Correct me if I am wrong, but in Sharpe's Rifles Sharpe beats up Harper and eventually Harper becomes a sargent, admitedly thanks to Don Blas vivar but in Sharpe's Eagle, I believe the only Sharpe book not yet re-read by yourself you say, or at least make it sound like Sharpe and Harper have been friends for years when in reality it was only a few months since Sharpe beat seven shades of something or other out of Harper and "hurt him more than he had been hurt in a long time" and Sharpe does not seem to be the kind of person to forgive such encounters easily, as we are shown by Sharpe's actions to captain Morris, might I suggest a middle book between Rifles and Eagle, perhaps a book not based on any single battle or siege but perhaps one concerning a series of skirmishes, this would also give Sharpe some sucess to give him the confidence he lacks in Rifles and has in abundance in Eagel and starts the friendship of Harper and Sharpe before Sharpe and Harper risk their lives taking an eagle and defending the south essex's colour. Also I have read almost all of your books and find them very good indeed but am a little bit concerned about two or three things, these being :1 the fact that Sharpe left the army! :2 the length of the books, too short!
sorry Mr Cornwell accident, I missed off the third point of concern :3 the fact that you would even consider stopping writing more Sharpe books, he should never hang up his rifle!!!!
A suggestion this time, have you ever read the book Rifles by Mark Urban? If not I suggest that you do, it is astounding in the depth of its research and who knows it may even give you some ideas for Sharpe, it is a truly great book, though it will take some time to read as it is entirely factual and we all know that fact can be boring, but once you breeach the 100-150 page mark I think you will be caught and will see it through to its well deserved finish, merry reading! Michael Hackett