The Last Kingdom - I assume it will come to PBS.
--
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